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Latest revision as of 08:27, 6 December 2025

Spanish computer-security researcher and executive

Chema Alonso

Alonso speaking at a cyber‑security conference (2019)
Born

José María Alonso Cebrián

1975 (age 49–50)

Madrid, Spain
Alma mater Polytechnic University of Madrid (B.Eng.)
Rey Juan Carlos University (M.Sc., Ph.D.)
Occupation(s) Computer‑security researcher; technology executive
Known for ElevenPaths; FOCA metadata tool; Latch app; Cloudflare executive
Awards Civil Guard Cross of Merit (2017); Forbes World’s 50 Most Influential CMOs (2022)
Website elladodelmal.com

José María “Chema” Alonso Cebrián (born 1975) is a Spanish computer‑security researcher and technology executive. He founded Telefónica’s cyber‑security unit ElevenPaths in 2013 and later served on the executive committee of Telefónica as Chief Data Officer and Chief Digital Officer (2016–2025).[1][2] In August 2025 he joined Cloudflare as Vice President, Head of International Development.[3][4] Alonso is a frequent speaker at international security conferences (including Black Hat, DEF CON and Troopers) and is associated with research and tools such as the FOCA metadata‑analysis suite, the Latch “digital padlock” app, and work on connection‑string parameter pollution.[5][6][7]

Early life and education

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Alonso was born in 1975 and grew up in Móstoles, in Spain’s Community of Madrid.[8][9] He holds a B.Eng. in Computer Systems Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and an M.Sc./Ph.D. in Computer Security from the Rey Juan Carlos University.[10][11]

Informática 64 and ElevenPaths (1999–2016)

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In June 2013 Telefónica created the cyber‑security unit ElevenPaths and appointed Alonso as its chief executive; the new unit drew staff from his earlier consultancy Informática 64.[12][13] At ElevenPaths he helped popularise tools and products such as the FOCA (Fingerprinting Organizations with Collected Archives) metadata‑analysis suite,[14] and Latch, a mobile “digital padlock” that lets users toggle access to online services.[15]

Telefónica executive roles (2016–2025)

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Alonso joined Telefónica’s executive committee in 2016 as Chief Data Officer, later serving as Chief Digital Consumer Officer and then Chief Digital Officer.[16] In this period he spoke publicly about returning control of personal data to users and Telefónica’s “fourth platform”.[17] From 2023 he was a prominent executive voice around the GSMA Open Gateway programme, which exposes standardised network APIs; Telefónica and the GSMA announced deployments and partnerships during MWC Barcelona.[18][19]

Telefónica was among the first large companies affected when the WannaCry ransomware attack began on 12 May 2017.[20]

Cloudflare (2025–present) and CTA episode

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In August 2025 Alonso joined Cloudflare as Vice President, Head of International Development.[21][22] The move was followed by his resignation, after two weeks, from an advisory role on artificial intelligence at Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees (CTA).[23]

Research and selected projects

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  • DirtyTooth (2017): co‑disclosure of a Bluetooth issue affecting iOS whereby a paired speaker could switch from A2DP to PBAP and exfiltrate contacts without user awareness; presented at ToorCon 19.[24][25]
  • RansomCloud (2017–2018): a proof‑of‑concept demonstrating how a rogue OAuth application could encrypt email in cloud services such as Office 365 in real time; later popularised in demos with Kevin Mitnick.[26]

Selected conference talks and papers

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Alonso has appeared frequently in Spanish‑language media to explain cyber‑security topics, including demonstrations on the TV show El Hormiguero.[27] He also hosted the 12‑episode web series Risk Alert (Atresmedia/Flooxer, 2018).[28]

  • Civil Guard Cross of Merit (Distintivo Blanco, 2017).[29]
  • Doctor honoris causa, Rey Juan Carlos University (2020).[30]
  • #16 on Forbes World’s 50 Most Influential CMOs list (2022).[31]
  1. ^ Scott, Jennifer (10 June 2013). “Telefonica Digital forms security group Eleven Paths”. Computer Weekly. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  2. ^ “Chema Alonso – Telefónica author page”. Telefónica. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  3. ^ “Former Telefónica data chief Alonso named Cloudflare VP”. Telecompaper. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  4. ^ Muñoz, Ramón (7 August 2025). “Chema Alonso desata un conflicto en el fútbol tras fichar por el “pirata” enemigo de LaLiga”. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  5. ^ Higgins, Kelly Jackson (30 June 2009). “‘FOCA’ and the power of metadata analysis”. Dark Reading. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  6. ^ Gibbs, Samuel (26 February 2014). “Lock up your digital valuables with Latch, the digital padlock”. The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  7. ^ “Connection String Parameter Pollution — white paper” (PDF). Black Hat DC 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  8. ^ “Chema Alonso, doctor honoris causa por la URJC”. Cadena SER (in Spanish). 28 January 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  9. ^ “La URJC inviste doctor honoris causa a Chema Alonso” (in Spanish). Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  10. ^ “Chema Alonso — speaker profile”. MWC Barcelona. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  11. ^ “La URJC inviste doctor honoris causa a Chema Alonso” (in Spanish). Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  12. ^ “Telefónica y el «hacker» Chema Alonso lanzan la empresa de ciberseguridad Eleven Paths”. ABC (in Spanish). 7 June 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  13. ^ Scott, Jennifer (10 June 2013). “Telefonica Digital forms security group Eleven Paths”. Computer Weekly. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  14. ^ Higgins, Kelly Jackson (30 June 2009). “‘FOCA’ and the power of metadata analysis”. Dark Reading. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  15. ^ Gibbs, Samuel (26 February 2014). “Lock up your digital valuables with Latch, the digital padlock”. The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  16. ^ “Chema Alonso — Telefónica author page”. Telefónica. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  17. ^ “Take back your data: how Telefónica is on a quest to return our information”. Wired. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  18. ^ “Telefónica accelerates global rollout of Open Gateway with agreements with tech firms and companies from around the world” (Press release). Telefónica. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  19. ^ “Mobile industry deploys open network APIs and prepares for mass adoption” (Press release). GSMA. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  20. ^ “A massive cyberattack using leaked NSA exploits has hit companies around the world”. Business Insider. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  21. ^ “Former Telefónica data chief Alonso named Cloudflare VP”. Telecompaper. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  22. ^ “Chema Alonso se marcha del CTA”. AS (in Spanish). 7 August 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  23. ^ Muñoz, Ramón (7 August 2025). “Chema Alonso desata un conflicto en el fútbol tras fichar por el “pirata” enemigo de LaLiga”. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  24. ^ “DirtyTooth: extracting vCard data from Bluetooth iOS profiles” (PDF). Exploit-DB. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  25. ^ “DirtyTooth: Put Music & Lose Your Contacts (ToorCon 19)”. InfoConDB. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  26. ^ “Ransomcloud demo with Kevin Mitnick”. Datto. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  27. ^ “Chema Alonso: “Hay que diferenciar entre hackers y cibercriminales”“. Antena 3 (in Spanish). 18 February 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  28. ^ “Risk Alert — complete series”. Atresplayer (in Spanish). 12 July 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  29. ^ “La Guardia Civil condecora a Chema Alonso, el ‘hacker’ de Telefónica”. 20minutos (in Spanish). 19 May 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  30. ^ “La URJC inviste doctor honoris causa a Chema Alonso” (in Spanish). Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  31. ^ Matlins, Seth (23 June 2022). “The Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs List: 2022”. Forbes. Retrieved 1 November 2025.

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