Security Blog
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Infosec – Failing or Succeeding?
Noam Eppel from Vivica contends that Information Security is a complete failure, citing alarming statistics on security breaches and cybercrime. While his article highlights the risks, many dissent from his conclusion, considering it a collection of gloomy statistics often seen in security vendor pitches.
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False Positives
During my morning commute, I encountered an interesting flaw in an alerting system. My car’s weight sensor triggers an alarm if it detects a possible passenger without a seatbelt. However, this car’s system escalates from a dinging sound to a rapid alarm. My immediate thought was to disable the alarm, highlighting a common security system…
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Sledgehammers
Achieving perfect data security involves elaborate measures such as encryption, one-time passwords, asymmetric identifiers, and physical access controls. However, the ultimate level of security must align with the data’s value and potential threats, avoiding the extreme sledgehammer argument while striking a balance in risk management.
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Pseudonymity
Pseudonymity refers to adopting a semi-permanent, yet incomplete or false identity, commonly observed in online communities. It allows individuals to use distinctive pseudonyms to establish their unique presence while avoiding full anonymity. This practice fosters better community engagement by promoting courteous interactions. However, the challenge lies in identifying instances where a single person assumes multiple…
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Usenix Security Symposium
The upcoming USENIX security symposium in Vancouver during the first week of August promises an impressive lineup of invited talks. While I may not attend, I highly recommend catching Matt Blaze’s presentation on wiretapping, previously acclaimed as one of the most exceptional research talks at ICNS 2006.
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Disclosure Laws
During a recent conference, a panelist expressed their belief that the California Disclosure Law (SB-1386) was an exceedingly inadequate information security regulation. However, I hold a different perspective. In my view, SB-1386 stands as the epitome of information security regulations, surpassing even the esteemed GLBA. While most regulations focus on prescribing specific controls for safeguarding…
Leadership Newsletter
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The Reign of Normal
Leadership Moment: Dancing in the Rain I had the distinct experience this Saturday of taking four teenagers to see Taylor Swift at Gillette Stadium. If you’re a Swiftie, you probably already know it was a rain show. For everyone else, that probably evokes images of misery: driving in traffic in the rain, trudging from parking… Read this …
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Peeking behind the mask
Leadership Moment: Putting on a Brave Face Last week, I was in a room with about a hundred folks from around the world, atop one of the taller buildings in Tel Aviv. At the time, Hamas was launching rockets out of Gaza, and we could see the Iron Dome interceptions from time to time. Most… Read this …
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Trolley choices
Leadership Moment: Two Bad Choices As you’ll see below, I’m in Tel Aviv right now. As the United flight was finishing up boarding in Newark, a flight attendant announced that they’d found a phone, and if it was someone’s on the plane, to claim it, or it would be left in Newark. A few minutes… Read this …
Fiction
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Skeleton
A necromancer and an Olympic event [Read the story]
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Albus Dumbledore and the Rituals of Immortality
The words that didn’t make the Harry Potter septology that fill in the blanks for what’s really going on. [Read the story]