Welcome to Issue 3 of The Internet Security Conference Newsletter, Insights. Insights provides commentaries and educational columns, authored by some of the best minds in the security community, who have agreed to teach and speak at The Internet Security Conference, April 24-28, in San Jose, CA.
The editorial calendar at this time includes columns and contributions from:
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'Nuf said.
This issue--the final issue of the millenium (yawn...)--is a delightful bit of poetic techno-whimsy from one of my dearest friends, Dr. Bill Hancock, who also happens to own a generous portion of the security in the world.
As always, happy reading. All of us at TISC wish you the very best during this holiday season. Be safe,
Dave
On the eve of the new millennium it's time to pause and think
Of how the world could be secure from hackers and phreaks.
Virii would be gone, slamming would be too,
And technical managers would have more productive things to do.
There once was a time when networking was fun,
And safe to be used at any time by anyone.
Hacking of code was good and beneficial and created no sadness,
And users never had to worry about all types of badness.
Hacking really started in the late 60's at the Labs of Bell,
A game called "CPU Wars," the system manager's Hell.
Someone would create and plant code that was mean
Into the operating system of another user's machine.
Some strict rules were required to ensure fair play,
None of the planted nasties could run during the day.
The idea was to educate and explore and learn,
It was never to slash and trash and burn.
But as the 'net got popular and grew and grew
There were many folks with not enough to do;
"Let's find something fun," together they said,
"Information should be free and the owners of it dead!"
So the term "hacker" took on a nasty lean
And became synonymous with someone who was mean.
Someone who would take other's resources, data and code
And as time has progressed, attacks even our abodes.
Some may claim that they hack systems for embarrassment of face,
Others claim they do it for the thrill of the chase.
Most find hacking today to be overall bad
As most hack attacks leave networks and companies sad.
In some World-places, illegal it is known
To try to hack into any network that is not your own.
Still, script kiddies, smartHacks and even spies that are real,
Continue to attack networks and systems with zeal.
Unfortunate it is that our corporate masters don't understand,
That security is something that is always, everyday not on-demand.
And yet decree that secure we must and always should be,
Without providing management wisdom, guidance or money.
In truth it is said that some hacking is benign
And, in reality, some of it is funny and actually quite fine.
The hack of the Spiceworld web site some time ago,
Was actually an improvement and caused quite the ho, ho, ho.
For the vast majority of times it is at least unethical to break in
In some cases it's even criminal and evil - way beyond sin.
It's expensive to stop, it's technically difficult for many
And it still requires companies to defend every penny.
For security is overhead and not an investment that returns
Therefore management folks do not see the benefit - only the burn.
And yet we are still hacked and stalked and maligned
Against our will and in the hacker's good time.
E-commerce cometh and we are asked to "Open Up!"
Our data, our secrets and all kinds of private stuff.
One good thing has slowed down the abuser -
Management has to implement security to satisfy the user.
It will be some time before networks are secure,
There's just too much to do to keep privacy pure.
Over time and with effort, technology will be here
To solve our security problems now that the millennium is near.
So in this new year when the new millennium begins,
Let's hope that hacking stops and the good guys win.
And perhaps as part of an overall plan, an effort that lasts:
Hacking and virii will become a thing of the past.