Writing

Security Blog

  • Infosec – Failing or Succeeding?
    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.

  • False Positives
    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…

  • Sledgehammers
    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.

  • Usenix Security Symposium
    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.

  • Pseudonymity
    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…

  • Disclosure Laws
    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

  • Simplicity and Complexity
    Simplicity and Complexity

    Leadership Moment: Communicating Uncertainty In a recent (online) conversation about cybersecurity breaches and the sometimes self-inflicted wounds that companies suffer, I noted, “The ATM networks that went down during Slammer were mostly self-inflicted.” A colleague responded that “”Mostly” implies Slammer took down ATMs.” That’s a fair reading of the uncertainty I was trying to communicate,… Read this …

  • On the Same Page
    On the Same Page

    Leadership Moment: Basic Memories On September 11, 2001, Danny Lewin was murdered. On the eleventh anniversary of his death, I remembered how a critical moment of delegation led to my buy-in and belief. Two years ago, I recalled a complicated legacy of a catchphrase used with different context. This year, I’m reminded of how Danny… Read this …

  • Turnaround Can Be Fair Play … Or Not
    Turnaround Can Be Fair Play … Or Not

    Leadership Moment: Return to Office It seems like every time I turn around, I’m seeing another article on large company “return to work” programs. I hate that phrase – it implies that people who aren’t working in a specific office aren’t, well, working. For some companies, being in the office is already happening – a… Read this …

Fiction