Posts tagged Security
News Commentary: One Webcam Per Child
Feb 28th
On Sundays I offer comments on some of the most interesting information technology stories that I have found on the web that week. Please feel free to join in the discussion or suggest other stories.
Well I think that we can all agree that using webcams on school provided computers to spy on students without parental consent is a really bad idea. I also think that attempting to cover it up and denying it when caught with your hand in the cookie jar is a far worse one. Nevertheless, this story will shape the landscape of information technology and mobile computing for years to come, so all Information Technology Professionals need to be conversant on both the facts and the implications.
hothardware.com – Laptop Monitoring: It’s Not Just In Pennsylvania
“One of the major news stories of the past week has focused on the Lower Merion school district in Philadelphia and the furor created when the school admitted it could remotely activate student webcams and observe them remotely. One clip from an episode of Frontline that aired in June 2009, however, proves that Lower Merion’s Harriton High School is not the only place where students’ rights are potentially being violated.”
There was so much written about this topic that there is no single news story to cover all bases. I recommend that you review Google News’ aggregation site for this topic. You can find all angles, opinions, and levels of engagement there.
At its essence, this is a great cautionary tale for IT Pros… just because you can do something does not mean that you should. Also, it is a story of the best of intentions being carried out in the worst possible ways. Also, the great ends that were realized by this program have now been completely erased by the means that were used to obtain them. Really a sad tale… imagine how well this all could have gone if they had simply sent home a permission slip. My kids’ school sends them home for everything from zoo trips to in-class videos. How did these school administrators miss the boat by so much?
Well, as they say, knowing is half the battle. Be warned….
What do you think about this topic? Do you agree or disagree with me? Do you have a recommended news story for next week? Please share your ideas below.
That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for February 28, 2010 by Scott Coughlin.
Image Credit: xomba.com
Cyber Security Statistics
Feb 23rd
Finding good sources of computer security statistics is always a challenge. It was recently pointed out to me that Entrepreneur Magazine has a very good running collection of some good ones along with their sources.
I recommend that you give them a read.
Here are some examples that they have:
“The average loss per phishing victim jumped from $257 in 2005 to $1,244 in 2006.”
–Gartner Inc., November 2006
“Roughly 1 in 3 computer users has been a victim of viruses, spyware or phishing.”
–Consumer Reports, September 2006
“1 in 20 e-mails are infected with malware.”
–Panda Software, September 2006
From my experience, their set is a great starting point for corporate training, fact support to internal documents, and general knowledge upgrading. I believe every one of their stats and think that most of the “how bad is it” ones are only getting worse since they last updated.
I am sure that you have favorite or known sources of other computer security statistics. Please share them via the comments section below.
Special thanks to Entrepreneur Magazine for putting together and maintaining this valuable resource for all Information Technology Professionals.
That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for February 23, 2010 by Scott Coughlin.
Image credit: Guelph-Wellington Seniors Association
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News Commentary: Cyber Crooks
Mar 8th
Posted by Scott Coughlin in Information Age
No comments
This morning, CNN.com featured a very thought provoking front page story on Cyber Crime. What I especially liked was the discussion of return on investment and whether having the police try to catch them was even worth the effort. I highlight it as a good thought piece for a Monday morning commute.
Here is the link to the story –
CNN.com – Is chasing cybercrooks worth it? by John D. Sutter
I have to admit that I think that the story is a little disingenuous to the whole problem of cyber crime. I am not so sure that the argument that it is hard, expensive, and confusing is really a good one for not doing it. It is a very similar argument that those opposed to the “War on Drugs” use to justify legalizing drug use. Nevertheless, it is a popular, and now public, discussion that information technology professionals should be involved in.
I, for one, think that we need to increase the size of our counter-cyber crime units at all levels of law enforcement. I believe that there is nothing, but a growth industry when it comes to crime online. I doubt that we have even seen 1% of what is possible for criminal activity that involves cyberspace. I say more, not less, engagement is needed by the police.
What do you think about this topic? Do you agree or disagree with me? Do you have a recommended news story for next week? Please share your ideas below.
That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for March 8, 2010 by Scott Coughlin.
Image Credit: Money Magazine