ETD: 774 Why risk it?; Red Hat Society for under 50; The Myth
of the Secure Operating System
E-Tailer's Digest
etd_post at gapent.com
Tue Apr 6 11:51:23 GMT 2004
E-Tailer's Digest --- Everything for the Retailer
Issue #0774 April 6, 2004
George Matyjewicz, Moderator mailto:georgem at gapent.com
Published by: GAP Enterprises, Ltd. http://www.etailersdigest.com
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CONTENTS
[1] Greetings
[2] Why risk it?
[3] Red Hat Society for under 50
[4] The Myth of the Secure Operating System
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[1] Greetings.
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Hi All:
We have some interesting material today. Microsoft is no longer the
operating system that is being attacked by hackers. Linux and even MAC are
being attacked. Now if somebody can only channel the creativeness of
hackers into something good, we would probably see major advancements.
As reported earlier, gambling online will be allowed in the US, if they
want to be part of the WTO. You would think it would be a gold mine. Yet
many are avoiding the hassle, in spite of the potential financial
rewards. What do you think?
Finally, we have one more blurb on the Red Hats - the ladies, not the
Operating System. They have an under 50 following!
Tell us about your business which will remain for posterity at
our "Members: Who Are You?" site.
http://etailersdigest.com/resources/members/index.htm And we have a form
there for you to tell us about you. As I said when I first proposed this
idea, we have "known" each other for a long time, yet we often don't know
anything about each other. So, tell us who you are and what you do.
Now, let's get to everything for the retailer.
Sincerely
George Matyjewicz, PhD
Chief Global Strategist, GAP Enterprises, Ltd.
mailto:georgem at gapent.com
http://www.etailersdigest.com
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[2] Why risk it?
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Aiming to avoid a possible showdown with law-enforcement officials, Yahoo
and Google, the two largest search engines -- and online-
advertising generators -- have said they will stop taking advertisements in
the United States from gambling casinos and related companies. Both search
providers reached their decisions
independently. http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/33319.html
What I find interesting about this announcement is the fear companies have
over potential threats. Gambling is this year's porn issue. Two countries
have successfully petitioned the WTO to allow gambling online in the US, if
the US is going to be part of the WTO. Instead of it being a potential
gold mine for advertisers, these two majors decided to take the safe road,
and avoid potential conflict with the government.
Folks involved with offshore banking and digital currency have experienced
the same issues. The PATRIOT act is US-based only, yet many global
organizations comply, rather than run the risk of scrutiny. The same holds
true with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - a US-based law that many global
organizations are following.
Do folks fall in line so as not to rock the boat? Are they afraid of the
repercussions? Reputational risks? Government risks? Or is it simply a
financial matter - why risk it?
What do you think?
George
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[3] Red Hat Society for under 50
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George wrote: ....We have more on the Red Hat Ladies. That seems to be
something to
capitalize on. Why limit the Red Hats and purple dresses to ladies over
50? Why not have "Junior Red Hats" or "Kiddie Red Hats?" Seems to me it
could be a lucrative business venture.
There already is an affiliated promotion with the Red Hat Society clubs,
George; any gal under age 50 who attends as a guest at their functions is
to wear a pink hat and lavender dress!
Marty Oskvig
www.beautipage.com/here4u
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++
Cool. Now they should move it on down to the young 'uns. What a
franchise. Keep them in red and purple forever.
George
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[4] The Myth of the Secure Operating System
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The mi2g Intelligence Unit , a UK-based security consultancy, issued three
bulletins recently. One suggested that direct attacks -- as opposed to
worms or viruses -- on Linux-based servers were on the rise and had for the
first time outstripped those directed at Microsoft platforms. Microsoft
systems were still found to be the major targets of malware.
An equally interesting claim came next: After examining more than 17,000
attacks in January and again in February, mi2g Intelligence Unit concluded
that when it comes to direct attacks, "the world's safest and most secure
online server operating system is proving to be the Open Source family of
BSD (Berkley Software Distribution) and the Mac OS X based on Darwin."
Several questions suggest themselves immediately: Is it true, how do you
know, and can any such judgment even be meaningful?
The third question must be answered before tackling the others, and Laura
DiDio, senior analyst at the Yankee Group, suggested that the answer is no.
"Overall," she said, "no operating system or piece of software is going to
be inherently more secure than another."
for human interaction, such as opening an e-mail attachment.
"Forget about the OS," DiDio concluded. "Don't even argue those merits.
Every piece of software that is connected is potentially vulnerable and at
risk."
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/33293.html
In an article in the Wall Street Journal, it was reported than Fortify
Software Inc. unveiled a set of tools to help examine and test software
code for security flaws while programs are being developed. The closely
held company was funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and is based
in the firm's offices in Menlo Park, Calif.
Computer experts last week urged the industry to make security a built-in
feature of software. Silicon Valley's best-known venture-capital firm is
backing a start-up to help programmers do just that.
The venture is a response to the rising number of computer attacks, which
are overwhelming the defenses deployed by companies and government
agencies. Such safeguards, including intrusion-detection devices and
programs known as firewalls, are designed to keep intruders out of
sensitive networks.
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB108120058925774650,00.html
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