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Gartner Debunks Over-Hyped Security Threats

Posted by Zonk on from the mythbusting dept.

TPIRman writes "At Gartner's recent IT Security Summit, the research company's analysts identified five over-hyped security concerns. Among the supposed FUD are mobile malware, unsafe VoIP, and cracker-friendly wireless hotspots. Gartner, which has made a name for itself tracking hype, claims that irrational anxiety is holding back technologies that offer benefits greater than their security risks. A Techworld columnist argues, though, that Gartner is sending mixed messages."

14 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. "cracker-friendly wireless hotspots" ?? by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 5, Funny

    And the hotspots less sympathetic to our racist neighbors south of the Mason-Dixon line? These are somehow more secure?

    I'm so confused...

    1. Re:"cracker-friendly wireless hotspots" ?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Actually, all of the cracker-NONfriendly wireless hotspots have relocated to the eastern perimiters of cities. Apparently, they can usually be found in luxury apartments that occupy the upper floors of various buildings.

      For some reason this causes them to be more secure.

    2. Re:"cracker-friendly wireless hotspots" ?? by ohzero · · Score: 1, Funny

      Because "intruder" has way too many porn conotations. ;)

      --
      -- http://www.criticalassets.com
    3. Re:"cracker-friendly wireless hotspots" ?? by STrinity · · Score: 2, Funny

      Jimmy crack kernel and I don't care
      Jimmy crack kernel and I don't care,
      Jimmy crack kernel and I don't care,
      McAfee's gone away.

      --
      Les Miserables Volume 1 now up with my reading of
  2. Overhype??? by jeepnut · · Score: 1, Funny
    Overhype in the computer world???? Paranoia??

    I didn't even know they existed in this world of secretarial computer experts and "computer enthusiasts".

  3. Warhol by MECC · · Score: 4, Funny


    A "Warhol Worm" is a worm that infects all
    vulnerable machines on the Internet within 15 minutes.

    Warhol must be a new spelling for Windows...

    --
    "We are all geniuses when we dream"
    - E.M. Cioran
    1. Re:Warhol by CardiganKiller · · Score: 3, Funny

      Probably, they're both overhyped. Their aesthetics are similar. You take a good look at both of them and ask yourself, "Should I be enjoying this or something?".

      Bring it on Warhol fans.

  4. VoIP IS Unsafe! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Some Nigerian called me and told me my refrigerator was running. Damn near broke my ankle jogging down the street before I realized I had been had. They used my absence to steal all my cans of Sir Walter Raleigh.

  5. Gartner is the king of stating the obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I've never really understood why people listen to the Gartner report-of-the-week when company's IT department probably have been telling their management THE EXACT SAME THING.

    All Gartner does is state the obvious and suggest staying with the status-quo.
    ("We predict Microsoft software will have an 89% chance of being the dominant desktop software for the next year"... arrrggghhh)

    Geesh, I'm going to start sending out my own press releases, set up a secure login web site and charge people for saying obvious things.
    ("Don't take your toaster into the bathtub with you...98% chance of bad things happening")

  6. Re:Gartner, debunk yourself by goldspider · · Score: 2, Funny
    "If everyone waits for everyone else's opinion before they can make a decision, no wonder we have organizations with forms to change forms, where Dilbert stories are all true, and employees read Slashdot all day instead of working (because 50% of their projects won't go anywhere, and the other 50% of their projects are pending some approval process or another)."

    You work for the federal government too??

    --
    "Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
  7. five under-hyped security concerns by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Funny
    1. Windows
    2. Microsoft Windows
    3. MS Windows
    4. Windows(tm)
    5. Windows family products
  8. Re:Trust Gartner? by XMyth · · Score: 2, Funny
    RTFC! He *DID* back it up.


    (Before I get modded troll, it really is true)
  9. Hardly sending mixed messages by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The message is clear: Pay us and we will report anything you want.

  10. Five reasons I'd love to work for Gartner by pdmoderator · · Score: 2, Funny
    1. I could buy an Armani suit and an MBA from a second-rate school and my customers would think that I posessed the Wisdom of the Ages.
    2. No obligation to actually know what I was talking about or even be consistent. I could say anything I want, say something completely contradictory in six months, and they still would think I posessed the Wisdom of the Ages.
    3. No messy problems of actually making stuff work.
    4. Stock manipulation.
    5. I wouldn't even have to think of five real reasons.