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Impressing Security Upon End-Users Visually?

get quad writes "I continually have to remind our end-users to be vigilant about the usual web security hazards, such as not clicking links in the occasional spam email that passes through our filters, avoiding suspicious websites, why some websites aren't entirely safe or appropriate for the work environment (Facebook apps, MySpace, remote access apps, proxies, etc), and the myriad other things an end-user can do to get into trouble. What I'm hoping to find are video or flash examples (mind you, in layman's terms) of what Web-based exploits/zero-day threats are capable of, how they can happen, and the harm they can ultimately cause — rather than posting links to technical docs the users will never bother to read. Getting the point across in a purely visual and less technical manner seems much more effective. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this type of training?"

157 comments

  1. Explosions! by sopssa · · Score: 3, Funny

    Make a video where the user clicks "Run File" in Internet Explorer and then the building explodes.

    1. Re:Explosions! by xgadflyx · · Score: 3, Funny

      Actually, we've found that "making an example" has been the most effective security measure. Call a meeting - "Tom here has decided to do $INSERT_ENDUSER_STUPIDITY, so we're going to take this time to show you what happens.." Then you just grab a hammer and smash fingers. Some people puke others just turn in disgust - regardless we haven't had a user click a fishing email in over 2 years.

      --
      Civilization, the death of dreams.
    2. Re:Explosions! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      There's a freeware program that, when run, starts flashing teh screen, and plays at MAX volume "HEY EVERONE, I'm looking at GAY porno!" ... just send that around, and people will quickly learn not to open programs.

    3. Re:Explosions! by pentalive · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That may have the same sort of effect as "Reefer Madness" = Audience ignores message due to "over the top"ness of the presentation.

    4. Re:Explosions! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You could make a video using goatse as the ultimate graphic example of what happens when their computers get compromised.

    5. Re:Explosions! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or put a gun in their face every time the screw up.

      I personally have given up on trying to educate users. They don't care. They won't care. Choke down on your rights as much as you can while allowing them to get their work done, keep good easily restored backups of everything, and assume your users are going to fuck your network up. When they do, restore everything and keep browsing the job boards looking for a field that isn't as repetitive and hopeless as IT, like bringing world peace or something.

    6. Re:Explosions! by Runaway1956 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Hmmm. I read the posted question/summary. Started scrolling down, reading comments. Stopped. Go back up and read just the title. Hmmm. Forget everything else, just concentrate on the title.

      Could you make some kind of a monitoring app, which displays a graphic?

      I don't mean to make a new antivirus. Just some graphic attached to existing antivirus and anti-malware softwares. It monitors the stupid things people do, and displays a ribbon or something across the top of the toolbar. Put a red end on the ribbon, and the red starts filling up the ribbon. When the user does something REALLY stupid, he gets popups, which grow more and more annoying.

      For people with a clue, the ribbon just serves as a reminder. For people without a clue, those popups get more and more "In your FACE". Give the thing the ability to log those events and warnings, so the IT guy can bring it up, and show the idiot who refuses to be warned.

      Just an idea - but I think it would be helpful to stick something like that on your most obtuse user's desktops.

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    7. Re:Explosions! by maxume · · Score: 1

      If stupid user actions were that predictable, it would be a simple matter to just prevent them from doing anything.

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    8. Re:Explosions! by DiegoBravo · · Score: 2, Interesting

      > such as not clicking links in the occasional spam email which passes through filters, avoiding suspicious websites,

      Just setup a daily CRON job to send an email with a link pointing to a page in your web server that shows:

      YOU CLICKED THE BAD LINK. YOU'RE AN IDIOT. NEXT TIME WE'LL CUT YOUR SALARY.

      For the email subject, just collect a handful of common spam phrases, like "Tired of seeing disappointed faces on women when they pull down your pants". Problem solved.

    9. Re:Explosions! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A) You're messed up. Seek help.

      B) You're obviously NOT a computer professional, or you would know the difference between fishing and phishing.

    10. Re:Explosions! by Runaway1956 · · Score: 1

      No, I don't mean predicting what they are doing. We already know what things they do that are hazardous. Clicking on email attachments, for instance. The app watches for someone to click an attachment, and gives him one of those annoying popups. "Hey stupid! Your IT man has warned you a million times not to open email attachments! Are you SURE that this email is from a TRUSTED SOURCE?!?!"

      Installing apps is another good example. Home users don't have an IT guy, so this app which monitors what they are doing detects that they are going to install something. It gets "IN YOUR FACE" about trusted sources. Of course, UAC has begun doing exactly that for application installations, but it doesn't track decisions over time. I want something that evaluates the users actions - someone who trips few alarms is going to get a warning that is less "IN YOUR FACE" than the nutcase who grabs 5 new applications every day.

      Like I say - it's just an idea. For starters, we would never get the people who need the thing the most to install it. Something like this would have to be installed by the OEM, or the IT guy to be of much use.

      --
      "Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
    11. Re:Explosions! by maxume · · Score: 1

      If you can identify it as a stupid action, you can block it. That's what I meant by prediction (tongue in cheek like, I was implying that stupid users would be able to work around any such system by inventing new ways of being stupid...).

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  2. Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Some users will "get it" with just a simple explanation. They're the easy ones to deal with. Give them an example, explain how it'll harm them, and they won't fuck up again.

    Other users, however, should probably be treated like children, or in some cases, dogs. It doesn't matter how many times you tell or show them what not to do. They won't understand the harm it's causing.

    Your only option is to yell at those idiots. Yell and yell and yell and yell. Make them feel like the shit that they are. They still won't understand why they shouldn't do the things you tell them not to do. They just won't do it to avoid your angry reaction.

    1. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, this and worse is pretty much true. There are people out there that no matter what you do will still make stupid mistakes anyway for the dumbest reasons and then they'll be angry with you for not magically protecting them from their own incompetence.

      Your only real solution is to either keep cleaning up after them or try and get their internet access revoked somehow.

      --
      A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
    2. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by 1s44c · · Score: 1

      There are people out there that no matter what you do will still make stupid mistakes anyway for the dumbest reasons and then they'll be angry with you for not magically protecting them from their own incompetence.

      Your only real solution is to either keep cleaning up after them or try and get their internet access revoked somehow.

      I have much the same experiences. I find that firewalling everything and forcing users to use a web proxy and mail gateway works pretty well. There is no reason for having office staff able to directly contact the Internet on any port.

    3. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why not simply announce the company may deduct the cost of fixing the broken security and the damages done by the broken security? Make it specific that it will be for them doing the things cautioned against, and will come from their salaries, and retirement benefits, at a rate of X per month?

    4. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by NoYob · · Score: 3, Insightful
      What some will do then is go out of their way to click on shit to fuck things up. Treating people like shit will never work.

      Then, if you work in a company, said stupid people will undermine you. They'll make sure mgt knows you're insulting and unprofessional. Anything breaks, they'll let their bosses know that you were the one who "fixed" it and that your fixes don't work.

      Treat people like children and they will usually act like children.

      --
      It's NOT me! It's the meds! I'm on 1000mg of Fukitol.
    5. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Brett+Buck · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Your only option is to yell at those idiots. Yell and yell and yell and yell. Make them feel like the shit that they are. They still won't understand why they shouldn't do the things you tell them not to do. They just won't do it to avoid your angry reaction.

                That will be a great story to tell all those people you meet at the unemployment office, there, tough guy.

                Brett

                 

    6. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      What you want is an airbag behind the screen. When a virus is detected the airbag explodes out. The glass in the screen lacerates the user's face and indelible red ink on the airbag stains their skin for weeks to come.

      Alternatively you could have a little water cannon under the desk that sprays their crotch so everyone thinks they wet themselves.

      Only that kind of humiliation can ever hope to teach these lusers. -BOFH

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    7. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Teun · · Score: 1

      And then you have to explain it was the users doing, not your fault supplying leaky tools like, say, Windows.

      Our company runs company computers through a proxy, visitors and private laptops can connect directly.

      --
      "The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
    8. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do make sure you measure them up before yelling. You don't want to start yelling and swearing in an office and calling some guy all sorts of names, only to find out its actually a relative of Andre the Giant with the same size, mass and temper :-)

    9. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by DoraLives · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This actually worked at the small enterprise where I take care of things. A user managed to get their machine mucked up with a bunch of spyware and adware by clicking in a forwarded email. I cleaned the machine and then management called a meeting a day or two later. Had every one of the employees in attendance. I gave the standard presentation about email safety, as well as general internet safety. I sat down. The director stood up and informed everyone in the room that the next time a machine needed to be cleaned as a result of operator error, the bill for my services (not cheap) would be deducted from the relevant employee's next paycheck. A sheet of paper was then passed around, with the same directive written on it, and all employees were instructed to either sign or lose their job. They all signed.

      That was two years ago. Have not had a SINGLE instance of any malware on any machine, since that time. People now ask me every time they have any doubts about what they're doing, and I've headed off a few potential catastrophes since that started happening.

      I'm guessing it's not a coincidence.

      --
      Is it fascism yet?
    10. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by AndGodSed · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I can second that. I tried the opposite and for some reason it worked, below is a link to my own "I clicked on an email link" type virus scenario.

      (Apologies for the shameless blog punt...)

      http://blog.g33q.co.za/2009/07/16/why-no-operating-system-is-safe-not-one/

      Since then I have done the opposite of being the bofh.

      One of the girls who work there was one of the main culprits in spreading the virus around by sending the mail to EVERYONE and copying files from every darn flashdrive she can get her hands on.

      So I started joking with her regarding her having the most viruses on her computer, and since they are in an open plan office I did not need to work very hard to make that apparent. Also her Outlook broke, refused to run in anything but safe mode.

      I refused to fix it. I just looked at it, fooled around with it a bit and loudly proclamed "Heck it must've broken because of that virus you had!"

      Since that day there has been the odd virus mail (the greeting card type ones are very popular...) there have not been a major breakout of viruses. Usually they still begin with that girl - she just don't listen about security and so on - but as soon as anyone gets NOD complaining about a virus the attitude is to get in contact with me immediately, and to not forward each other funny mails.

      Heck they even refuse funnies from this girl and her flashdrive is not allowed on anyones computer - not via management directive, but because the users themselves don't want her flashdrive.

      I have caused her to be a bit of a computer leper, and for that reason there has been exactly two virus scares...

    11. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by m.ducharme · · Score: 1

      I think you under-estimate how easy it is to train dogs.

      --
      Rule of Slashdot #0: You and people like you are not representative of the larger population. - A.C.
    12. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by maharb · · Score: 1

      Only after you give them tons of doggy treats which, as far as I can tell, there are no substitutes for in training humans. We are SOL.

    13. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by MachDelta · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Huh. Where I happen to live in soviet Canuckistan, both having your wages deducted for accidental damages caused on the job AND being forced to sign something under the threat of losing your job are both illegal.

      Something vaguely similar happened at where I work. Weekend attendance had been optional for a very very long time, but management felt that too many people were just taking every weekend off because, well, people like their weekends. Anyways, to try and boost attendance they tried to make everyone sign an agreement basically saying that everyone had to work every single weekend unless excused, and excuses had to be given up to three weeks in advance... and this was all under a threat of "or else". A few of the sheeple signed right away for fear of losing their jobs. When it got round to me, I just laughed and threw the paper in the garbage. My boss tried to give me shit (this was infront of a dozen co-workers, so he had to make a stand) but I interrupted him to inform him that he could not unilaterally renegotiate my job description or fire me if I didn't agree to it, and if he ever tried to push me (or any of us) around like that again, that the provincial labour board would come down on the place like a ten thousand pound bag of shit for it and all the other little skeletons-in-the-closet that I knew about. The next day their little piece of paper disappeared without a trace.

      YMMV.

    14. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by MachDelta · · Score: 1

      I think the human treat you may be looking for is a flat rectangular green object that is easily folded and often found in banks.
      At least, in my experiences it seems to motivate people pretty well. :P

    15. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 1

      Bacon's cheaper and works just as well for most gentiles.

      --
      A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
    16. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by calmofthestorm · · Score: 2

      But I assume that a small bonus to an employee every month their machine /isn't/ compromised is perfectly legal, even in a country with sane labor laws? Or perhaps a free lunch?

      Of course, this does cost some money, but you'd be surprised how even a small amount of money or food can motivate people to make tiny changes to their routine.

      --
      93rd rule of Slashdot: No matter how obvious my sarcasm is, my comment will be taken seriously by someone.
    17. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Ya right, they just stopped reporting it. So your douchbag boss forced his employees to sign something or be fired, because you are sick of doing your job?

      How about you just install anti spyware and anti virus software and be done with it. Its always worked for me, even if they click something evil it gets squashed immediately and everybody moves on with their life.

      Too bad your expensive services don't include proper management of the computers you are paid to manage. Thats YOUR job dickweed. Not the users. If I was your boss and we had repeated infections, you'd be unemployed and your replacement would take care of the issue once and for all.

    18. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by maharb · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Anti-*** doesn't do crap except detect the old stuff that has been out forever. Sure it will reduce the number of malware items by 25-50% but that is hardly enough because even one item of malware can disable the anti-malware systems and let the rest in.

      I agree with the idea that employees should not be docked pay.. as that is a bit harsh. Users DO need to be held accountable for their actions though. Just as an employee would be held accountable for a physical security breach (bringing that hobo to work) an employee should be held accountable for other types of security breaches, if they have had proper training. If a user is breaching business policy and ends up with an infected computer, then they should be reminded that the policy is there for a reason. How they are reminded depends on lots of factors such as the severity of the breach, past history of the user, degree of stupidity that it took to contract the virus, etc.

      Educating employees on how to not get owned by viruses is far more important than setting up some anti-virus software and calling it good.

      There is obviously lots of gray area in this topic but using only technical solutions to a problem that is not only technical is the wrong approach. You need to use managerial and technical solutions to properly manage the IT infrastructure.

    19. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like our policy better, on the first transgression of the IT Policy we organise a meeting between an ITSec Administrator or Manager and the Company lawyer, the lawyer will then explain how we can sue them, show some previous cases which set some precedence usually showing awards of anything between 5 and 6 figures then we give them in writing what we have said and detailed information on what they did wrong and how it breached the IT Policy.
      On the second transgression the person is immediately suspended and given the lecture again on the way out and also when they return.
      On the third breach the person is immediately discharged with legal proceedings against the person filed the next working day. Thankfully we've only had one third transgression, we make sure to highlight the success of that lawsuit to people on their first and second transgressions.
      This is our policy with handling policy transgressions, it's even posted on the walls as pretty posters along side the actual IT Policy. Ignorance is not an excuse.

    20. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, because 'causing completely unnecessary/malicious damage to company computer systems' [Even after repeated warnings] was accidental.

    21. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by jtownatpunk.net · · Score: 1

      "Accidental" is one thing "deliberate" is another.

      I've got two 'tarded users who get their systems hosed with malware several times a year. It doesn't matter how many times I explain that they should NEVER click on a link that says they have to update their video player to view shocking security camera footage of themselves or a video of a monkey throwing poo at zoo visitors. Last time, I dumbed it down to, "Stop clicking on stupid shit!" Maybe that will work. Meanwhile, I'm going to work on getting a legacy app to work in a restricted environment. Failing that, I'll have to consider buying a net-nanny program for them. But it pisses me off that I have to spend my time figuring out how to keep these two chuckleheads from doing stupid shit.

      It's the equivalent of giving someone a company car and having them repeatedly run it into a brick wall. The first time might have been an honest accident. Second time...well, shit happens. After that, no more excuses. I don't think any employer would hesitate to make an employee pay for the damage caused by their third run-in with a brick wall.

    22. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Alternatively you could have a little water cannon under the desk that sprays their crotch so everyone thinks they wet themselves.

      Much as I like your ideas, how about an air compressor that fires compressed air at the user as negative reinforcement?

      Yep, someone actually built it and deployed it in an arcade. Safe enough to produce commercially. And fucking hilarious to watch first-time players.

    23. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by sco08y · · Score: 1

      That works, until the user is a bigger jerk than you are. I worked for a fairly senior enlisted man who was pretty bad about computer security. He related to me a story about how some system he needed to use generated a password for him, but it was totally random and he couldn't remember it.

      There was no option, whatsoever, to generate any kind of "friendly" password or to make it memorable. So his solution was to call the help desk and to insist upon getting a password he could remember. The female tech started out, much as you suggest, by explaining that there was no way she would do that. He responded with 30-odd years of experience in yelling at people, which brought her to tears, and she wound up resetting the password until she got one he could remember.

      The guy's pretty sharp about most things; he did a lot to straighten up record-keeping which definitely improved our operations, and probably did a lot to improve security overall. But he's that deadly combination of lousy at managing passwords and extremely effective at getting his way. So any plan that is "yell at people" has to account for the fact that the most critical individuals are liable to yell back.

    24. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Frogbert · · Score: 1

      That was two years ago. Have not had a SINGLE instance of any malware on any machine, since that time

      That they've told you about.

    25. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Logic+Worshipper · · Score: 1

      Because then they won't report problems and you'll have a bunch of infected computers leaking data you don't know about, or worse they won't tell you about things that aren't operator error and you won't know when something major isn't working.

    26. Re:Yell at them and make them feel like shit. by Logic+Worshipper · · Score: 1

      Have you bothered to check anyway? Since your users defiantly won't report anything that goes wrong now. I bet they're doing all kind of stupid shit, then having their neighbor's 13 year old fix it.

  3. Dont you mean "oppresing"... by lawnboy5-O · · Score: 1

    Why cant users choose their own level of security - idiots be dammed. But I bet you find a whole bunch of people wise-up really fast. :P

    1. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by 1s44c · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Why cant users choose their own level of security - idiots be dammed. But I bet you find a whole bunch of people wise-up really fast. :P

      You could try it but I doubt it will make your life easier. Most users don't understand and don't care and will expect you to fix their mistakes over and over again. Most of them have some kind of twisted pride in their ignorance.

      There was research done on office staff by flashing up random warning messages on their screens, most users ignored the messages no matter what they said, clicked anything to get rid of the message, and immediately forgot there was even a message.

    2. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by jimicus · · Score: 1

      Because when their computer is completely hosed and borderline unusable as a direct result, the chances are the OP or someone in a similar role will have to pick up the pieces. This gets really old really fast.

      Myself, I think there may be something to be said for the endpoint security products that combine centrally managed antivirus, firewall and antispyware features.

    3. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by lawnboy5-O · · Score: 1

      I agree - its like herding cattle. I was hoping to open a avenue of though concerning educating the user more... even if in an extreme example. Good thoughts friend. VERY interesting research cited... can you point us to the details? thanks!

    4. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 1

      I, for one, get paid to avoid them and my employers from wasting valuable time, money, and bandwidth both from such errors.

    5. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by 1s44c · · Score: 3, Informative

      I did find this:

      http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2008/09/study-confirms-users-are-idiots.ars

      I'm not sure if it's the study I was thinking of though.

    6. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      .....right.....by this logic shouldn't malware and viri have expired long ago as people 'wise up' - what an ignorant, naive fool you are - perfect mid-management material.

    7. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by DrNASA · · Score: 1

      HAHAHA - spoken like the guy not responsible for cleaning up other people's messes and securing mission critical or personal data. Users choosing their own level of security is why (probably) more than 70% of GeekSquad work is wiping hard drives due to malware. In the real world of business, it is the sysadmins job to provide the resources to get the job done and keep data safe. That's it. Getting the job done does not include YouTube, Facebook, or Solitare (yes, there are cases where social media is required) You want that - do it at home.

      Work is called that for a reason. Hopefully you are fortunate enough to enjoy the work that you do, making it seem less like work, but work it is and shall be and sucks to the whiners.

      Decide to let the marketing team decide their own security - a task for which they have neither the training, time, or inclination to do, and now nobody can access anything because the network is overrun with malware.

      Businesses run on specialization. Embrace that fact and let people ruin their own equipment. Not the company's.

      --
      ReaLemon is yummy
    8. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by DrNASA · · Score: 1

      Your link sir:
      (note - this is the actual study publication - not the Ars news story about said publication)

      http://media.haymarketmedia.com/Documents/1/SharekWogalterFakeWarning_publicationFinal_805.pdf

      --
      ReaLemon is yummy
    9. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by pentalive · · Score: 1
      Perhaps because the asset at risk is company data, and some of the users could not care less about company data. Some of those users might even be middle management. Upper management usually knows the value of the data but they have other follies.

      Joe User: Passwords do vex me - lets kill them now!

      IS Dept: But that will mean anyone could copy our data.

      Joe User: So? I could get my job done.

      IS Dept: Even our most hated competitors would know everything/

      Joe User: So? I could get my job done.

      IS Dept: ???

    10. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As sad as it is, isn't that exactly what Windows (through various reincarnations) has trained us to do?

      Way back when- especially with an already mucked-up system, you clicked 5 times before you got a response from the computer (remember Windows 95/98/ME?)

      Warnings are either annoying or unimportant (or both) too much of the time, as well. UAC? Click through! Repetitive? Click through! You can even ignore it... (a truly important or relevant warning shouldn't be ignorable.)

      Anti-virus and similar programs aren't much better. If the program is stupid enough to try to connect to the internet for updates (while there's no internet available, 3 my laptop), it'll whine. If your anti virus doesn't whine, Windows will, saying "out of date, yada, yada".

      The twisted pride in their ignorance is something that is cultural. It -is- possible to change something in the massive office subculture, even if it's difficult.

    11. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by shiftless · · Score: 1

      Work is called that for a reason. Hopefully you are fortunate enough to enjoy the work that you do, making it seem less like work, but work it is and shall be and sucks to the whiners.

      This is one of those "facts" that was drilled into your brain as a child, then as a teenager, and as an adult. You just blindly accepted it without question as "the way things are", and now these are the "facts" you tell everyone you meet. Most people will grudgingly accept it as true, unsure as to why deep down inside they feel that things really don't have to be this way.

      I've met your kind often enough before. You're a weakling, a below average specimen, and your purpose in life is to drag at and tear others down to your own perspective. When other people were reaching for the stars you were too timid to leave the house, preferring instead to stay with what's comfortable and safe--society's norms. You bought into the whole "real world" line of bullshit hook, line, and sinker. You've based your entire life and worldview around the popular myth that slaving away for 8+ hours a day is healthy and good and completely normal, and that people get jobs they like because they're "fortunate", not because they're smarter and more ambitious than you.

      You will do anything to maintain this false reality you have constructed for yourself. The idea that someone might be spending a few minutes playing a card game or checking their Facebook email at work just burns you up, because that's a direct threat to your ideas. If those people are allowed to continue their activities and the world doesn't end as a result, then that might mean you were wrong about something. If you are wrong about this one thing, then what about everything else? That's a very dangerous line of thought and your ego won't tolerate it. Your worldview can't be wrong, so those who conflict with it must be the ones in the wrong and must be argued with and fought and punished. They must be dragged down to your level to protect your ego and you will drag anyone down you can.

      The tragedy in all this is not that you will live from cradle to coffin blinded by your own weakness. The real tragedy is that others with more potential will most certainly be misled by you and other fools into thinking that your limited viewpoint is really "how the real world works", and cease their aspirations for greater things. We already have enough sheep like you. What we need in this world is more leaders, men and women who will raise society up to greater ideals instead of dragging it down into the dumps to make themselves feel better about their own shitty lives.

      Please do the world a favor and keep your negativity to yourself from now on.

      By the way, why is it that people are prohibited from surfing Facebook, or checking their personal email, or playing a quick game or Solitaire, or doing whatever else at work? It's not security or the other bullshit reasons that are often trotted out. What it boils down to is that prohibiting these activities gives someone a sense of control that they are sorely lacking in their lives. I'm talking about people who are above you on the ladder, i.e. middle managers and other low level cretins who make these types of decisions.

      In a halfway healthy organization, as you rise higher and higher through the ranks idiotic restrictions are generally replaced by responsibility and accountability. In a healthy organization, the top dogs got there not by being controlling little assholes but by being real leaders. Real leaders have no need to place arbitrary restrictions on their followers in order to get some petty and shallow sense of control. I can guarantee that whoever works for the upper management of a Fortune 500 company (or most any company really) isn't restricted from surfing Facebook at work if they really want to do so. If this person is not doing his job then he would simply be replaced, end of story.

    12. Re:Dont you mean "oppresing"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so...nice try but ultimately wrong. what we were really talking about was securing a IT environment - not management theory. you took a minor comment way out of context and in spite of your condenmation against negativity, you ironically spewed quite a bit yourself.

      I don't recall saying the YouTube or Facebook were blocked for security reasons. It was a generalized statement that could have been worded better - the ultimate point being that why should business users be asked to set their own security level when the only items they truly need to get their jobs done is configured and standardized?

      Back to the management theory thing - some companies don't care as a long as the work is done, some see it as though if you are on the clock, you should be working, not playing. You can take that one up with management and the corporate culture - not me.

      It sounds like you were either burned in the corporate world or an an absolute idealist, which is great - the world really does need people like you to balance the pragmatism of the majority of others, to question the status quo, but don't be so quick to judge ok?

  4. How do you explain a buffer overflow? by sleepdev · · Score: 0

    How about just saying that we can't do our jobs right, so you need to be very careful instead, to cover our asses for us.

    1. Re:How do you explain a buffer overflow? by quickOnTheUptake · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As funny as I found your comment, as a serious note it's a bit too simplistic.
      Ultimately the one weak link in security that is always present is the user. So you have to either hamper the user, and progressively cripple his ability to use the computer or you have to educate him of who to trust and who not to.
      Any power you give the user is a power he can ultimately be tricked into misusing.

      --
      Mod points: Guaranteed to remove your sense of humor.
      Side effects may include gullibility and temporary retardation
  5. Security holes by Smegly · · Score: 1

    Even easier with better impact, just give a simple security message that any wrong action on their part can open a security hole - then flash the g'tse image.
    Your users will not dare to violate your security rules after that, and probably not ever again for the rest of their lives.

    1. Re:Security holes by snowraver1 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Just show them this:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SNxaJlicEU

      --
      Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. This comment may not be copied in any way including, but not limited to caching.
    2. Re:Security holes by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Yeah... but the author was asking how to show them visually computer security risks.

      Not how to get fired and sued by displaying imagery that would be offensive to the average person.

    3. Re:Security holes by AndGodSed · · Score: 1

      I think you define "average person" very widely...

    4. Re:Security holes by The+Archon+V2.0 · · Score: 1

      I think you define "average person" very widely...

      Doesn't something that's average, by its nature, have to be defined widely...?

    5. Re:Security holes by darkpixel2k · · Score: 1

      Even easier with better impact, just give a simple security message that any wrong action on their part can open a security hole

      Didn't Microsoft already try UAC and fail miserably...

      --
      There's no place like ::1 (I've completed my transition to IPv6)
    6. Re:Security holes by trentblase · · Score: 1
    7. Re:Security holes by jsiren · · Score: 1

      I think you define "average person" very widely...

      Doesn't something that's average, by its nature, have to be defined widely...?

      If the "average person" eats at McD, then yes.

      --
      Usage: km/h for speed (kilometers per hour); kph for very slow impulses (kilopond hours).
  6. So you are looking for a "Reefer Madness" movie... by John+Hasler · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...about computer security? Those work so well.

    --
    Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
  7. Change their perspective to be self gratifying by onyxruby · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I was spending some time with some friends of mine a few months back when the inevitable malware conversation came up. These friends happened to all be quite computer illiterate. What I did instead of giving the usual spiel about malware was show them a better experience.

    I sat them down and showed them how to use firefox with noscript. I showed them their favorite sites without all the baggage and they were amazed at the improved experience. I made sure I showed them how to use noscript with sites like facebook and still get what they wanted.

    All of this was done in less than 15 minutes, and they now use this combination on a daily basis, not because of the improved security, but because of the improved experience. The fact that their security is improved is entirely incidental.

    Note to firefox dev's, improve your enterprise management tools so that I can justify rolling out firefox to the enterprise after proving to management that it can be managed at the enterprise level. Enterprises need ways to consistently enforce policies with firefox using AD! Until this can be done firefox will never take over Internet Explorer in the Enterprise.

    1. Re:Change their perspective to be self gratifying by ddillman · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Note to firefox dev's, improve your enterprise management tools so that I can justify rolling out firefox to the enterprise after proving to management that it can be managed at the enterprise level. Enterprises need ways to consistently enforce policies with firefox using AD! Until this can be done firefox will never take over Internet Explorer in the Enterprise.

      You know, sticking this down in some random response on a Slashdot discussion thread is not the most likely way to have Firefox devs see and possibly implement what you're looking for. Have you posted this over at mozilla.com?

      --
      Little girls, like butterflies, need no excuse. -- L. Long
    2. Re:Change their perspective to be self gratifying by DrNASA · · Score: 1
      --
      ReaLemon is yummy
    3. Re:Change their perspective to be self gratifying by Nimey · · Score: 1

      I'm sure many people who work in professional IT have been griping about this to Mozilla for years. It would be such a handy feature, after all.

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
    4. Re:Change their perspective to be self gratifying by buchner.johannes · · Score: 2, Informative
      --
      NB: The message above might reflect my opinion right now, but not necessarily tomorrow or next year.
    5. Re:Change their perspective to be self gratifying by onyxruby · · Score: 1

      Looking at it now, looks like development only picked up on this again September of last year and it still hasn't hit a 1.0 release. That may sound silly, but to an enterprise manager that shows the software is immature and may not be stable. That being said this looks promising and I will be taking a look at it. Understand, I use firefox at home, I want to use it at the enterprise level, but that can't happen without the right toolsets to manage it at the enterprise level.

    6. Re:Change their perspective to be self gratifying by onyxruby · · Score: 1

      I agree with your point, it was more of a by the way thought will I was at it. I have followed the other 'bug report' link from another user as well as looking at an ADM tool link from another poster.

      I understand Firefox is open source, and that if I think something ought to be done better I have the right and license to go in and do it better myself. However I'm not a programmer, I have other skills like creating scripts and configuring RAID arrays which is a far cry from being qualified to perform programming. All I can do is try to comment to those that can make it better and have an interest in increased utilization.

      I'm an infrastructure architect and my managers aren't interested in running beta anything. My job is to make enterprise environments very stable, and I can't do that with unproven tools. All that being said, I think I will follow your idea and post something over at Mozilla.com for those that are qualified.

    7. Re:Change their perspective to be self gratifying by couchslug · · Score: 1

      "Have you posted this over at mozilla.com?"

      The near certainty that a geek will kill time at work browsing /. probably makes posting here a better choice.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  8. www.IdentityTheft.info video by Cyko_01 · · Score: 4, Informative

    here is a great video that shows how to detect a phishing scam using examples http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzfPUmQcfDs

    1. Re:www.IdentityTheft.info video by Stratoukos · · Score: 1

      Is there a version without bad puns?

      --
      It may be 7 digits, but at least it's a semiprime
    2. Re:www.IdentityTheft.info video by get+quad · · Score: 1

      Thanks! though not exactly what I had in mind, the first visual example posted.

      --
      "To err is human, to mod Funny divine."
  9. Backdoor.Ghostnet by adnd74 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Symantec Security Response has an excellent video about Backdoor.Ghostnet on their youtube channel.

    I think the message here is that if you don't practice safe computing, the tools exist that empower just about anyone to pwn you

    1. Re:Backdoor.Ghostnet by buchner.johannes · · Score: 1

      No, the message is screw VNC and SMB. I want to use that userfriendly tool!

      --
      NB: The message above might reflect my opinion right now, but not necessarily tomorrow or next year.
  10. This just gave me an idea. by pavon · · Score: 1

    You know what would be really cool? If you had a rewriting-proxy that would occasionally insert a cartoon spy in pages that could be unsafe, reminding/warning them about what could have happened. For example if they submitted a form with a password, and it wasn't encrypted, the spy could pop up and say "This password is unprotected, and could be snooped. Be sure not to use the same password for anything important!", and then have buttons the users could click to submit the form anyway or cancel. If they arrived on a form from a link (refer is set) you could insert the spy, reminding them to check that the URL is correct and not a phishing site, and to always type the URL for important sites, like banks.

    Situational reminders like this (if not overdone) would do more to create an atmosphere of caution and thoughtfulness then a yearly presentation would.

    1. Re:This just gave me an idea. by bjelkeman · · Score: 1

      Use the MS Office tools with the paperclip a lot?

      --
      Akvo.org - the open source for water and sanitation
  11. Phishing article on SciAm by Unequivocal · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-to-foil-phishing-scams

    This is a good start and I'd recommend investigating the author's other published material.

    1. Re:Phishing article on SciAm by JSG · · Score: 1

      Hillarious: The original poster asks for advice and you post a "pay to read" link.

      I have nothing against a journalist trying to make a living but you were asked for your advice not someone else's (are you the author - can't be arsed to check.)

      This is a discussion about phishing, do you see what I am getting at?

    2. Re:Phishing article on SciAm by Unequivocal · · Score: 1

      I see there's some irony there. It's not phishing. The guy is looking resources, I point him towards an article with a solid bibliography. If he doesn't want to pay, that's his (or anyone else's) business. He can go to the library and look it up if he wants it for free, just like any other book or mag. Just b/c it's not free and on the internet doesn't mean it's not useful.

      I do agree that I should have pointed out that this is a for-fee site.

  12. Cisco's Website by Cytlid · · Score: 1

    Check out Cisco's website. Really. Most of the time, they have some videos geared towards marketing and business types. They even have some cute superhero thing about threats. It drives me crazy because usually I go there for technical purposes, I want to see configuration commands and tech docs. But every once in a while I'll find a good diagram or video which gets my point across to non-techie types.

    --
    FLR
  13. Re:So you are looking for a "Reefer Madness" movie by gmuslera · · Score: 1

    Probably a better example would be looking for a "Taken" about computer security... At least, the start of the movie, no matter how much we would like to hit, shot, stab, and put a spammer/botnet hoarder under electric shocks until the light gets cut for no payment.

  14. People are stupid by Crashspeeder · · Score: 1

    it doesn't matter how you explain it to them, whether it's pretty pictures or text, they won't understand or care.

  15. Security education video game and movie by redtail · · Score: 2, Interesting

    http://cisr.nps.edu/cyberciege/ is a video game designed to teach computer security concepts. In addition to its more advanced scenarios, it includes a few simple "awareness" scenarios, the first of which directly addresses your topic. Further, this animated movie: http://cisr.nps.edu/cyberciege/movies/02CIEGE.html helps the layman understand why the problem of malicious software is so hard to solve. The link includes a free evaluation version of the game.

    --
    Redtail
  16. Videos help? by MrCrassic · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I figured that most people would treat videos on computer security like the videos that teachers would show at school. Their reaction?

    "NO WORK!!!"

    I think that what's most effective is just enforcing your security policies using Group Policy or other management tools on the network. That way, you KNOW that most people won't violate any policies set forth, and those that do are the ones that didn't need the training in the first place.

    If you're really adamant about educating your employees with videos and such, find REALLY GOOD videos that will hold their attention for their entire run. Remember, at the end of the day, those computers don't belong to them and most of them simply wish to get work done. Any teaching method which can exploit these two truths for educational value is probably worth watching.

    1. Re:Videos help? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you're really adamant about educating your employees with videos and such, find REALLY GOOD videos that will hold their attention for their entire run.

      I think that's an excellent idea. Perhaps the OP should post an 'Ask Slashdot' story asking where he can find are video or flash examples of these?

  17. Dark Ages by banished · · Score: 2, Insightful

    My company's solution is to lock down the systems so tightly as to turn network systems into standalone systems.

  18. Re:So you are looking for a "Reefer Madness" movie by countertrolling · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Yes, they do, on a mass scale. When applied "properly" to things like smut, terrorism, gay marriage, etc, the "Reefer Madness" tactic works very well. In fact it's still working on the drug situation also. Otherwise prohibition would have been abolished a long time ago. Do not underestimate the power of "madness".

    --
    For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
  19. Study confirms [Re:Dont you mean "oppresing" (sic) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    ...study-confirms-users-are-idiots.ars [arstechnica.com]

    Unfortunately, there should be another article titled "study confirms that computer system administrators are also mostly idiots"... but, of course, that wouldn't win any awards on a site like arstechnica, which caters to the computer geek set, which likes to pretend that they are not idiots.

    Nor on a site like slashdot, for that matter. (Moderation: troll, here it comes.... guess I'd better click that "post anonymously" box, or else I'm gonna burn through karma...)

  20. What's in it for them? by petes_PoV · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Viruses, worms etc. aren't really the users' problem - unless you can categorically point the finger at an individual and get them fired (as an example, pour les autres). Why should they care if THE COMPANY computers crash, or slow down or give them reasons why they can't do their job?

    So why should they go to the inconvenience of not clicking on links that they want to, or not visiting any website that takes their fancy? By appealing to their "professionalism" or "humanity" or "team spirit" you're probably on a loser. While these might get them gee-d up for a short time, you can bet that unless there's some personal pain involved in doing it, they'll be back to their old habits in a few weeks time.

    Once you can put security in terms a normal user will understand: i.e. If you click on a bad website, these bad things will happen TO YOU, they'll pay attention. Until then you haven't got a chance.

    --
    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
    1. Re:What's in it for them? by Abstrackt · · Score: 1

      Excellent point about bringing personal pain.

      When I found some malware (Securitytool, basically holds the computer hostage) on one of the computers I called everyone around it and told them that because someone installed something they weren't supposed to, everyone who used that computer for online banking or any other important activities needed to change their passwords if they wanted to keep their bank accounts full. To this day I don't know who kept messing up that computer but it hasn't happened since.

      --
      They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. - Terry Pratchett
  21. If you want them to learn... by OpenSourced · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Nobody learns to avoid fire by being told. You have to get near and feel the heat to know you better not do it. So my advice is: make traps. Send them emails signed by other coworker asking for their password. Send them executable files that block their computer and flash a sign telling them that all their files are being erased, just because they executed a file from a unknown origin. All kind of traps, with nasty consequences if possible, you don't want them to click into everything because it can be another amusing idea of you. You want them scared of your ideas so that they look askance to every email or web page to see if it could be a trap. As they might be, so that's the right attitude.

    --
    Rome taught me patience and assiduous application to detail. Virtues which temper the boldness of great, general views.
    1. Re:If you want them to learn... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Absolutely!

      And two months later when you're back at the unemployment office you can chuckle to yourself about the fun you had.

    2. Re:If you want them to learn... by OpenSourced · · Score: 1

      And two months later when you're back at the unemployment office you can chuckle to yourself about the fun you had.

      That's a possibility, of course. But you'd be doing your job in the best possible way. In my experience, there is always an element of risk in excellence. Anyway, you can minimize your risks. You can always make a seminar first, give everybody a ten-commandment-sheet, etc. explaining what they cannot do, and then send the traps as tests, after some weeks. If they fail, you can say that anybody following the security measures has nothing to fear from the traps, that way you slyly shift the blame to them victims.

      --
      Rome taught me patience and assiduous application to detail. Virtues which temper the boldness of great, general views.
  22. Flash? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Boy, I thought you were going to avoid dangerous and annoying plugins ...

  23. Set policy by InlawBiker · · Score: 1

    It is pretty simple really. You have to set policy and communicate it. Then, if policy is broken the company must actually follow up with the repercussions stated in the policy. People are pretty smart - they understand repercussions. If the company doesn't back up the policy then it's not a policy, and there's no real reason for users to follow it.

  24. How to fix it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1) Download and install http://camstudio.org/
    2) Start CamStudio.
    3) Turn javascript OFF.
    4) Stop CamStudio.
    5) Post the video somewhere.
    6) Send out general announcement e-mail with link to above video. Include sentence explaining that websites which don't work without javascript are inherently unsafe and unnecessary.
    7) Relax and do something more interesting.

  25. Re:Study confirms [Re:Dont you mean "oppresing" (s by DrNASA · · Score: 1

    oh - i don't think anyone would argue that sysadmins aren't idiots - just in different spheres of knowledge or influence.
    i certainly couldn't cope in finance or psycology, but I'm not put into situations where I am expected to have a full working knowledge of the minutae of those fields and then left to my own devices to function - 'idiot be dammed'

    That's basically what lawnboy was apparently suggesting - and that's a theory alot of sysadmins would reject in practice (i would love it if everyone could function in that way) but most won't and so it is left to us to safeguard them from themselves as well as others as much as possible. That's all it's about - it's not disdain for the person as a human, just a recognition of their skillset and the expectation that we should realisticlly have for them.

    --
    ReaLemon is yummy
  26. Here's the solution by Khyber · · Score: 1

    Make yourself a laptop with a deep freeze image. this way you can infect the system at will, reboot and it's clean.

    Show the people using your system just how badly a zero-day exploit can hose a system.

    Reboot, show the next group. Rinse, repeat.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    1. Re:Here's the solution by mysidia · · Score: 1

      Quite dangerous... what happens when your infected system sends spam or the infection downloader pulls a new version from the author and tries to spread itself to other machines in your corporate network, through a zero-day vuln you haven't patched yet?

    2. Re:Here's the solution by Khyber · · Score: 1

      You use it on a connection not connected to the business network, like a tethered phone modem, or a wireless 3G service, etc.

      Never ever demo an exploit while connected to the business network - what insane fool would do that?

      Wait, don't answer that. :)

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  27. Don't listen, they're lusers [Re:Dont you mean...] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Joe User: Passwords do vex me - lets kill them now!
    IS Dept: But that will mean anyone could copy our data.
    Joe User: So? I could get my job done.
    IS Dept: Even our most hated competitors would know everything/
    Joe User: So? I could get my job done.
    IS Dept: ???

    Or,

    Joe: "This new security protocol makes it impossible for me to do my job!"

    IT Guy: "So? That makes the system more secure."

    Joe: "Who can I talk to to modify some of the problems here? I need a workaround so I can do my job."

    IT Guy: "Send it to /dev/null. We don't listen to lusers."

    Joe: "But you've made it so I can't do my job!"

    IT Guy: "Not my problem. Go away, luser."

  28. naaaahhh.. crazy talk. by tempest69 · · Score: 1

    The whole bloody mess is mis-engineered... The secure settings in IE are a bear to browse with, and are still vulnerable to some zero day exploits. Windows itself is a mess, how many areas are there to check for programs that load at boot?

    the legacy dos files...
    the run and run-once lines in the registry (all of them)
    runservices
    load
    userinit
    the startup menu
    the startup menu for the user
    lots of the code doesnt work unless it gets full rein to jack your system. Turn on the windows based security and programs like xfire throw a fit as they are constantly requesting to break security for legit reasons.. The security breaks usability and the idiots want to be able to just see the video from a friend without all this hassle of loading flash. Or download a file without a freak-out.
    While you can limit what sites you visit. mistype google or microsoft, and theres no telling what your pc will contract.

  29. One visual representation always works... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...that of a pissed off sysadmin charging down the corridor wielding a sizable rubber mallet.

  30. Virtualforge has really good XSS and CSRF vids by spinkham · · Score: 1

    http://www.virtualforge.de/vmovie.php

    the XSS and CSRF videos are very good visualizations for the common user using simple examples.

    --
    Blessed are the pessimists, for they have made backups.
  31. Deny internet access to repeat offenders by JustNiz · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Deny internet access to repeat offenders. They soon get the message that way.

  32. Excellent Question; Really Bad Timing by DaveAtFraud · · Score: 1

    Excellent question but, unfortunately, it hit the main /. page on a Saturday. Let's just say that the percentage of readers who are IT professionals drops off significantly over the weekend. Go figure.

    Most of your responses so far are along the lines of, "You NAZI! Leave your users alone and let the one's who don't learn get what they deserve." Obviously, not the response of an IT type who has to deal with regulatory requirements and wants to keep his job. You might try the same question again but on a weekday on a computer and network security related site.

    Good luck with your search.

    Cheers,
    Dave

    --
    They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.
    Ben
  33. I Have a Vision of... by mrsquid0 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hi, I'm Troy McClure. You may remember me from such IT security videos as "Microsoft Explorer: Ubiquitous but Unsecure" or "Passwords: The Road to Ruin".

    --
    Just because you are paranoid does not mean that no-one is out to get you.
  34. Demostrate by Deathlizard · · Score: 1

    A demostration of the "Customer Appreciation Bat" works wonders.

    Although since it's a corporate institution, the "Security Empowerment Bat" might be more effective.

    1. Re:Demostrate by John+Hasler · · Score: 1

      Trouble is, at most places the "Security Empowerment Bat" is made out of marshmellow.

      --
      Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
  35. Simple solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A simple solution: redirect known dangerous sites to "n i m p . o r g" (with spaces on purpose - if you delete them and go there, you'll know why, but DON'T). I guarantee that the first time they click on a bad link will be their last...

  36. Impress what happens when they AREN'T secure by mnemotronic · · Score: 1

    I suggest you emphasize the possibilities of what the Chinese government hackers, Russian mafia, and US Customs & Border Patrol will do to them if they don't practice proper security procedures. A scene from "Deliverance" that will get the point across. You know what I'm talking about.

    --
    The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.
  37. Why you shouldn't click random links by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    such as not clicking links in the occasional spam email which passes through filters

    Here's a good example of why people shouldn't click random links. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moia-oVI

  38. Look for vids of the WMF bug by BLKMGK · · Score: 2, Informative

    Sunbelt Security had a video posted of what occurs when you got hit by the old WMF bug awhile back. You could see software being installed, icons appearing on the desktop, and the desktop background being modified as this thing went to town and began popping fake AV warnings. It was one of THE most extreme and informative examples I can think of for this.

    Here's a copy of it I found on Youtube. A search for "WMF exploit" on YouTube will get you plenty of hits :-)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTBcDJ9kJH4

    IMO, I think this answers your question!

    --
    Build it, Drive it, Improve it! Hybridz.org
    1. Re:Look for vids of the WMF bug by lukej · · Score: 1

      A slightly more dramaticized version of the same: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unuyDJG7XCA

    2. Re:Look for vids of the WMF bug by Solder+Fumes · · Score: 1

      That video wasn't too exciting, but one of the related videos seems to fit the bill for the OP's request: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3atmWmWCwlw

    3. Re:Look for vids of the WMF bug by BLKMGK · · Score: 1

      That vid is a bit overblown, the vid I posted is pretty much exactly what happens when you click on the wrong thing and get owned.

      --
      Build it, Drive it, Improve it! Hybridz.org
  39. The real answer is ... by NotBornYesterday · · Score: 1

    The director stood up

    You found the holy grail of successful IT endeavors, (including educating end users) - executive buy-in and support. I know at least a dozen companies in which the executives pay lip service to lots of things, such as IT security, but don't actually actively support them. As a result, nothing really gets done in those areas.

    Show me a company that hires good IT folks, makes them feel valued, and supports them, and you will find a company with a rock solid IT infrastructure.

    --
    I prefer rogues to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest.
  40. I ususally use anaologies... by smisle · · Score: 1

    I teach computer classes to seniors and other people who have (usually) never turned one on before. When I cover the security section, I try to use analogies to help them understand the threat level and some ways to avoid most of it.

    For virus protection, I equate it to a body guard - If you're in a small town, or walking around downtown, you're fine, and the body guard probably won't even be needed. If something did come up, you'd be fine since it would probably be a mugger or a rabid dog, and the body guard would be able to take care of that. Now, if you start wandering around in a mine field, or in the middle of a battle (analogous to visiting warez sites or downloading and running a file someone you didn't know sent you, etc.) no amount of body guards will keep you from dying.

    This has really helped impress in my student's minds that it's really still up to them to not do anything stupid, and their anti-virus can't always keep them safe - especially if they are doing something dangerous on purpose.

    --
    I'm not a bird, I'm a super-advanced flying stealth dinosaur!
  41. Re:So you are looking for a "Reefer Madness" movie by Mister+Transistor · · Score: 1

    How about "Napster Baaaaad"?

    --
    -- You are in a maze of little, twisty passages, all different... --
  42. Really? by denzacar · · Score: 1

    A reminder/warning that user should click on to make it go away?

    How much time do you suppose would pass before:

    a) users completely ignore it, madly clicking [ OK ] without even looking at the text?
    b) it is spoofed and/or copied by malware sites, cartoon spy and all?

    Answer should be calculated in minutes and seconds, but feel free to use larger time units like hours and days.

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  43. Re:herding cattle by maxume · · Score: 1

    So it just sort of happens all on its own?

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  44. If you are talking about corp users by geekoid · · Score: 1

    why not block access to anything non-approved?
    More accurately, only allow specific site.
    Yes some people will get around it, but most people capable enough to get around aren't high risk. How many people who know how to tunnel would also download smileys?

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  45. PUMP them UP by bwcbwc · · Score: 1

    Maybe create some internal XSS that resides on your corporate proxy server. So when someone runs (say) a Facebook app, your XSS runs some Javascript off of an internal server that does something moderately annoying like continual pop-ups. Then if they click on one of the popups, disable their external web access completely.

    --
    We are the 198 proof..
    1. Re:PUMP them UP by metrix007 · · Score: 1

      How is that XSS?

      --
      If you ignore ACs because they are anonymous - you're an idiot.
  46. how i really feel about it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I say we just stick our foot up your arse.

  47. Simple Solution by chefshoemaker · · Score: 1

    Terry Tate, IT security Linebacker. "Woo-woo!"

  48. unsafe ... or just inppropriate? by bcrowell · · Score: 1

    why some websites aren't entirely safe or appropriate for the work environment (Facebook apps, MySpace, remote access apps, proxies, etc),

    Okay, I'll bite. Do facebook and myspace fall in the unsafe category, or are they just inappropriate? Obviously you don't want employees spending all their time at their desks screwing around with facebook, because you want them to be doing useful work. But if there's some actual security vulnerability that is opened up when a user simply goes to a web page with a certain flash or javascript app on it, then that sounds to me more like a problem with the browser you've chosen or the way you've chosen to configure it.

    One of the thing that makes me tune out IT's messages at my workplace is that their pronouncements often don't demonstrate an appropriate sense of proportion. For example, they were trying to get a rule instituted that would make it a firing offense to do a variety of things with your computer -- one of which was plugging in a flash drive. (No, I don't work at the CIA. I work at a community college.) If you tell people that their computer can get a virus if they do any of a long list of things, then probably (a) they're not going to believe you, or (b) they're going to decide the list is so long that it's not practical to comply with it. It's like telling kids that beer, marijuana, and heroin are all in the same category. Once they find out you lied about marijuana, they'll just go ahead and try heroin as well.

  49. draw it out by dropadrop · · Score: 1

    If you need to map it visually try doing it by something they understand and feel could affect them. Most people these day's are using a lot of services. Most of these services allow the password to be changed and sent to the users email address. Generally people will use the same password for all services, meaning that any one of them is broken into, and all of them can be accessed. Usually the email address will also tell you a lot of the services if uncertain. Drawing this out in a logical way explains to users why they should use separate passwords for different services, and why they should use separate passwords for work and personal services. Taking this further you can explain that a lot of trojans can steal their password making access even easier for an attacker might make them feel they have something personal to lose. Explaining how their machine could be part of a botnet might not...

  50. Fedex a package by holophrastic · · Score: 1

    A normal brown-box Fedex-like package. When they open it, a balloon bursts and glitter goes everywhere.

    Maybe they'll learn not to open random packages when it means maybe cleaning glitter for six days.

  51. Making people care is about incentives by gravos · · Score: 1

    People respond to their actual incentives, not what you pretend the incentives are.

    If people were held personally liable for damages caused by security breaches that they enabled, they would get smarter about security.

    I'm not arguing that they should be held liable, just that it's going to be hard to make them care when they aren't.

  52. Be the bad guy by cowtamer · · Score: 1

    Send some "test" links yourself. When you manage to break into the user's machine, e-mail the user his own confidential document, password, etc. Then tell him _how_ he exposed himself and that you _could_ have been the bad guy.

    I learned how to use chmod properly this way a LONG time ago -- the teaching method was highly effective... :)

    (You will, of course, get the careless users ticked off -- so make sure you have management approval for this. But seeing _proof_ of what _will_ happen will get the message across for good).

  53. or... by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

    ...remove the links, scripts and images from the emails before they get to the end user. If your users really can't be trusted with certain things, then why are you giving them the very things they can't be trusted with?

    No sensible person or company puts those things in an email any more, anyway. If you need to go do something with your account at your bank, the email just says, "Please go to your account and check your status." Anything further is probably spam, mal-something, or straight-up clueless.

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  54. Rethink your medium by mikep554 · · Score: 1

    It sounds like you want to send an email to all your co-workers with a link to something cool online. The cool link will then teach them not to click on links in emails containing suposedly cool things. Your delivery mechanism is exactly that which you wish your users to avoid. I'm starting to come around to the school of thought stating there will never be enough motivation for corporate users to learn this stuff, so it is futile to try.

  55. Re:Don't listen, they're lusers [Re:Dont you mean. by pentalive · · Score: 1
    So Coward, you believe that Joe should be able to use the system without having to enter any password?

    My post was in reply to "lets let the users decide how much security they want" my point was that the users would probably opt for "none". A properly designed security policy will protect the assets and let Joe do his job.

  56. It's you who ignores basic rules of human behavior by Hurricane78 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    1. "If someone can do something wrong, someone will."
    There's no way to circumvent this. Ever. Period. You have to accept, that humans make errors. But it's ok if they learn from it.
    The problem is:

    2. "To get people to learn from something, they have to have an interest in it."
    So if it does not hurt them, and does not give them a advantage, then why should they learn anything? Humans are all about efficiency. In fact all competing life-forms ever, are. In all of the universe.
    So what do you do? You follow basic rules of creating a motivating gradient. By offering advantages for those who learn, and disadvantages for those who don't.

    Here, remember, that positive gradients (relative to the person's state) are always better, than negative ones (like punishment).

    So I recommend this: At the next raise of salaries, raise them a bit less. But offer the remaining part as a bonus for those who can prove their security-awareness.
    The amount is pretty easy to choose: It's the amount that you'd lose (e.g. the money to recover from loss or destruction), multiplied by the factor of likeliness (e.g. one in a million = 0.000001), divided by the number of people in the company (optional, depending on your p.o.v.).

    You could check their security-awareness, by testing them every year on a random day. Like a fire drill. But with a security drill. (Without announcing anything. Without any alarm going off.)
    And by filling out a question form at the end of the day (one that takes a negligible amount of time, and is also there, to refresh the knowledge. One more reason to make it a random day [= better learning])

    You can bet your mother on the fact that they will be much better at caring for security! ^^

    Only remember, to make all those drills, bonuses and tests proportional to the actual real amount of damage. Don't be surprised, if it then will be less than you thought.

    --
    Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  57. http://securitycartoon.com/ by story645 · · Score: 1

    A while back a slashdot comment had a link to security cartoon. The cartoons are cute and pretty thorough, though the may be a bit simple and are somewhat outdated. It's visual and pretty straightforward.

    --
    open source modern art: laser taggi
    1. Re:http://securitycartoon.com/ by get+quad · · Score: 1

      Best one yet! Many Thanks!

      --
      "To err is human, to mod Funny divine."
  58. Re:So you are looking for a "Reefer Madness" movie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, they do, on a mass scale. When applied "properly" to things like smut, terrorism, gay marriage, etc, the "Reefer Madness" tactic works very well. In fact it's still working on the drug situation also. Otherwise prohibition would have been abolished a long time ago. Do not underestimate the power of "madness".

    I was just going to mod you up, but this requires an actual, verbal (textual?) daps.

    It's sad what mass media does to the general public's capacity for rational thought.

  59. Ah, so your management is a bunch of dicks by xant · · Score: 1

    You did manage to save them a bunch of money, though. Now that your users aren't fucking up their machines any more, there's little reason to keep paying you to do nothing. Cost of your services, and all that.

    --
    It's rare that you're presented with a knob whose only two positions are Make History and Flee Your Glorious Destiny.
  60. Torch a Box In From of Them Once Per Quarter by obscuro · · Score: 1

    Call a meeting. Get an old box running the company standard stuff. Tell them its no different from their box and that if it were connected to the company network it could infect everyone EVEN THEIR BOSS. Then DISCONNECT IT FROM ANY NETWORK ACCESS. And infect it with a virus that torches the drive. Not many people have actually seen a virus turn a perfectly good machine into a basket case.

    --
    Every rule has more than one consequence.
  61. This is actually a big problem by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Usually, when something "bad" happens, you get to see the result. You lose your wallet, you can't pay next time you have to. Someone breaks into your house, everything's turned upside down. With malware, there just ain't anything to see.

    To make things worse, people have been told by Hollywood that there is something to see. Computer screens "melting" or outright explosions (those dreaded 220kV lines in those flatscreens ... you know...), or at least some nifty CGI (honestly, every time someone searches fingerprints on CSI .... I'd have broken the programmer's fingers if he really showed a ton of "wrong" fingerprints while searching and wasting a lot of time for pointless eye candy... but I ramble). But there just is nothing to see. Why? Because that's the whole point of infecting someone: To have a spy in his computer without the person knowing it. You double click the infector and you don't see anything. Maybe, if you're using a slow maching, you get the "busy" mouse icon for a split second.

    My solution usually is to show them what happens behind the scenes. First of all, it's interesting because it's kinda-sorta-maybe illegal, since you're doing what the bad boys are doing (with the difference that you're not really infecting anything but your own presentation machines). And they get to see what they usually don't get to see. It's not even a problem that it's way over their head because nmap output looks impressive, even if you don't get a thing. But even a monitoring proxy output is usually enough (you just have to point to the information that you want to stress). Set up Alice, Bob and Dave and give them a show of "what if you're infected".

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  62. cash money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, you might have two problems, not just one. Is all the bad security coming from the lower level users, or does it extend as far as the boardroom? (I bet it is both).

      So, this solution doesn't even need to be visual perhaps, here is one scenario that might work. You send around an email with all the security rules they have already agreed to. Now, the new company policy, anyone screws up, and it can be traced back to them, whatever it costs to fix the problem..well..hope they have not only a good but a great team of lawyers, because they will be sued for the cost$.

    In this economy, that will sink it. There's no reason for any company to eat the damages when an employee violates what they know are the security rules. And stick to it, take 'em to court, estimate the damages, show the proof you have, if someone screws up deliberately after that memo goes around.

        So you just tell them, it is up to them as "responsible adults" whether or not they think they have enough savings to risk to justify clicking on any random thing or surfing to places outside of work related sites, or sticking their USB device into the secure internal network, or anything like that at all that violates the rules they agreed to when they got hired.

    If this is a recurrent problem, you and your company just aren't being professional enough, and like I said, in this economy, I don't think you'll need to look very far for replacement employees either, even the alleged prima donnas. Thousands of replacement prima donnas are out there right now cashing unemployment checks. In other words, there are no special little snowflakes anymore.

      If they need a refresher on what the security rules are, add that in to the company wide memo. As an added incentive, in the case this is a publicly traded corporation, any shareholder or group of shareholders can also "suggest" as a friendly little reminder that this applies all the way to top management as well, just specify "all employees,inclusive", or an additional lawsuit might be in the offing, and that attached letter can be signed by the outside shareholders attorneys as well.

    I see people here say they can't rock the boat upstream, and that is BS in most cases, you approach recalcitrant and stupid and dangerous bosses from a shareholder and lawyer perspective if they are the ones who are the most guilty of destroying corporate security. Remember, they work for the shareholders and are accountable for their actions, especially if they are risking the company's profits, market share, customer relations because perhaps THEIR data gets compromised, and PR image and exposing them to outside lawsuits for bad practices.

        Outside law firms are not the least bit afraid of any CEO and if it looks like they have a slamdunk, if YOU have done your security professional homework and have the proof of high level malfeasance like deliberately violating security best practices that are written down, over and over again, they will take the case most likely. They love that stuff. There are numerous law firms that specialize in such cases, get details from them of course, IANAL, etc, but whistleblowers and especially whistleblowers who are also shareholders have some pretty decent rights today in most places, even in "right to work-at will" areas where you risk getting fired for just being honest and doing your job. So what, if they say they have a slamdunk, you might come out of it with a lot of cash anyway, especially if fired.

    In other words, you don't have to put up with childish stupidity downstream, nor do you have to take illegal and stupid shit from upstream, as long as you approach this logically and look at the laws first. Security is a real concern nowadays, it is no longer a joke subject or something to trivialize.

  63. Change their perspective so they quail in terror by mrmeval · · Score: 1

    Send out a fake spam email. Anyone who clicks on the link gets a security warning letter and a "You are subject to termination for clicking on the link in an email. Contact HR immediately"

    --
    I'd go on a Vegan diet but the delivery time from Vega is too long. --brownkitty
  64. Bug 267888 by tepples · · Score: 1

    Have you posted this over at mozilla.com?

    Bug 267888.

  65. WZZ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  66. WZZ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  67. WZZ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  68. FTC Site has some basic stuff, but not scripting by aarenz · · Score: 1

    FTC has site on Phishing that may help. We have been getting the Outlook update link in an fake email here for a while, have had to send many reminders that we will not send links to people for updates on their computer since we manage patches and updates automatically. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/tech/privacy.shtm

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  70. You don't talk them into being smart by Logic+Worshipper · · Score: 1

    You idiot proof problem user's computers. If you're using Active Directory reduce their privileges, if you're not, give them only limited accounts - only you will have the admin password to their computers (if that isn't already the case) then Install firefox, adblock plus with malware filters and high security settings, and disable IE. If you need IE for certain websites, whitelist those sites, then don't allow any cookies, scripting, or anything else from internet zone in IE. User's can't click stupid executables if they don't have permission to run executable files. If none of that works give them a computer with Linux on it, but only you have the root password; show them how to use thunderbird, firefox, and openoffice, and only other things they need for work.

  71. search limewire using "passwords" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just show a few screenshots of limewire using the search terms "password" or "credit card".

    That should scare the sh*t out of anybody...

    sorry - no time to create your account so I'll post as a coward.

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