Security Basics mailing list archives
RE: Security and the Under 30 User
From: "Dan Denton" <ddenton () remitpro com>
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 13:24:27 -0600
I too had an experience with users being upset about being cut off from MySpace and Facebook, and as a result was called all sorts of names behind my back as well as to my face. This doesn't quite address the whole question, but it's my opinion that as long as users feel any sort of entitlement to things non-work related, then they'll pitch a fit when someone's bad behavior costs them, and it's always the Network Admin's fault for taking management's side. In my case, rampant use of social networking sites was keeping legitimate work from being done. When asked if they could be cut off from those sites, I said yes, and the hammer dropped. When work productivity is on the line, management doesn't hesitate to take away perks. To the point, the younger users are always the one to cry foul first, and I think it's because they tend to use such sites in their off time, and it means more to them than someone who's older and knows that such access is a privilege, not a right. As far as their willingness to throw money away in the name of "freedom", I'll once again blame that on generational differences. Older users who are familiar with recessions and harder times are less likely to waste hard earned money. Younger ones conversely care more about instant gratification. "Information now..." and what's new and cutting-edge. -----Original Message----- From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com] On Behalf Of net sec consule Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:26 AM To: security-basics () securityfocus com Subject: Security and the Under 30 User Hi, First, the disclaimer: I am over 40, have never been 'cool' and I have always been considered 'the tall, lanky, four-eyed geek.' But I don't get the under-30 crowd's attitude towards IT security. Can someone please give me a clue? I am at a loss how to respond to the attitude I hear, and it impacts my client's security and my credibility. I have been doing network security consulting for over 15 years. I also do several public service IT security presentations to community and professional groups each month. In either environment, I consistently get a hostile reception from those under 30. The attitude I get is "IT security is a bunch of moronic bull (expletive deleted) dreamed up by paranoid moronic geezers to justify their existence." I my consulting practice, I often find where under 30 users either don't have anti-virus or anti-spyware installed. Or, if their company has installed it, they have disabled it. They label the AV concept 'stupid' and believe that malware is just a fact of life and you should 'get over it', and that it really isn't as bad as 'people like me' claim it is. I also find that the majority of the younger crowd has either disabled the anti-virus that came with their personal computer or did not renew the subscription when it expired. You mention key stoke loggers and other spyware, the attitude I get is "If you don't have anything to hide, then you have nothing to worry about." Or, "Why should I worry about privacy? Every aspect of my life is already out there for anyone to read in my blog on MySpace." If you bring up all the malware slowing down their computer, you get arguments that AV software slows it down worse. I also get the attitude that "Everything I need to keep is on my flash drive, so what whenever my performance starts to (expletive deleted), I just blow away the hard drive and reinstall." Mention Joe Lopez and his loss of bank funds, and the attitude is that his case is an anomaly; "Why haven't other cases made the news? He must have done something to p-o BoA." And it never fails that someone claims to have a friend that had money stolen from their bank account or credit card, and the bank put the money back. I bring up that we are all paying for such losses by lower interest rates on savings and higher credit card and bank free rates, they could care less. (A couple of side note to banks: 1) I have had many people claim that they would be willing to pay $5 to $25 per transaction just to be able to continue to use online banking if that was what was required to offset the fraud costs. When probing deeper, the per transaction cost appears to be about one-half hour's pay. Just for the convenience of not having to write a check or use snail mail. 2) I have heard several of the younger crowd claim that it is common practice that when you get mad at your bank, just post your credit card information on-line so that the bank gets a bunch of fraudulent charges against the card and cancels it. They see it as a way to punish the bank for upping their interest rate or imposing late fees.) In the corporate world, the attitude is even worse. I have a client that recently implemented web content filtering that blocks the social networking sites, blogs, chat rooms, and other non-business content. That resulted in the mass resignation of under 30 staff, because "I can't work here if I can't keep in contact with my friends while I work." Some are even screaming "age discrimination" because sites like FoxNews or CNN 'that the old geezers use' were not blocked. Can someone please explain this attitude? Why the fierce resistance to anything relating to security? Why the "I don't care about privacy" attitude? Why do they have to be in constant communication with their friends, to the point they would rather be unemployed than out of contact? I do not understand and cannot comprehend these attitudes! Please enlighten me! Thanks. ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! 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Current thread:
- Security and the Under 30 User net sec consule (Feb 07)
- RE: Security and the Under 30 User Dan Denton (Feb 07)
- RE: Security and the Under 30 User net sec consule (Feb 11)
- Re: Security and the Under 30 User Jason Thompson (Feb 12)
- RE: Security and the Under 30 User net sec consule (Feb 11)
- RE: Security and the Under 30 User Dixon, Wayne (Feb 07)
- Re: Security and the Under 30 User Patrick Hendrick (Feb 08)
- Message not available
- re: Security and the Under 30 User Jon D (Feb 07)
- RE: Security and the Under 30 User Dan Denton (Feb 07)
- Re: Security and the Under 30 User Brian Altenhofel (Feb 07)
- RE: Security and the Under 30 User Malhoit, Lauren (Feb 08)
- RE: Security and the Under 30 User Worrell, Brian (Feb 08)
- Message not available
- Re: Security and the Under 30 User Chris Pick (Feb 08)
- RE: Security and the Under 30 User Mason, Samuel (Feb 11)
- Re: Security and the Under 30 User Chris Pick (Feb 08)