Security holes are not new to the industry.
Security holes are not new to the industry; however, the recent invasion
found in an array of software and operating systems has software vendors
re-evaluating priorities. Microsoft intends to shift its focus from features
to security and privacy.
It is important to realize this is an industry-wide problem that recently
reached unprecedented proportions. The latest flood of security information
is voluminous and could overwhelm a small to mid-size IT department. While
it is important to apply patches as they are released, it is IMPERATIVE
to backup your work product, which should always remain a top priority.
The industry as a whole is diligently working to provide a secure
environment for the Internet and protect networks that are vital to our
National Security. This is not an easy task because markets dictate the
fragile balance between security/privacy and user acceptance.
A number of research scientists are working on intelligent software agents
that utilize knowledge engineering to detect complex threats. The technology
exists and has for several years. The problem is the fragile balance of
acceptance toward monitoring Internet activity, which in the past has met
strong opposition. A good paper on the subject: "PICeS: Cooperating
Intelligent Agents for Preventing Invasions of Computer Networks Vital to
Our National Security by: Jeffrey L. Goldberg, Ph.D. Analytic Services Inc.
(ANSER) July 2001" can be found at:
Journal Of Homeland Security |
