Go Figure

The "Go Figure" series will report on things that don't make sense to me. Perhaps a story that is unbelievable or incredible in some way. Demand for a product is down so the company raises prices or a person is cold so they turn down the thermostat. Sometimes there is more to the story than meets the eye -- either the reporter didn't get the entire picture or perhaps there is method behind what seems like madness. I hope readers find these short stories interesting.

Go Figure May 23, 2004 10:42 PM

Go Figure - Part 1

Ted Bridis at the Associated Press wrote a story last week called Executives Criticize the Tech Industry. The complaints by the Business Roundtable, a trade group for executives of 150 of America's largest corporations, reflect frustration over the "expense and hassle of keeping their computer networks safe for consumers". The group says that attacks by viruses and worms costs the American banks and savings institutions alone more than a billion dollars per year.

There were two things about the story that jumped out at me. First was that there was not one mention of Microsoft Windows. With a monopoly on the desktop, Windows is a prime target for the perpetrators. Microsoft hasn't historically had the best reputation for giving priority attention to security either. The second surprise was a quote from someone at the ITAA (Information Technology Association of America) saying, "Cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility, including the vendors, the users, enterprises and government agencies". No argument there -- it is a shared responsibility. But then the quote went on to say, "No serious commentary will say that the user has no responsibility. We all have responsibilities to lock our doors in our homes and to buckle up when we get in our cars." (read more)

Go Figure May 23, 2004 10:41 PM