Nick Barron
Recent articles by Nick Barron
It’s time to restrict user rights
Most of the best ideas in IT security – indeed, security in general – have been around for a long time. One that is all too often forgotten is the concept of “least privilege”, or using the bare minimum level of access to get the job done.
Jun 14 2006 5:22PM
Security
Time to call a spade a spade
If you’re paranoid like me, one of your regular daily routines will be a check of your corporate anti-virus to make sure that it is receiving updates regularly. This is not an unreasonable precaution; several times I have seen major brand products silently go into a sulk and stop talking to the update server.
May 9 2006 4:23PM
Security
Swapping black hats for white
IT security is one of the few professions where getting caught in the act, so to speak, can be the start of a great new career. Recently, there have been a number of high-profile cases of “poacher turned gamekeeper”, with virus writers being hired almost from the court steps.
Mar 8 2006 9:29AM
Security
Time to stop trusting paper
Everybody loves a good conspiracy, whether it’s alien invasion or security services’ plots to subvert governments. There seems to be no protection against such fascinations with increased education or intelligence (see, for example, Michael Shermer’s book Why people believe weird things).
Feb 13 2006 10:10AM
Security
Management right or wrong?
Dec 9 2005 4:51PM
Security
Be careful what you measure
Quality-assurance audits are a bit like visits to the dentist; you know you need them, and that they will do you good, but that doesn't make the day itself any more fun. A recent audit I was involved in brought with it the usual flurry of activity to close off outstanding actions and generate the relevant reports.
Nov 10 2005 4:23PM
Security
Lies, damned lies and statistics
Oct 21 2005 4:38PM
Security
