Every week I get bombarded with emails about security updates and security threats from every possible security vendor out there. There are constantly new products coming to market, promising to act as a one-stop shop for all your security needs.
I call their bluff.
There are anti-spam, anti-virus, false positives, false negatives, phishing, IP scamming, bombing, pharming, brute force, keylogging, blackmailing, mobile hacking, identity theft… these are just a few of the threats that are constantly out to get you.
Now, I’m not out to tell you that these don’t exist. There is plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise, and you would have to be born yesterday to think that you are secure at all times.
But…
I fear there is such a thing as a social panic in the security industry. A social panic emerges when outlets (media in particular) focus heavily on a subject, and it often creates fear in its audience or target.
The United States has been criticised for creating security-fears in its ‘subjects’, thereby gaining the power to implement tough security measures, bordering on human rights breaches. There is obviously a lot of money to be had in this game.
Let’s put it this way. If we were all secure on the internet, if we found some way to avoid scams, viruses and phishing, then a multimillion industry would crumple in the dust.
Make no mistake; it is in the security vendors’ best interest to instil fear about the number and severity of threats out there. And because those threats are largely invisible and often far too technical for Joe Bloggs to understand, it’s an easy sell.
I’m not asking anyone to throw all caution to the wind and get rid of your current security. Don’t take everything at face value, educate yourself on the different threats, identify specific needs for yourself or your industry and make educated decisions.
Don’t let everyone else tell you what you need.
