Cisco CSO Says Antivirus Money "Completely Wasted"

mernil writes with an excerpt that kicks off a story at ZDNet Australia: "Companies are wasting money on security processes — such as applying patches and using antivirus software — which just don't work, according to Cisco's chief security officer John Stewart. Speaking at the AusCERT 2008 conference in the Gold Coast yesterday, Stewart said the malware industry is moving faster than the security industry, making it impossible for users to remain secure."

Cancel or Allow?

[starglider29a]

I'm waiting for the day when a malware possesses the UAC.

"You are receiving HTML which speaks unfavorably about me. Cancel or Allow?

Despair

[nsuccorso]

Stewart said the malware industry is moving faster than the security industry, making it impossible for users to remain secure.

He then set his hair on fire and ran screaming from the stage.

And in other news...

[ds_job]

Cisco CSO says "You are all going to die so put down the muesli bar and pick up that burger."

That's correct, do not run Windows as admin.

[Nick Driver]

I read somewhere that if I didn't run Windows as an admin, that would help a lot

That's absolutely correct. If you avoid logging onto Windows as Administrator, you greatly lessen your exposure to security hazards. Especially since in the real world you can hardly run any useful software unless you're logged on as admin, therefore your using the Windows box less, and naturally, less use equals less exposure to danger. In fact if you just keep your Windows box powered off, then it will be the absolute most secure against malware.

Re:I'm a believer

[TheNucleon]

I downloaded higgeldy-piggeldy and scored 17,342 points on my first game. I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any spyware, but it's weird how IE keeps telling me I'm "pwned" or something.

Re:Cure the viri

[atcsharp]

To do what? Design creative images of puppies all day? Macs suck: http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=macs_cant [thebestpag...iverse.net]

Re:Agreed

[Tenebrousedge]

Time is not generally measured in pennies.

Re:Agreed

[ichigo 2.0]

Again with the imperial measurements! Just switch to metric already!

Re:Agreed

[houstonbofh]

If it is created by man then man can break it. Can you make an Operating System that contain millions of lines of code 100% error free and 100% optimized? Also can you make it free from errors that may allow hackers to exploit code remotely?

It is easier to put a lock on a door if the building is designed with walls to begin with. Windows was an open air pavilion that had clapboard and sheeting tin added on after the fact. And yes you can "pick the locks" on Linux, as the Debian key debacle has so aptly proved, but with windows you just kick out some tin sheeting.

Re:Agreed

[Eg0Death]

Grandpa!? Who you callin' grandpa, you whipper snapper? When I was your age, we only had BASIC, and we where HAPPY!

Re:Agreed

[number11]

Grandpa!? Who you callin' grandpa, you whipper snapper? When I was your age, we only had BASIC, and we where HAPPY!

You kids had it easy. When I was your age, we just had ones and zeros. And sometimes we didn't have zeros, had to make do with recycled oh's and hope no one would notice.

Re:Agreed

[Beardo the Bearded]

Three words:

Power on LAN.

Re:Some things can't be fixed with software

[jon3k]

My password is mustang63 do you have a link or is there like a torrent or something?

Correction

[AlgorithMan]

the malware industry is moving faster than the security industry, making it impossible for users to remain secure...

... on Windows machines!