Problem patches can cause mayhem
John McCormick
Published: 02 Nov 2005 12:05 GMT
...the network and reinstall IOS to apply the fixes.
The Cisco IOS update problem neatly illustrates one of the ongoing problems with security. As a vendor, Cisco puts a lot of work into making a really solid operating system not overlaid with dozens of Band-Aid patches. However, that makes updates a complex and expensive process, so users tend to ignore even critical vulnerabilities.
Is it better to release patches quarterly as Oracle does — leaving systems vulnerable for longer periods of time — or monthly as Microsoft does? Is it preferable to issue small patches that often don't even require a reboot? Or is it better to sport a more secure platform even if it's much harder to patch when inevitable flaws do appear?
Different security patch protocols adopted by vendors are simply that — different, but not necessarily superior. In fact, each has its own set of problems.
Speaking of protocol, a reader recently requested a simple definition of "phishing", which isn't as strange as you might think. While many technical computer terms have strict definitions, a lot of the terms we use in computer security have only vague definitions because they're relatively new.
With many new terms, often all we have to go by is the old "I know it when I see it" explanation. But you can't pass laws on that basis — OK, so actually you can, and legislators do it all the time — but you can't enforce such laws.
A case in point is the term 'spyware'. The Anti-Spyware Coalition (a group of prominent security industry vendors) has been struggling to define the term for a considerable time. According to one report, the ASC has defined spyware as "a term for tracking software deployed without adequate notice, consent, or control for the user. In its broader sense, spyware is used as a synonym for what the ASC calls 'Spyware and Other Potentially Unwanted Technologies.'" For definitions of related terms, see the ASC's Anti-Spyware Coalition Definitions and Supporting Documents.
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