IP: "'White Hat' Hackers Threaten Information Anarchy"

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Newsbytes (11/06/01); McWilliams, Brian

Computer security experts are at odds over conflicting proposals from 
Microsoft and "white hat" hackers to either repress or foster open 
discussion about security weaknesses. A security expert going by the alias 
"HellNbak" says if Microsoft is able to curb the free flow of information 
about server weaknesses, it would leave legitimate security experts in the 
dark and empower malicious hackers. HellNbak launched a campaign recently 
to counter Microsoft security response center chief Scott Culp's effort to 
stop what he calls "information anarchy," or the open broadcast of software 
security flaws. Although giving potential tools to hackers, the open 
discourse revealing software vulnerabilities gives a heads up to system 
administrators as well, says SecurityFocus CTO Elias Levy. Microsoft is 
expected to press its case for withholding security vulnerabilities at its 
Trusted Computing conference this week. The company also plans to file a 
proposal with the Internet Engineering Task Force.

http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/171900.html


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