Deconstructing the Defacer Challenge Hoax/FUD

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

Forwarded from: security curmudgeon <jericho () attrition org>

http://www.attrition.org/security/rants/z/defacement-challenge.html

Deconstructing the Defacer Challenge Hoax/FUD
Richard Forno, Brian Martin
Sat Jul 12 17:18:32 EDT 2003

On June 21, 2003, a small web site was created to harnass the competitive
nature of the defacing community by holding a contest of computer
vandalism. Several computer security companies took this event as an
opportunity to whore themselves out to any media outlet that might listen;
once again blowing an event of questionable origins and dubious
consequences way out of proportion. Their claims ranged from the event
being capable of disrupting internet traffic to it causing tens of
thousands of defacements and posing a serious threat to internet security.
Yet, rather than teach the public, industry, and policymakers anything
about security, it taught us another lesson in the power of FUD (Fear,
Uncertainty, and Doubt) and the scare tactics that security companies will
use to make a quick buck.

[snip...]



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