A Question of Ethics

A Question of Ethics
Scott Granneman, 2006-09-15

Ethics are of incredible importance in the security field. Scott Granneman looks at recent examples of poor security decisions made at HP, Diebold, Sony, and Microsoft.

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A question of ethics 2006-09-15
Anonymous (2 replies)

And you are surprised by these examples of unethical behaviour because?

Looking at the bigger picture, Norht American society, especially the US, has had a skewed perspective on ethics for a long time. And it all comes down to money and power.

If you want to know why the ethical standards are ...

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Re: A question of ethics 2006-09-16
Anonymous (1 replies)

A well written article. As for this reply, I followed right up to the point of:

[QUOTE] Creating a media culture where ethical behaviour is routinely denigrated is also a very poor idea. But see what is produced for TV and films. Worse, see FOX News, Anne Coulter, Pat Robertson, and so on. [QUO...

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Re: Re: A question of ethics 2006-09-21
Anonymous

No agenda here. The point I was making re media culture is that attitudes about ethics are influenced by the media. If the portrayal of unethical behaviour is positive, with few negative consequences, then the idea that such behaviour is acceptable and appropriate becomes more socially accepted. ...

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Re: A question of ethics 2006-09-19
Anonymous

The U.S. indeed has a skewed perspective. In most other societies since the dawn of history, it all came down to power and money!...

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A question of ethics 2006-09-15
Anonymous

A bit of a rant, but a well-merited one. And Miller's crossing is my favorite Coen film. This was a joy to read!
Nice jab at MS, too. Does anyone remember the "summer of bugs," where one guy with a fuzzer found dozens of bugs in IE, some of them exploitable, reported them to MS, and didn't get a...

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A question of ethics - "Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless" 2006-09-17
stonewall

I understand the need for a good rant, and I understand the need to raise issues like this in a large and public manner. But, yes, money IS all they care about. And, frankly, you can't make them change. Rich and shameless is a difficult-to-beat combination. Self indulgence is the order of the da...

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A question of ethics 2006-09-17
Anonymous

This is not a judgement we can pin on the "sleaze bag" spam-producing companies only. Big Biz has had their way for ALONG TIME, aided by government (aren't they less and less 'the people' ?) and given legitimacy by purchasing friendly law. Sucessful business is increasingly monopolistic (they've got...

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A question of ethics 2006-09-19
Anonymous

Wow. This article says what we've all been saying for a long time. It just shows the corruption of the security industry for what it is.

Heh, after all the times we've tried to point this out, we have a whitehat make the point for us. Good job. Finally you guys start to get it.

SUPPORT HACKER...

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Ethics = Stupidity and Poverty to Some 2006-09-19
A Life Observer and Fellow Traveler

You had it right. It?s about taking more than you give so you can do more and take more than everyone else - we call it money! And it has been about that since our form of life began evolving. Even a one celled creature needs to consume more than it contributes to continue to exist. So in our attemp...

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'on a crutch 2006-09-29
Anonymous

It's Bernie Bernbaum, the Schmatta, Eddie Dane and
Mink were buggar buddies. Did you watch TFM?
Tom:"I voted for 'em six times"
The Mayor:"And that ain't the record either"

You're no fun.
...

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A question of ethics 2006-09-29
*nix-usr

It is hubris. The groups mentioned (and implied) think that they are above the law, above ethics, that they are god-like and above it all. They pay lip-service to law, to ethics, and customer concerns (talk is cheap), but their actions say otherwise. All they really care about is what they want. Ra...

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A Question of Ethics 2006-10-03
Thomas Elias Weatherly (1 replies)

I believe that we should vote the rascals out with our pocketbooks; it is not enough to vote in the elections, that is important too. I will not buy a HP product now. I will not buy a Sony product. I don't trust them anymore. I can easily avoid using their products. It is equally unethical for us to...

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Re: A Question of Ethics 2006-10-11
Anonymous-ish (1 replies)

While the spirit of what you suggest is true (companies can equate loss of money with a bad experience) it will likely perpetuate a negative cycle instead of break it.

Sony, as an example, was already worried about lost profits, which is why they commissioned and deployed the infamous "rootkit". ...

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Re: Re: A Question of Ethics 2006-10-22
Thomas Elias Weatherly

So you believe that by not buying their product, thereby eliciting a response to their loss of profits, will evoke a negative response from them? They do not need us to provide them with the incentive. And if they, or any other corporation, wish to start a hacking war with the independent, somewhat ...

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