The Static Page

Railing Against Panic

The computer industry has just had yet another "killer virus" spread like wildfire via email, creating havoc along the way, as you would no doubt be very aware. Those with more than a little cynicism will note most of the problem could be traced Microsoft's - how can I put this nicely? - software integration practices. But I think that's being dissected more than well enough here and elsewhere. It's the other half of the problem which interests me.

Basically, all over the world, corporations' anti-virus strategy is been thrown away for a few days whilst the media beats up the story, giving undue attention to the prankster. It is this sudden descent into panic which makes a mockery of sensible, well-thought out and often very hard-won anti-virus strategies. It should be highly embarrassing to those who succumb. Tragically, it isn't, because too many other people are panicking in exactly the same way.

Rob Rosenberger ( http://www.kumite.com/myths/) is a self-appointed critic of the anti-virus industry. He comments without fear or favour - and often with the daggers of sarcasm out. His piece about the "I Love You " worm is scathing, to say the least. As was his commentary about the Chernobyl virus. And Melissa. And countless others that have been blown out of all proportion and that so many many people fail to learn from. He quite correctly points out - albeit with more venom - that if a corporation has an anti-virus strategy in place then there is no need at all to disconnect the corporate email gateway literally in fright like too many did last week! I hope that someone is going to get very noisily sacked over such idiocy one day soon. It should have happened years ago. I really hope it's because someone loses tens of millions of dollars because the pulled their Internet connection "just in case".

Unfortunately, I can't see the industry taking heed of this. Mr Rosenberger has basically the same lament. Meanwhile, many of us work at places where email connectivity was deliberately lost the other day.

Perhaps I'm being too harsh. If I am, it's because I am really really annoyed by the idiocy. It's a kind of Pointy Haired Boss manifestation that is distressingly all too real. Where I used to work, it was part of my job to advise on the company's anti-virus strategy. My manager and I tried to make sure that the senior executives had no reason to pull the email gateway in panic. We had ... mixed success.

So in the midst of the panic, did anyone take the issue up with their management? Did anyone get to take the issue up with their management? Did anything improve? Or is there anyone here actually sets anti-virus policy in their company? Did you get to ask someone why they thought you couldn't do your job? Did you get hit by the latest worm anyway? Or did your normal anti-virus defences contain it? Or perhaps you can think of other panic attacks your management has put you through?

Wade Bowmer, aka Static

Comments? Email me at static dash page at yceran dot org.