Nick Barron

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Recent articles by Nick Barron

Copyright confusion 

Copyright confusion

In Risk - By Nick Barron, 23 May 2008 4:12 PM
The laws on illegal downloading are due for a much-needed update, so make sure your voice is heard.
Cold comfort 

Cold comfort

In Web/client - By Nick Barron, 9 May 2008 3:20 PM
Researchers have uncovered a number of ways attackers could force a PC to cold boot. Better keep that heating on.
Risk is a state of mind 

Risk is a state of mind

In Risk - By Nick Barron, 20 March 2008 2:35 PM
All the encryption in the world won't keep information safe if the people handling data don't think about security.
The key to USB security 

The key to USB security

In Risk - By Nick Barron, 13 February 2008 4:04 PM
USB devices are getting smaller. That also makes them easier to lose, yet most still have no decent encryption.
I search therefore I am .. 

I search therefore I am ..

In Web/client - By Nick Barron, 29 November 2007 3:46 PM
Yet another politician has suggested that blocking the web can save us from terrorists. If only life was that simple.
Sit back and do nothing 

Sit back and do nothing

In Risk - By Nick Barron, 22 October 2007 3:00 PM
Our instinct is to fix bugs when we come across them, but sometimes that can cause more harm than good.
The illusion of accuracy 

The illusion of accuracy

In Risk - By Nick Barron, 19 September 2007 3:44 PM
Don't take log files as absolute truth. They're only as reliable as the systems that generated them.
A naive view of crypto 

A naive view of crypto

In Messaging - By Nick Barron, 25 July 2007 7:57 AM
The idea that you can stop consumers copying electronic media doesn't hold water. But people will still try.
We're only trying to help 

We're only trying to help

In Web/client - By Nick Barron, 29 May 2007 4:23 PM
User feedback can provide free online consumer research and security reports, so why is it impossible to leave any?
IT folk aren't nearly so shy 

IT folk aren't nearly so shy

By Nick Barron, 12 July 2006 3:39 PM
Security commentators, myself included, regularly comment on the security patching cycle and the problems associated with it. What we tend not to do, though, is comment on the ...
It’s time to restrict user rights 

It’s time to restrict user rights

By Nick Barron, 14 June 2006 5:22 PM
Most of the best ideas in IT security – indeed, security in general – have been around for a long time. One that is all too often forgotten is the concept of “least privilege”, ...
Time to call a spade a spade 

Time to call a spade a spade

By Nick Barron, 9 May 2006 4:23 PM
If you’re paranoid like me, one of your regular daily routines will be a check of your corporate anti-virus to make sure that it is receiving updates regularly. This is not an ...
The too long arm of the law 

The too long arm of the law

By Nick Barron, 7 April 2006 12:44 PM
The UK’s main law against IT criminals, the Computer Misuse Act, is 16 years old this year. The Act has received plenty of criticism, and led to only a few prosecutions, but ...
Swapping black hats for white 

Swapping black hats for white

By Nick Barron, 8 March 2006 9:29 AM
IT security is one of the few professions where getting caught in the act, so to speak, can be the start of a great new career. Recently, there have been a number of high-profil...
Time to stop trusting paper 

Time to stop trusting paper

By Nick Barron, 13 February 2006 10:10 AM
Everybody loves a good conspiracy, whether it’s alien invasion or security services’ plots to subvert governments. There seems to be no protection against such fascinations ...
We all need open standards 

We all need open standards

By Nick Barron, 25 January 2006 1:59 PM
The latest SANS "Top 20" vulnerability list was released recently. While it needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, it did come up with an interesting observation. It seems the ...
Management right or wrong? 

Management right or wrong?

By Nick Barron, 9 December 2005 4:51 PM
Be careful what you measure 

Be careful what you measure

By Nick Barron, 10 November 2005 4:23 PM
Quality-assurance audits are a bit like visits to the dentist; you know you need them, and that they will do you good, but that doesn't make the day itself any more fun. A ...
Lies, damned lies and statistics 

Lies, damned lies and statistics

By Nick Barron, 21 October 2005 4:38 PM
Phrack falls with the leaves 

Phrack falls with the leaves

By Nick Barron, 5 September 2005 3:27 PM
The end of August also saw the end of Phrack magazine (www.phrack.org). Or did it? There are rumours about a revival, but Phrack as it stands has breathed its last.
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