“Black and Tans”?! Really?…A Little Market Research Can Prevent Embarassment March 13, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News, Uncategorized.Tags: black and tans, branding, che guevara, Chris Mark, mark consulting group, marketing, nike, security
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This is a bit off topic but relevant, nonetheless. I was talking to some acquaintances about the upcoming US elections and somehow the topic turned Mexico, Guatemala, and finally to Che Guevara. My friends said: “Che who?” I almost fell over but, due to my extensive Marine Corps sensitivity training, instead I replied with a loud and derisive: “What the Hell!? Are you kidding me?! You don’t know who Che Guevara is?!“ I didn’t really say that, but I should have 😉 How can any American now know about Che Guevara? Again, I digress…You can read about him here.
Today, I am reading the news and there is a story about how Nike, in honor of St. Patrick’s day, named a new shoe the “Black and Tan”. The blog readers from the UK and Ireland are probably picking themselves off the floor right about now. My mental response to the news was: “WTH!? You named a shoe the Black and Tans?!“ (more…)
POPSatire…my ‘other blog’…;) March 13, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News, Uncategorized.Tags: humerous, pop satire, pop silver star, popsatire.com, silver star
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On GlobalRiskInfo.com I try to keep the discussion professional, timely, and on topic. A few readers know that I maintain a less “sophisticated” blog called POPSatire. Upon request of a couple of readers, I am putting a link to POPSatire on this blog. On POPSatire, I take shots at POP culture, POPular people, soda POP, and generally anything that merits a rant for the day. In truth, my primary topics are around those who lie about their military service and a few other things. As a ‘chrome dome’ myself (bald headed man), I even take a shot at the bad comb-over. If you want to see my acerbic wit in action (look…I am edumecated 😉 then take a spin through www.POPSatire.com.
The Carpenter, Not the Hammer, Builds the House March 8, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in InfoSec & Privacy, Risk & Risk Management, weapons and tactics.Tags: Chris Mark, cybersecurity, InfoSec, mark consulting group, risk management, security
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I was in a discussion yesterday with a friend of mine who happens to be the Editor in Chief of The Counter Terrorist Magazine. Chris and I served together long ago and I always enjoy talking to him as he is one of the most insightful people I know. He mentioned what he felt was the over reliance on technology in CT operations and how it was causing people to lose sight of the fact that it is the people that matter and not the tools.
I find this particularly relevant in all areas of security but especially in information security. In a past life I operated as a Marine Scout/Sniper. When my civilian friends learn of this, it is not uncommon for me to hear the question: “What is the best rifle to use?” (more…)
Turncoat Rolls on Anonymous March 7, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News, InfoSec & Privacy.Tags: Chris Mark, cybersecurity, InfoSec, InfoSec & Privacy, security
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This is a post I struggled to write. I struggle because I do not personally agree with LulzSec’s or Anonymous’ objectives and tactics but this post is not about their tactics or views. Rather it is a discussion in ethics and honor between people and lessons to be learned about human behavior. The links have some very interesting stories of how “Sabu” turned on his own group.
As a young Marine I remember an old salty Gysgt. telling us: “Courage is not a lack of fear. That’s what we call crazy. Courage is when you are afraid and still being able to act in the face of your fear.” (more…)
“A Failed State of Security”; Deterrence Theory & CyberCrime (Research Brief) March 5, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News, InfoSec & Privacy, Risk & Risk Management.Tags: Chris Mark, cybersecurity, data breach, data security, deterrence theory, markconsultinggroup.com, PCI DSS, security
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Expanding on the concept of Rational Deterrence and its effect on crime, we have published a research brief on Deterrence Theory and Its Effect on CyberCrime. The brief outlines the failing strategy of compelling companies to prevent breaches without deterring those who commit the crimes. You download the brief (all 25 pages) here. Below is a short excerpt:
“At RSA’s annual security convention, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Robert Mueller stated, on February 28th, 2012, ominously: “There are only two types of companies. Those that have been hacked and those that will be.”[1] At the same event, the CEO of RSA, told the audience: “Our networks will be penetrated. We should no longer be surprised by this.” He further stated: “The reality today is that we are in an arms race with our adversaries, and right now, more often than not, they are winning.”[2] The comments, while accurate, are late in coming. RSA, one of the worlds’ largest security vendors, was breached in 2011. The breach was more than a simple theft of customer data. The breach was a theft of intellectual property that compromised the infrastructure of RSA’s 2-factor authentication system known as SecureID. This potentially exposed thousands (if not more) of companies to a bypass of their own access control mechanism.
RSA’s CEO then continued: (more…)
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