Yes, everyone needs security

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Written by Tom Drange

Zappos, an online shoe shop has been hacked, exposing a list of 24 million customers. Does this mean we finally can put an end to the “does everyone need security” question? Well, I would certainly claim that to be true – but I still hear the phrase “we don’t have anything of value on our systems”.

Ok, everyone might not have a big, green button that transfers all company funds to an account of your choice when clicked upon, but I would still say “YES, EVERYONE NEEDS SECURITY”.

I’m willing to put money on the fact that people registered on the site “hemmelig.com” – a site where people with mutual, sexual habits and interests can register and communicate – would agree. This site got hacked – and names and phone numbers of people registered there were exposed.

And by the way, what is considered to be trade secrets? Isn’t that anything that provides a business with an edge compared to their competitors? A customer list for instance. Everyone has one…the hairdresser on the corner, the shopping mall, the carpenter, the car dealer…everyone. Would they gladly hand these over to their competitors, and say “here you are…hope you make the most of it”? Not likely. So this is a trade secret, and it needs to be protected in some way.

A quick glance at the webpage http://www.databreaches.net/ shows that no sectors are safe. But this is just one side of the coin…there is another one. Anyone’s system can be used as a springboard to larger scale attacks – such as the attack on Israeli websites, Stuxnet-attack or the Sony PlayStation-hack. Anyone’s system can even be used as a temporary station for storing and/or downloading child pornography. If we don’t secure our networks, the police might knock on your door one day – and charge you with all sorts of bad things. So, when you are standing before a judge with chains around your wrists and ankles – accused of downloading child pornography…You tell me: “Does everyone need security”?