I’m pathetic. I’m so consumed with computer security that when I can’t sleep in the early morning hours, I head to my computer to do research. Often, my wife will awaken to the sound of me banging away on my keyboard, and she slowly creeps downstairs to check on me. Although she won’t admit it, I think she keeps expecting to catch me viewing illicit content. Instead, I’m reading a security whitepaper, compiling exploit code, or testing new malware. And this is why I’m pathetic: Instead of being a voyeur, I’m researching computer security.
If you’re like me, though, so much is changing in the field of computer security that there are never enough free hours in the day to keep up. That’s why I’m thankful for computer security podcasts. Apple’s near-ubiquitous control of the portable music market with the iPod has led to a lot of excellent free content. Here are my picks for must-hear computer security podcasts:
One of my favorite weekly podcasts is by Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte. Each episode is 20 to 30 minutes long, ranging from current topics to deep technology to long opinions. Steve has been an acquaintance and friend of mine for over a decade, since his days writing technology columns for InfoWorld (small world). Steve is often controversial and many people seem to love to hate him. Although I don’t agree with everything he says, I guarantee that listening to him and Leo will drastically expand your technical security knowledge. Eat the watermelon and spit out the seeds: Security Now! is for people who like discussions with a deeper understanding. Leo also produces the This Week in Tech podcasts.
This is my second-favorite computer security podcast. Recorded by two McAfee employees (I must disclose that I work for Foundstone, a division of McAfee), Brett and Jim, who’ve released 31 episodes so far. As expected, they keep up on the latest malware and exploits, plus cover issues from an industry perspective. They lightly plug McAfee from time to time, but you’ll be hard pressed to find two more even-handed reviewers. Plus as a bonus, the SABAG podcast gets you CISSP credits. I hope more podcasts follow suit.
Paul Asadoorian and Larry Pesce have produced 14 weekly podcasts. They tend to hate Microsoft a bit too much for my taste, but they bring up nix and router exploits just as much, if not more.
Blue Box: The VoIP Security Podcast
The next big worm may also take down our IP-telephone networks instead of just our computers. If VoIP security is your interest, Dan York and Jonathan Zar’s podcast has you covered. With just four episodes available, this podcast is just starting to gain a following. When I listen, I learn just how much I don’t know about the subject.
This whitepaper explains the terminology and concepts behind Data Replication technologies and establishes some sizing rules through worked examples. Learn the new paradigm in disaster tolerance—protect data anywhere.
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Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
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The emergence of WLANs has created a new breed of security threats to enterprise networks.
Included in HP ProCurve WLAN solutions is security technology that alleviates threats from WLANs through:
* Monitoring wireless activity inside and out of the enterprise
* Classifying WLAN transmissions into harmful and harmless
* Preventing transmissions that pose a security threat to the enterprise network
* Locating participating devices for physical remediation
Effectively address data protection challenges, implementing solutions that help store and protect business–critical data while cutting costs and improving efficiency and reliability.
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This white paper provides guidance on how to develop a strategic approach to managing and monitoring logs, a key function required for compliance with many regulatory mandates and a critical defense against security threats.
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Learn about the processes and technologies that support security information management (SIM) operations, as well as the business case for SIM. The series examines different options for implementing SIM and gives you evaluation criteria for selecting the best option for your organization.
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Learn the strategies, actions, and capabilities that Best-in-Class organizations employ and technologies they choose to obtain superior performance against various security performance metrics. This report provides guidelines for identifying which security solutions to consume as a MSS and defines best practices for choosing and managing MSSPs.
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