April | 2008 | Branden R. Williams, Business Security Specialist

Are we ever safe? standard

The Register is reporting that McAfee’s “Hacker Safe” sites are not so much. In the security industry, we typically refrain from saying things are 100% secure, simply because the only 100% secure computer is the one that does not exist.

On my way to CSI-SX! standard

Bout to go board my jet-fueled chariot right now. If you are going, look me up on Twitter! I’m planning on taking a cab to the hotel, checking in, and seeing if any conference goings on are… going on. See you there!

Tee Hee – Eee Pee Cee standard

GloboTV (via Gizmodo) has a story (in Brazilian Portuguese) about some crooks that used the Eee PC to steal customer’s debit information at ATMs. Tee Hee.

Dave Taylor gets it right! standard

Please don’t take the title to mean that Dave doesn’t get it right often, I just wanted to laud this recent column at StoreFront BackTalk. The quote specifically that drives the nail home is: If you’re thinking that the Hannaford security breach is a very isolated “blip” and that PCI compliance is the same as securing the enterprise against security breaches, you’d better think again. Why? It’s not uncommon for merchants to turn on security controls shortly before an audit, and turn them off afterward. Could not have said it better myself, Dave. The two points he brings out are, 1) Compliance is not the same as security, and 2) you have to MAINTAIN what is assessed. I had a ...

Herding Cats, April 2008 is out! standard

If you are not a member if the ISSA, click here to go sign up! I am a monthly columnist in the ISSA Journal–the publication for the association. This month I tell you how you can learn something from the Department of Homeland Security and Ron “Tater Salad” White.

Are you going to CSI-SX? standard

If so, LOOK ME UP! I’m speaking on Monday afternoon at 4pm at the conference. Hope to see you there! As always, I’ll be sending tweets!

Phillip Hallam-Baker adds to the fire! standard

Phillip Hallam-Baker commented recently on my post about the NRF, but specifically added to the chip and pin point. Thanks Phillip!

Thanks OpenTravel Advisory Forum! standard

While others at VeriSign are headed to ETA, I took the opportunity to speak about PCI to the OpenTravel Advisory Forum in Atlanta today. A shout out to an excellent group of individuals that are in one of the more difficult industries with respect to PCI (the other being Fuel Dispensing). Thanks for the hospitality!

Last Call @ the Expo standard

Just finished up with the last booth work at the show. Today was fairly slow (as to be expected), though there were still plenty of people coming through. I got to see the VeriSign VIP token work, and that was pretty cool! Hope you stopped by to get your free token! As I was leaving, the last hunters of conference trinket treasure were hurriedly making the rounds before the expo closed. All in all, quite a show. If I missed you this time, I hope to see you somewhere else soon!

The Haps at RSA! standard

Today has been filled with all kinds of activities, including meeting with some customers and vendors. I just finished the first meeting of the NSS Advisory Group and I am very pleased with the direction that it is heading. I think there is a lot of promise there for helping customers figure out which vendors DO solve PCI issues, and which ones don’t. I will be AT THE BOOTH at 10am tomorrow! Please stop by! I have a pretty “Blog This!” button on (Thanks K-Dog!). Also you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/brandenwilliams. See you there!

Monthly ArchivesApril 2008