Technically Speaking

Ok so it sounded much more iconic when the Beatles were going through my head this morning. Thanks Apple, but Im not sure that was as huge as you think it was.  I have joined the Association of Information Technology Professionals (again).  I am curious to see if the experience is better this time around.  Sure high level conversations are ok, but how long can that stuff keep up.

Maybe it hit me this week because I just got back from Tech Field Day and the great presentations and companies and new friends there have changed my expectations a bit.  I am working on a list of companies that I plan to submit to the Northeast Wisconsin chapter of AITP to see if they might be willing to come speak at one of the meetings.  I know the hotel has a bar and that this is also a networking event, but from the meetings I have been to, there are quite a few cliques and not nearly enough geek speak.

Ways to improve

Bring more technical speakers to the stage and allow us to jump in with questions or throw water bottles when the presenter mentions a research company that did an independent study (remember, Im just back from Tech Field Day… and I think that happend once).

Skip the Q&A and dive right in.  If Im to hold my questions until the end, this means I need to take notes.  Since not very many people bring any gear into these events, that isnt likely to happen.

Bring in smaller and innovative companies.  Don’t get me wrong, I like Microsoft too, and have friends that work there, but when does Microsoft bring a huge pile of innovation to your meetings?  Maybe get some big product demos like Lync or work more closely with members and perhaps local DPEs from Microsoft to build better presentations for the attendees.

Companies like Avere Systems, SolarWinds, and Actifio have great products and hugely innovative ideas.  I am hoping to work with the organization to contact them about presenting.

Purpose

The purpose is to bring IT Pros together to network and learn things.. hopefully new and exciting things.  I am looking forward to this year in the club, but will reserve judgement on renewal until the end of the year to see how it goes.

Today, the Friday after Patch Tuesday, I get to hunt down some spyware on a remote system.  So far I appear to be getting back on track.  My thought today, after meeting some very interesting people this morning (before the spyware stuff began) centers around innovation versus up keep.

I know that spy ware is what some consider to be the root of all evil in the support arena, and I completely agree.  However does the bad software popping up all over the place at such a rapid pace put the developers of the software on the innovative edge of technology?  In many cases, the good guys (myself included) get to play catch up and chase these things down.  Sure it only happens once in a while because the protective Anti-Malware apps are very good at what they do.. keep users of all levels safer on the Internet.

Upkeep required

It seems to me that keeping the bad applications out is a reactive game.  Until the bad is known about, it cannot really be stopped.  A case of if you can’t see it, it isn’t there.

Hold a moment – off to investigate what was found

And we’re back…

Part of me used to think that the companies responsible for the protection applications were also somehow responsible for the malware, since they needed something to test their apps against, but that doesnt make sense to me anymore and here is why…

Companies selling applications (or giving them away and selling other things) want their customers to trust them and know that they are providing good software.  If the organization was found to be providing bad software to sell more protection software, customers would jump ship faster than the company could handle.  Causing a major (if not complete) disruption of business and share holders might revolt.  In short, producing software that does a user good and is trustworthy is far more lucrative than producing untrustworthy software in the long run.

The requirement or state of the information age that says we need to protect ourselves from viruses and other malware is not something that can be blamed on Big Company Inc because some hacker found a way and an opportunity to exploit their software.  It is the way it is and must be managed at the desktop.  After all, software innovation comes from very smart people.  People do miss things from time to time, I know I certainly do and sometimes it take a bit of work and intelligence to correct these things when they do pop up.

Bottom line…

Yes keep your software up to date and patched.  Make sure you get good and easy to use Anti-Malware applications.  But do not think that even the best anti-malware application is perfect and will never allow for new issues to correct.  Hackers and malicious programmers are innovative in the ways they find to get ahead of the companies protecting our computers.  It is a shame that so many use their intelligence for malicious intent or overbearing advertising to make a quick buck.  I wonder how much better the scanners and “white hat” applications for finding these things would be if these coders were on the other side?