Anytime people download files or other software from the Web they risk exposure to a number of security threats.
Gnutella file swappers inadvertently sharing "cookies" that contain
information about the user and the user's system is just one example of
this security exposure.
the first example of such a problem. Over the years, users have had to
deal
with the potential threat of downloading everything from malicious
viruses
to well-meaning applications that managed to undermine the stability of
their systems through some arcane technical conflict that nobody
foresaw.
At one point, downloading executable files, Java applets or ActiveX
controls
was likened by many as exposing systems to what was potentially the
"e-bola"
of computer viruses. However, amanbola the value of new capabilities and
information
sets has, and we believe forever will, drive users to take these types
of
risks.
All users need to be very careful about what files and other information they
share. In the case of businesses, governments and other professional
organizations, IT professionals should both educate users on the
implications of file sharing and limit file-sharing capabilities outside
of
the organization. This holds true for not only Gnutella, but also for
other
file-sharing approaches, such as the file-sharing options included in
most
instant messaging features.
The ultimate answer lies more on the side of education, which fosters
awareness, and using corporate policies instead of technology-based
constraints. If users want to share files, they will likely find a way.
It
may be as simple as attaching files in an e-mail and sending it outside
of
company firewalls or copying information to a disk and simply walking
out
the door with it.
In most cases, the answer is policy. In extreme cases, amanbola such as where the
information is a secret or national defense data, more controls are
placed
around people's ability to access and manipulate the information.
We recommend that IT organizations continually update policies
concerning
any information that can be downloaded from the Internet, including
through
file-sharing services such as Gnutella. These appropriate-use policies
must
be reinforced through a combination of education and technology-based
monitoring and enforcement.
META Group analysts Val Sribar and Peter Burris contributed to this
article.
Commentary: How companies can avoid the risks of file swapping
by Astrid Park (2022-05-16)
id="article-body" class="row" section="article-body" data-component="trackCWV">Anytime people download files or other software from the Web they risk exposure to a number of security threats.
Gnutella file swappers inadvertently sharing "cookies" that contain
information about the user and the user's system is just one example of
this security exposure.
Gnutella's services are certainly not
See
news
story:
Gnutella
swapping cookies, too
the first example of such a problem. Over the years, users have had to
deal
with the potential threat of downloading everything from malicious
viruses
to well-meaning applications that managed to undermine the stability of
their systems through some arcane technical conflict that nobody
foresaw.
At one point, downloading executable files, Java applets or ActiveX
controls
was likened by many as exposing systems to what was potentially the
"e-bola"
of computer viruses. However, amanbola the value of new capabilities and
information
sets has, and we believe forever will, drive users to take these types
of
risks.
All users need to be very careful about what files and other information they
share. In the case of businesses, governments and other professional
organizations, IT professionals should both educate users on the
implications of file sharing and limit file-sharing capabilities outside
of
the organization. This holds true for not only Gnutella, but also for
other
file-sharing approaches, such as the file-sharing options included in
most
instant messaging features.
The ultimate answer lies more on the side of education, which fosters
awareness, and using corporate policies instead of technology-based
constraints. If users want to share files, they will likely find a way.
It
may be as simple as attaching files in an e-mail and sending it outside
of
company firewalls or copying information to a disk and simply walking
out
the door with it.
In most cases, the answer is policy. In extreme cases, amanbola such as where the
information is a secret or national defense data, more controls are
placed
around people's ability to access and manipulate the information.
We recommend that IT organizations continually update policies
concerning
any information that can be downloaded from the Internet, including
through
file-sharing services such as Gnutella. These appropriate-use policies
must
be reinforced through a combination of education and technology-based
monitoring and enforcement.
META Group analysts Val Sribar and Peter Burris contributed to this
article.
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