More Mildly Condescending Comments

Pete has responded to my previous post. Pete says:

"I actually believe the REAL threat exists. While everyone else works on the manufactured stuff, I want to protect my assets against true threats.

Regardless of my level of confidence, however, I don't claim to have evidence and I refuse to manufacture it. And I find general 'cloak and dagger' statements that security professionals make to be lacking any impact whatsoever...

If you really do know and can't say, why would you hang the entire Internet out to dry by keeping in-the-wild exploits against undercover vulnerabilities a secret while you encourage the wheel spinning of research and disclosure?"

Many readers in the DC metropolitan area will recognize that I am in a delicate position here. All I can really do is point to some publicly available documents to try to change Pete's world view. He can then make up his own mind. These are all open source, Internet-available documents hosted on completely public .mil sites for the benefit of visitors.

• DoD dictionary definition of computer network attack


• January 2000 DoD press release: Space Command Plans for Computer Network Attack Mission


• June 2004 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Instruction 6510.01D (.pdf)

That's all I can say on the matter. I'm not trying to be devious, but there are lines that cannot be crossed. I hope Pete appreciates the picture of Gamera I managed to find for him.