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from the whoooooooops dept

Fri, Nov 4th 2005 3:18pm — Mike Masnick
Remember over the summer when Cisco freaked out over a security researcher who revealed a pretty major vulnerability in the software that runs a lot of Cisco equipment? We already discussed how the move backfired badly by only calling much more attention to the vulnerability -- but also to the researcher, Michael Lynn himself. He lost his job at a security firm over the flap, but it appears the notoriety probably helped him find another one without too much trouble. He's now working at Juniper, a major Cisco rival. Does Cisco get the referral bonus for recommending him? Update: Oh and, by the way, it was only this week that Cisco finally patched the real problem Lynn was discussing. Update: Updated to make clear that Lynn worked at a security firm, since some felt I implied he worked at Cisco.
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23 Comments

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  1. identicon
    1whoknows, 4 Nov 2005 @ 4:06pm

    get it right

    the dude worked for iss, not cisco, and iss fired him.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    RBasil, 4 Nov 2005 @ 4:08pm

    Re: get it right

    www.techdirt.com "Where they get half the story correct on a good day."

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    harish, 4 Nov 2005 @ 4:45pm

    Re: get it right

    first of all who mentioned that he was working for cisco?, get yout typeface right.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  4. icon
    Mike (profile), 4 Nov 2005 @ 4:49pm

    Re: get it right

    I never said he worked for Cisco... but he did lose his job (with ISS) over the flap, and it was his fame that helped him get another job.

    Where did I say he worked for Cisco?

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    The Captian, 4 Nov 2005 @ 4:59pm

    Re: get it right

    technically you didnt, but also technically you used really crappy diction. It looks like you inferred he worked for Cisco. Have someone proof read before you post.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  6. icon
    Mike (profile), 4 Nov 2005 @ 5:04pm

    Re: get it right

    Hmm. Okay. I've updated the post to reflect that, but I still think it was pretty clear from the beginning. We never said he worked at Cisco. We've written about his story enough that we clearly knew he didn't work at Cisco. So, still not sure why people are accusing us of saying he did work there.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 4 Nov 2005 @ 5:45pm

    Re: get it right

    "Have someone proof read before you post," says "The Captian".

    God bless the Internet.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Dan, 4 Nov 2005 @ 5:46pm

    Re: get it right

    So somebody skimmed the article, misinterpreted it and in their haste to post first and feel smart didn't check the facts. Sure the first line could have been a bit clearer (I had to reread it myself) but now any good commentary about the article relating to the fact that Cisco should be red-faced about now is drowned out by something trivial (I have now added myself to that list of detractors).
    Kudos to Mike for trying to appease the 'masses' without backing down or being an ass about it.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    arcfixer, 4 Nov 2005 @ 6:01pm

    GETTING IT RIGHT

    Read the article. It says Cisco was upset with a security researcher, and goes on to say the researcher lost his job at a security firm.
    .
    The Captian (did you mean Captain?)-While you may have erroneously inferred the researcher worked for Cisco, Mike never implied same.-Have your proofreader explain the proper usage of infer and imply.;)

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  10. icon
    Mike (profile), 4 Nov 2005 @ 6:31pm

    Re: GETTING IT RIGHT

    Before anyone beats up too much on The Captian... I added the part about the "security firm" after the complaints in the comments. But the rest of the post is identical.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 4 Nov 2005 @ 6:51pm

    Re: GETTING IT RIGHT

    go fuck urself, all of u. techdirt wishes it was slashdot, but wishing it doesnt make it so...

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    drew, 4 Nov 2005 @ 6:59pm

    Re: get it right

    you alone are responsible for your assumptions...

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous, 4 Nov 2005 @ 7:06pm

    Re: GETTING IT RIGHT

    "Read the article. It says Cisco was upset with a security researcher, and goes on to say the researcher lost his job at a security firm."
    Actually, they say a securty researcher.. not necessarily their security researcher. Maybe you all should take a minute or two to comprehend the article, and get your facts straight.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 4 Nov 2005 @ 7:24pm

    Re: GETTING IT RIGHT

    I love the internet. One of the only places where someone could mis-read something, then say that it was crappy diction (clearly isn't), or that it was inferred (clearly wasn't). You misread, get over it. Your pride and head can probably stand to be deflated somewhat. Get over it ;)

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Trismegistus, 4 Nov 2005 @ 9:28pm

    Re: get it right

    You are accusing a person of "crappy diction", and you misuse the word "inferred". Well I guess that constitutes "crappy" grammar" Look the work up in a dictionary, and try the word "implied" next time. Nothing worse than correcting someone, and coming off as a buffoon.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    OldMessage, 4 Nov 2005 @ 10:14pm

    Re: get it right

    Hehehehe, sorry guys but you are out of your fucking mind. Instead of saying something like "Cool information", you are hageling on wording if or if not the sentences could lead to an impression that the guy was working for CISCO. Who give's a flying pigs fart about it. He is not working for them (his old company, smile) anymore and if CISCO missed out on the opportunity to hire him, bad for them, but they will survice.
    Joe in Germany.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    fs, 5 Nov 2005 @ 12:25am

    Fired?

    The rumor mill had it that Mike Lynn quit ISS before giving the presentation at Black Hat, not that he was fired.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    Huh?, 5 Nov 2005 @ 10:48am

    Re: get it right

    Uhm, It's spelled Captain... You should have someone proof your work, idiot...

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    Wade, 5 Nov 2005 @ 2:40pm

    Re: get it right

    You guys bicker a lot...

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    Eliot Phillips, 5 Nov 2005 @ 11:55pm

    Cnet reads Slashdot

    I guess you just have to make a phone call to confirm an AC and you've got a story. See this comment

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    Critic, 6 Nov 2005 @ 1:41pm

    Re: Cnet reads Slashdot

    You guys are all geeky idiots!

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  22. identicon
    Mitchell Earl, 6 Nov 2005 @ 4:00pm

    Story accuracy

    I don't know what all the complaints are about. The article did NOT "infer" that he worked for CISCO and was easy to understand the way it was worded.

    I think some computer geeks need to brush up on their Reading and Comprehension.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 Nov 2005 @ 9:19pm

    Classic

    One of the best threads I've seen on techdirt in a long time. Good laugh guys.

    [ link to this | view in thread ]


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