[attrition] Crowd Sourcing the New Errata Section, 'Prediction Fail'

[security curmudgeon]

http://attrition.org/news/content/11-03-19.001.html

Crowd Sourcing the New Errata Section, 'Prediction Fail'
Sat Mar 19 20:05:35 CDT 2011
errata[at]attrition.org

One of the 'to-do' list items for Errata is the creation of a 'Prediction 
Fail' page. The idea is to catalog the amusing (sad?) instances of 
security experts or companies predicting how things will change down the 
road, after time has passed. Grand claims, absurd predictions or pipe 
dreams tend to creep in with the more reasonable and down-to-earth 
predictions.

For example, did you know that Microsoft and Brightmail Inc. (now owned by 
Symantec) predicted there would be an "end to computer spam" back in 2004? 
Or that Websense Security Labs claimed "the end of e-mail viruses is 
nigh"?

Companies can make these absurd predictions safely, because the speed of 
news drowns them in a matter of weeks. Rarely do we look back months or 
years to see what was said about our ever-changing industry. It is time to 
start keeping these companies honest. With the upcoming 'Prediction Fail' 
Errata section, we will give you the cluebat you need to virtually smack 
these companies and demand for less hype, less FUD and more sanity.

We're looking for YOUR help! Send in your favorite predictions! All we 
need is a link to the news article or press release, and we'll take it 
from there. Send them to errata[at]attrition.org please.