RE: "Free" pen-test

From: Pete (pen_test_listat_private)
Date: Fri Jun 20 2003 - 01:31:29 PDT

  • Next message: J.A. Terranson: "RE: "Free" pen-test"

    <snip>
    
    > > My question is this: how do white-hatters usually approach these 
    > > things?
    
    <snip> 
    
    hellNbak answered:
    
    > So let me get this straight.  You engaged in completey 
    > unethical behaviour
    > -- offered a free pen-test and now you are mad because you 
    > were not able to "scare" this guy into buying services from you?
    
    You misunderstand me (perhaps deliberately?). I'm not in the security
    industry. I was tipped that a local firm had security issues. I have
    contacts who could provide the security that they need, so I went about
    bringing the two together. Mr Director agreed to a pen-test on the basis
    that our degree of success may or may not lead to a sales meeting. This
    wasn't blackmail, just an honest attempt to show a reluctant (and smug)
    manager that he was vulnerable. OK, we wasted some time (it seems) -
    some people just don't want a mirror held up to them.
    
    Miguel's remarks are more useful. I'm interested in the approach to the
    psychology of this thing: what do you do when you know someone is wrong
    about his/her security but just refuses to see it? If I'd waited for
    this guy to approach me I'd have waited all my life. Likewise, if I'd
    tried to sell him a full pen-test backed up with a complete security
    report, he'd never have seen the need for it.
    
    Well...any more comments would be interesting.
    
    Pete 
    
    
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