Although I've been involved with computers since the 70s and have been “living online” (where I met my husband, Tom Shinder, in 1994) for well over a decade, until recently I resisted the blogging trend. Too much to do, too little time. I wasn't convinced it was the best format for disseminating professional information, and the last thing I needed was another addictive time-waster, a la Internet chat and some mailing lists with which I've carried on love-hate relationships over the years.
Obviously (based on the fact that you're reading this), I've changed - or at least opened - my mind. In part, that's because of the many professional blogs on the msmvps.com site.
I intend to post here at least weekly. Although I'll address all sorts of issues related to Microsoft networking, networking in general, and technology as a whole, I expect to focus on Windows security issues and especially the growing subcategory of “home LAN security.” More and more users are setting up sophisticated home networks that rival those of many businesses, going way beyond the typical two or three computer peer-to-peer network to implement Windows domains, edge (rather than host-based) firewalls, their own Web and FTP servers, and server products such as SQL, SPS and the like usually thought of only in connection with business networks. Many of those users are not sure what they need in terms of security.
The blog will consist of personal experiences, links to articles, reviews of security-related books, articles and events and random thoughts about the evolution of network security.
Who am I? Setting the philosophical implications of the question aside, it's always good to know a little bit about the person who's writing what you're reading. I'm a former police officer and college criminal justice instructor/computer hobbyist turned professional IT consultant, author and speaker. I'm married to a former neurologist/computer hobbyist turned (you guessed it) professional IT consultant, author and speaker. We did the mid-life career change shuffle together in the mid-90s, earned our MCSEs, started our business, and created a new, technology-centric life. I've written two books on my own, Scene of the Cybercrime (published by Syngress Publishing) and Computer Networking Essentials (published by Cisco Press). I've co-authored, contributed to and/or edited over twenty more books, published hundreds of articles and whitepapers, done contract product documentation and marketing material for Microsoft and other software companies, spoken at conferences such as BlackHat U.S.A., and edited several technology newsletters. I currently edit WinXPNews at www.winxpnews.com. If you want to know even more about me, see my Web sites at www.shinder.net and www.debshinder.com.
I look forward to sharing a few insights and, I hope, helping a few readers make their networks more secure in these high-risk times. Thanks for reading!
Posted
Apr 25 2004, 02:39 PM
by
debshinder