I try to live in denial and tell myself that my job isn’t so bad, and that I like it, but some things really irk me. OK, OK, perspective. I’m not crawling on my arms through a forest because I was shot and my legs don’t work. In America, even a low standard of living is far above what much of the world has to live through, but I’m allowed at least point out stupidity, so here goes.
I read my email this morning and I get this
We have been observing a gradual increase in Associates downloading desktop search software. This type of software is supplied through companies such as Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and several ‘open source’ products. The following compliance and risk issues are associated with the execution of such software:
Such software is not licensed under terms and conditions that meet ******** requirements, and therefore its use is in violation of ********’s Computer Hardware and Software Policy;
We are aware of several information security risks associated with the use of such software. For example, such software can enable the performance of searches beyond your desktop and can lead to search information and indexes being sent to servers external to ********. Either of these security vulnerabilities create a risk that ******** confidential data can be unknowingly placed “at risk”;
An operational risk has been identified whereby the searching capabilities of such products have introduced significant performance implications to backend infrastructures (such as servers).
At this time we are requiring that you take immediate action to uninstall such software.
As a further safeguard, as of June 16, 2006 we will begin to identify those Associates that continue to have such software on their workstations. SAMI Compliance Officers will be directly contacting those individuals and their supervisors to ensure any discovered desktop search tools are uninstalled.If there is a business reason for such software, please provide those requirements to your BU management team so appropriate licensing, funding, and the necessary IT infrastructure and security engineering can be planned.
Now, I’ll admit that I understand the concern. In fact I even uninstalled Google’s Desktop search after reading the EULA and privacy notice and deciding that it did not meet my criteria. MSN Search Toolbar/Windows Desktop Search on the other hand does seem to be truely desktop only. Further, I take great exception to the “and several ‘open source’ products” phrase. Apparently someone is so stupid that they think Beagle is a security risk. As employees we take these computers home(laptops are standard here). We plug them into home networks, possible attached directly to a cable modem with no firewall. Forget the threat from Google, Microsoft or Novell(?). What about the threat from within.
On a completely different limb of the same giant tree of stupid, these tools help me work more efficiently. Last time I checked efficient workers make the company more many. This policy spits in the face of efficiency and thus in the face of profit. I shall be selling my stock that much sooner. For those employees like myself who strive for continuous efficiency improvement, this policy is also demoralizing. Look, it is blue skies and eighty degrees outside right now. Why do I want to sit in this 10×6 cube of death if you don’t even let me do a good job?