London, UK - 6 November 2004, 14:15 GMT

For the Attention Of:

Matthew McKenzie
Editor, Linux Pipeline

Scot Finnie
Editor-at-Large, Linux Pipeline;
Editor, Pipelines and TechWeb

Dear Sirs

This is an Open Letter published on our websites with immediate effect (www.mi2g.net and www.mi2g.com).

We write to you from mi2g in London, England and would be pleased if you can investigate the situation we are facing as a result of your group's recent publication. Your readers have repeatedly brought the following to our attention and we are concerned to read the article which has been authored by your colleague:

Experts challenge mi2g security study - http://www.linuxpipeline.com/news/52200183

Linux experts slam a report naming the OS as a favourite hacker target, citing methodology flaws and "suspicious" conclusions.

The same story has already appeared on Internet Week - http://www.internetweek.com/breakingNews/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=52200309

The article appears to be responding to the following news alert issued by mi2g:

Deep study: The world's safest computing environment - http://www.mi2g.net/cgi/mi2g/press/021104.php

With respect, we are concerned that we have not been asked to make a comment at all in regard to the published article, which amounts to firing a gun, that discredits us and challenges our reputation, on the shoulder of eminent personalities. Those personalities also appear not to have read the mi2g news alert or the underlying report for that matter and have made factually incorrect statements as a result.

For the record, we are supporters of Linux and run www.mi2g.net on Linux. The mi2g Security Intelligence Products and Systems (SIPS) Engine runs on Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP (LAMP) architecture. We believe that good administration is central to working with Linux. Those skills are lacking in the global market and are the root cause behind Linux receiving a much higher number of manual hacker breaches. Manual breaches can be much more complex and sophisticated than automated ones proliferated through malware.

Neither mi2g Ltd nor the mi2g Intelligence Unit have a business relationship with Apple Computers or Microsoft Corporation and we do not own any shares, options or derivatives in those corporations at present. Previously, the mi2g data for one month was considered to be too small a sample and not representative of the global environment within which different types of entities - micro, small, medium and large - exist. We have addressed those concerns in the new study. The critics were against the previous study which also came out in favour of Apple and BSD, because the entrenched supporters of Linux and Windows felt that mi2g was guilty of 'computing blasphemy'. In subsequent months, mi2g's reputation was damaged on search engines and bulletin boards. We would urge caution when reading negative commentary against mi2g, which may have been clandestinely funded, aided or abetted by a vendor or a special interest group.

Please read the following articles:

Disturbing the sanctity of the Linux church - http://www.mi2g.net/cgi/mi2g/press/020304_2.php

Please visit www.mi2g.net, we have just done a news alert to answer a raft of questions raised in your apparently ill-informed and ill-judged article:

The relativistic approach to safety - uptime versus market share - http://www.mi2g.net/cgi/mi2g/press/051104.php

The above article deals with other aspects of the recent study based on all the feedback we have received.

Please have a look at http://www.mi2g.net/cgi/mi2g/sips.php & http://www.mi2g.net/cgi/mi2g/sipsgraph.php to read more about how the reports are generated and their components. To read the SIPS FAQ please visit http://www.mi2g.net/cgi/mi2g/press/faq.pdf

If you feel that we have merit in what we have said and your readers ought to know about it, we would urge you to publish this feedback in its entirety on your website and also on all the syndicated websites that have published your article, because this is a very serious matter and we are not prepared to accept blindly directed misfired criticism.

Best wishes and we remain, Sirs

Yours sincerely

 

mi2g Intelligence Unit

[ENDS]

Related Articles:

17th November 2004 - Full compendium of mi2g speeches released on web
12th November 2004 - Exclusive interview of DK Matai with Linux/Security Pipeline
12th November 2004 - Deep study: The ongoing Linux Attacks fallout
5th November 2004 - The relativistic approach to safety - uptime versus market share
2nd November 2004 - Deep study: The world's safest computing environment
24th March 2004 - Five solutions to the rising identity theft and malware problem
2nd March 2004 - Disturbing the sanctity of the Linux Church
19th February 2004 - The World's safest Operating System

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Coverage:

Information Security News: mi2g defends its Linux claims - Insecure.org
mi2g defends its Linux claims - Virus.org
mi2g defends its Linux claims - The Inquirer
Interviews: DK Matai with Linux/Security Pipeline - Linuxtimes.net
Exclusive interview of DK Matai with Linux/Security Pipeline - LinuxSecurity.com
Exclusive interview of DK Matai with Linux/Security Pipeline - eBCVG IT Security
Apple's Mac OS X is much more secure than Linux or Windows - MacDailyNews
Furore over OS security survey - ITWeb
Sloppy Sysadmins Leave Linux Security Lacking - InternetWeek.com
Sloppy Sysadmins Leave Linux Security Lacking - CRN
Sloppy Admins Leave Linux Vulnerable To Security Breaches - Information Week
Linux is 'most breached' OS on the Net, security research firm says - ARNnet
Linux is 'most breached' OS on the Net, security research firm says - LinuxWorld
Linux is 'most breached' OS on the Net, security research firm says - ComputerWorld
Security company defends Linux-is-vulnerable survey - HNS
The world’s safest computing environment - TechCentral
mi2g response: Experts challenge mi2g security study - eBCVG IT Security
PC Pro: Security Company Defends Linux-is-Vulnerable Survey - linux today
Study: Linux Is Least Secure OS - WindowsITPro
Linux Most Breached OS, Says New Report - CXO Today
Survey: Mac OS X most secure, Linux least - ITWeb
Mac OS X, BSD Unix top security survey - Neowin.net
Mac OS X, BSD Unix top security survey - Computer World
Study: OS X World's Safest OS From Security Attacks - MacNewsWorld
Study Recommends Mac OS X as Safest OS - Slashdot
Mac OS X, BSD Unix top security survey - MacCentral
Security: Mac OS X Good, Linux Bad - eBCVG IT Security
Study: Apple's Mac OS X 'world's safest and most secure' operating system - MacDailyNews
Study: OS X World's Safest OS From Security Attacks - the Mac Observer
The world's safest computing environment - eBCVG IT Security
Mac OS X - 'world's safest' - Macworld Daily News
The world's safest computing environment - TechCentral

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mi2g is at the leading edge of building secure on-line banking, broking and trading architectures. The principal applications of our technology are:

1. D2-Banking;
2. Digital Risk Management; and
3. Bespoke Security Architecture.

mi2g pioneers enterprise-wide security practices and technology to save time and cut cost. We enhance comparative advantage within financial services and government agencies. Our real time intelligence is deployed worldwide for contingency capability, executive decision making and strategic threat assessment.

mi2g Research Methodology: The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List is available from here in pdf. Please note terms and conditions of use listed on www.mi2g.net

Full details of the October 2004 report are available as of 1st November 2004 and can be ordered from here. (To view contents sample please click here).