Geekonomics: The Real Cost of Insecure Software

by David Rice

'Geekonomics' spells out what insecure software costs all of us, and what technologists can do to demand, and get, better software. It explains why low-quality software is continually distributed, why consumers willingly purchase unreliable software, why governments leave the industry alone, and what can be done to improve matters.

Genres: Technology, Programming, Business, Software, Nonfiction, Computer Science, Computers

362 pages, Hardcover

First published November 29, 2007

Reviews

[Tomáš]

Critical book about software quality and security. As a software developer I have to agree with the most of the statements, such as:

- software vendors prefer new features to security
- software and internet is the infrastructure of the 21st century
- the security burden currently lies on software users, not vendors
- license agreement is a one-sided way how to avoid any responsibility
- software industry is mature enough to change this current state

It is a serious reading with a lot of references, which is sometimes hard to follow. The message is undeniable, but the solutions are questionable: regulations and certifications.

[Recipes and Roads]

Overall a good summary of the problems, but not very well written - long drawn out metaphors which get annoying. Not convinced by his arguments for the solutions to the issues of software bugs and security problems. Factually incorrect in places. Possibly interesting if you have absolutely no tech knowledge (difficult in this day in age). I learnt some interesting things about the manufacture of cement though.

[Eric]

Presents a reasonable but often overlooked argument that companies and individuals respond primarily to incentives perhaps lawyers are inevitable cost of the software business, as there are nearly every other business plenty of holes in the arguments, but some thought-provoking comparisons as well generally well written and researched.

[Fred Byus]

Text book for class I teach.

[Dgg32]

Some are facts, some are fancies. However, the main message is valid. We need more regulations to the software industry and we should provide them with more incentives to create more secure software.

[Erin Harper]

This was an easy-to-understand and interesting read about software quality, which mentions the SEI.

[Jari Pirhonen]

Good reading about software industry and reasons why we have so much bad software - and why it's not getting much better in near future.

[Donald]

A great look at information security from an economics perspective. Provides insights that engineers are unlikely to have without help.

[Ruslan]

https://medium.freecodecamp.com/being...

[Anton]

One of the best books I read on security ... EVER.