Technological Turf Wars: A Case Study of the Antivirus Industry: A Case Study of the Computer Antivirus Industry

In Technological Turf Wars , Jessica Johnston analyzes the tensions and political dilemmas that coexist in the interrelationship among science, technology and society. Illustrating how computer security is as concerned with social relationships as it is with technology, Johnston provides an illuminating ethnography that considers corporate culture and the workplace environment of the antivirus industry. Using a qualitative, interdisciplinary approach, which combines organizational and security studies with critical and social analysis of science and technology, Johnston questions the motivations, contradictions and negotiations of antivirus professionals. She examines the tensions between the service ethics and profit motives—does the industry release viruses to generate demand for antivirus software?—and considers the dynamics within companies by looking at facets such as gender bias and power politics. Technological Turf Wars is an informed, enlightened and entertaining view of how the production of computer security technology is fraught with social issues. I found Technological Turf Wars to be an engaging and revealing look into the anti-virus (AV) industry. While I expected the book to contain more details on AV or malware from a technical standpoint, I still found it was a great read. The book exposes many of the industry paradigms and idiosyncrasies. It also highlighted how AV companies operate vis a vis their customers and their peers. I especially liked the indictment of a members only knowledge club and the inherent dangers in such an arrangement. Technological Turf Wars: A Case Study of the Computer Antivirus Industry ......Page 1 Table of Contents ......Page 8 Introduction ......Page 12 Naming the Threat ......Page 28 Security Transformations ......Page 56 Trust, Networks, and the Transformation of Organizational Power ......Page 72 IT Corporate Customers as End Users ......Page 104 Marketing Service ......Page 136 Situated Exclusions and Reinforced Power ......Page 170 Works Cited ......Page 224 Index ......Page 230 Naming The Threat -- Security Transformations -- Trust, Networks And The Transformation Of Organizational Power -- It Corporate Customers As End Users -- Marketing Service -- Situated Exclusions And Reinforced Power. Jessica Johnston. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [213]-217) And Index. Technological Turf Wars( A Case Study of the Computer Antivirus Industry) Paperback JessicaR.Johnston TempleUniversityPress