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InfoSec targeted for use of “jargon” – Blah!

Why is it that terms used in the information security profession is referred to as “gobbledegook” while in other professions it’s known as nomenclature.  Every profession has its own jargon so for “experts” to label this as something unique to information security is rather unfair.

“One problem is that computer “geeks” use jargon to cloak their work in scholarly mystique, resulting in a lack of clarity in everything from instruction manuals and systems design to professional training, the experts said.”

- Maclean, William, “Computer jargon baffles users, hinders security“, msnbc – Technology & Science, February 19, 2010.

This isn’t some malicious attempt to create a mystical club with secret words and handshakes.  Industry specific terminology helps those professionals within that industry communicate clearly with each other.  Isn’t this also true in finance, medicine, law, software design, architecture, etc?

Former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff had this to say:

Doctors and lawyers used to enjoy “a sense of mystified special knowledge,” Chertoff said. “But … once you empower people to understand what’s going on, doctors do a better job. So with cybersecurity the task is to make the architecture more user-friendly — and to teach people better.”

I don’t know about you but when a physician rattles off medical terminology I’m certainly not feeling empowered.  I do however trust that I’m being treated by someone trained in that particular field who understand the complexities and can communicate with peers (referrals) who also understand the “jargon”.  Isn’t this what they are paid for?  It’s no surprise that such a comment came from Chertoff who recently ran point for the miserably ineffective Cyber Shockwave simulation (aka propaganda) show.

Having “experts” come out and say things like “plain language is vital” is nothing new.  In any awareness or education campaign, the content of the message must be audience appropriate.  If you’re dealing with individuals with little experience in technology, then the awareness campaign has to incorporate examples and terms that are familiar with them in order to be effective.  That’s a no-brainer.

Perhaps next time these “experts” get together, someone should suggest they don’t need to tell us the completely obvious, the merely obvious will do.