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Date: Sat, 14 Dec 1996 21:53:02 -0800 Subject: Re: In Defense of Anecdotal Evidence
Yes and no. Depends on the objective. If I had to purchase and install a new server for my employer, and not being an expert in security myself, I would (barring having a very trusted friend for advice) certainly be inclined to trust the published reports more than anecdotes, even when the anecdotes come from erstwhile reputable posters on these lists.
Published reports as done in the computer magazines are anecdotal evidence. They neither print their error bands on their stats, the raw results of their tests, or their complete test proceedures. Jim Choate CyberTects ravage@ssz.com