Dumbest. Seminar. Ever.

I got the following today, from a very reputable security vendor. I'm not going to name them, because I think they're otherwise pretty good, but this is really just pathetic:

The Hidden Dangers of Protocols

Protocols are the sets of rules governing the communications of network applications, such as instant messaging, peer-to-peer file sharing, and streaming media. But, protocols may allow these communications to transmit confidential information, spyware, keyloggers, worms, viruses, and other security threats into and out of your organization. Protocols may also allow users to access inappropriate applications. Plus, they may be consuming valuable network bandwidth and draining user productivity in the process!

Protocols are dangerous? I've got news for this writer: protocols put the "work" in "network". Without TCP/IP, odds are you don't have a network, and that's not counting the myriad other protocols above and below the IP level.

Clearly, the vendor (as a whole) understands the concept of protocols perfectly well. So I conclude that either they've hired an incompetent writer or editor in the marketing department, or they're taking the chance to do a little FUD-mongering. I'll be charitable and guess it's the former.

Seriously, this is the dumbest thing I've seen from a security company in quite a long time.