Spectre and Meltdown | High-Tech learns to wash it´s hands

The Semmelweis reflex or “Semmelweis effect” is a metaphor for the reflex-like tendency to reject new evidence or new knowledge because it contradicts established norms, beliefs or paradigms.

Medicine men and women still work on their discipline in washing hands to fight lethal super bugs and super fungis in hospitals but no one would dispute the relevance of hygiene today.

The medical establishment was sceptic when physician Ignaz Semmelweis  found clear evidence, by 1847, that mortality through puerperal fever ("childbed fever"), could be drastically reduced by simply washing hands.

He instituted a clinic-wide policy of mandatory hand washing between cutting up a body during autopsy and assisting in a birth. Despite proven success the experts of his time ignored his advice to clean and separate different work tasks.

Source: npr.org - The Doctor Who Championed Hand-Washing And Briefly Saved Lives

High-Tech Industry also realizes it´s Semmelweis reflex on data protection and digital security and collectively started washing hands in a metaphorical sense to fight most recent super bugs like Spectre and Meltdown.​

Bugs and viruses in software, micro code or silicone can´t get prevented by washing hands, however, the traits of hygiene well translate into (software-) engineering disciplines since, it is a concept of clean separation of entities.

The skilled cut of a surgeon or the smart hack of an engineer are admirable but certainly not the only definition of success. The collective realization is needed that, data privacy is tightly connected with security and ultimately safety. New definitions of performance are needed since, what we face is not a technological crisis only. Recent Facebook hearing shows the need for clean separation, all the way from business models to digital implementation and makes the conflict of public, private and economic interests evident.

Given the opportunity cost of cyber crime, major data breaches, political destabilization or global financial crisis, we -societies, industries or markets- should overcome the Semmelweis reflex and establish common norms and standards for Trustworthy Computing.

In times where globalization turns into protectionism this seems a big ask and may create discomfort with a whole industry but it is possible. Similar to Civil Aviation back in 1944 where, the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation led to common, binding security standards and safety procedures which saved millions of lives.

Moreover, it shows that meaningful regulation can instill trust and enable global economic growth over decades. The Chicago Convention changed the face of an industry and keeps reminding us that innovation is not finished when making the possible happen but also requires relentless work on preventing what ought to be impossible.

Source: The World Bank and B3A Data

Fix a problem before regulation makes it a crisis.
Wayne Brown, Ernst & Young - Ten lessons Financial Services can learn from other industries

It will probably take time to reach consensus in High-Tech Industry but, meanwhile let´s keep washing hands and remind all parties on the essence of integrity: Doing the right thing, even when no one is looking!