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by Jan Duffy

Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt

News
Apr 11, 20031 min
CSO and CISOData and Information Security

The term, which stands for fear, uncertainty and doubt, was originally coined in the 1970s in reference to IBM’s marketing technique of spreading rumors about a competitor’s new product to dissuade customers from taking a “risk” by buying it. FUD relies on emotion—not reason—to make a sale (or prevent one). In the security department it takes the form of scare tactics used to persuade adaptation of certain practices or acquire funding.