Free rhymes for the Norton-Snoop Dogg Hack is Wack contest

No doubt looking to capitalize on the run-away success of the 1990s anti-piracy hit “Don’t Copy That Floppy,” Norton is teaming up with hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg to rally the nation’s community of Internet-security-conscious rappers to drop some knowledge about the dangers of cyber crime.

As part of an initiative called Hack is Wack (“Spam be damned” was too controversial), the security software vendor is holding a contest for the best two-minute rap video on such subjects as staying safe from identity theft, viruses, hack attacks, and other aspects of cyber crime.

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The winning submitter gets a trip to Los Angeles to meet with hip-hop’s Top Dogg and his management crew and discuss the ins and out of the rap biz (and possibly the importance of a regular patching schedule). The winner will also take home a new laptop computer.

Rapping on technological topics is no easy task, though the good news is, the competition appears to be limited to “Weird Al” Yankovic, who boasts hits such as “It’s All About the Pentiums” and “White and Nerdy.”

As a service to readers contemplating entering this contest, I’ve compiled a brief “Computer-Security/Hip-Hop Rhyming Dictionary.” No need to credit me should you borrow some of my dope lyrics. I’ll deny any association.

Antivirus – Please don’t fire us, 9-point Papyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus

Black hat hacker – Can that slacker, midnight snacker, two-bit rapper

Botnet kit – Not yet hit, 2 legit 2 quit, failed English lit

Malware – Bus fare, fall wear, pallbearer

Phishing scam – Dishing spam, missing RAM, Christmas ham

Trojan horse – Security force, stay the course, centrifugal force

Unpatched application – Demand identification, workman’s compensation, background radiation

Vulnerability assessment – Limited liability investment, incompatibility impressment, appetite suppressant

The deadline for submitting a two-minute video is Sept. 30. For more information — or to rate videos — go to the Hack is Wack website.

This article, “Free rhymes for the Norton-Snoop Dogg Hack is Wack contest,” was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Get the first word on what the important tech news really means with the InfoWorld Tech Watch blog.