IT Security: Playing To Win

Security company Fortify Software today released a Flash-based game called IT Defender that attempts to educate players about workplace security risks while they risk their jobs by playing a game at work.

Sure, it's a PR ploy. But it's a good one. (Really, anything is better than another press release.) As a game, it's nothing groundbreaking, but it's nicely done for what it is.The premise is simple: You have to run around a Pacman-inspired office maze to stop colleagues from creating security breaches. To complicate matters, your boss is chasing you around, trying to drag you into a meeting, and you need periodic coffee breaks to sustain your speed.

In other words, it's frighteningly realistic.