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Isn't the phrase Evil Maid a bit off-key? I'm sure this must have been discussed at great length elsewhere. We could express the same idea without the power an

Isn't the phrase Evil Maid a bit off-key? I'm sure this must have been discussed at great length elsewhere. We could express the same idea without the power and gender relations implied.

na85 10y ago
Sure, but it's an industry trope now. The same way we use Alice, Bob, and Eve as everypersons when talking about communications.
dogma1138 10y ago
Evil maid or the "cleaning man scenario" is a pretty standard term. Also technically whilst it does originate from maiden it is mostly gender neutral today, just like busboy or a bodyman are.
nickpsecurity 10y ago
It's the common name of the attack that people get. So it's useful whether PC types, who are a tiny minority of many audiences, like it or not. I'm not sure how "Evil Maid" label was derived. I do know from espionage reading that the most common form of the attack came from maids in hotels of business or government people passing through. Janitors and maintenance types, too, but they were in a trusted, protected building instead of a third party's. French intelligence is particularly notorious for using maids or other hotel employees. Calling it a (adjective-here) Maid attack given all the maids involved makes since for historical and current significance of that attack vector. As in, the label is also a reminder to watch your ass and never leave gear unattended in hotels. ;)
- jimmytidey 10y ago
  DSK conspiracy theories are a fun example of French intelligence services in hotels. Certainly, the phrase has a titillating James Bond aspect to it. If you haven't heard the phrase before it sounds weird, I do understand it's not intended maliciously. I don't think I'd use the term without quotes in my own writing.
  - nickpsecurity 10y ago
    I Googled it. I don't know if it's true or not but it was entertaining. :) My memory is fuzzy here but I think one of my sources on it was the leaked MOD Security Manual of UK that talked about what various countries pull the most on their agents or diplomats. I know it was in a few places way before that DSK story. The one on Russia was worse, though. It said they not only would bug your hotel when they knew you were coming but might create a way to ensure you landed in a bugged one even if you switched at last minute. Very determined professionals over there haha.
pitaj 10y ago
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Why would you even think of this as an issue? I had to read your comment, then read the replies, then read your comment again, twice, in order to actually understand what you were saying because it made literally no sense to me that anyone would have a problem with this. Why does it matter? There are plenty of words that used to mean something and now mean something completely different when in context.

Isn't the phrase Evil Maid a bit off-key? I'm sure this must have been discussed at great length elsewhere. We could express the same idea without the power and gender relations implied.

na85 10y ago

Sure, but it's an industry trope now. The same way we use Alice, Bob, and Eve as everypersons when talking about communications.

dogma1138 10y ago

Evil maid or the "cleaning man scenario" is a pretty standard term. Also technically whilst it does originate from maiden it is mostly gender neutral today, just like busboy or a bodyman are.

nickpsecurity 10y ago

It's the common name of the attack that people get. So it's useful whether PC types, who are a tiny minority of many audiences, like it or not. I'm not sure how "Evil Maid" label was derived. I do know from espionage reading that the most common form of the attack came from maids in hotels of business or government people passing through. Janitors and maintenance types, too, but they were in a trusted, protected building instead of a third party's. French intelligence is particularly notorious for using maids or other hotel employees. Calling it a (adjective-here) Maid attack given all the maids involved makes since for historical and current significance of that attack vector. As in, the label is also a reminder to watch your ass and never leave gear unattended in hotels. ;)

jimmytidey 10y ago
DSK conspiracy theories are a fun example of French intelligence services in hotels. Certainly, the phrase has a titillating James Bond aspect to it. If you haven't heard the phrase before it sounds weird, I do understand it's not intended maliciously. I don't think I'd use the term without quotes in my own writing.
- nickpsecurity 10y ago
  I Googled it. I don't know if it's true or not but it was entertaining. :) My memory is fuzzy here but I think one of my sources on it was the leaked MOD Security Manual of UK that talked about what various countries pull the most on their agents or diplomats. I know it was in a few places way before that DSK story. The one on Russia was worse, though. It said they not only would bug your hotel when they knew you were coming but might create a way to ensure you landed in a bugged one even if you switched at last minute. Very determined professionals over there haha.

pitaj 10y ago

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Why would you even think of this as an issue? I had to read your comment, then read the replies, then read your comment again, twice, in order to actually understand what you were saying because it made literally no sense to me that anyone would have a problem with this. Why does it matter? There are plenty of words that used to mean something and now mean something completely different when in context.