Web Application Security, A Beginner's Guide

Network Security versus Application Security: The Parable of the Wizard and the Magic Fruit Trees

In order to understand the difference between network security issues and application security issues a little better, consider this parable of the wizard and the magic fruit trees.

Once upon a time there lived a kindly old wizard who loved fruit. He used his magic spells to create a magnificent orchard full of all different kinds of fruit trees. He created apple trees, banana trees, and plum trees. He conjured up entirely new kinds of fruit trees that never existed in nature, fields of vineyards that grew cherries the size of cantaloupes, and shrubs that grew oranges with purple skin and tasted like watermelons.

As we said, this wizard was a kindly ...