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Stupid Security

Posted by timothy on from the just-ask-penn dept.

Buck Mulligan writes "The folks at Privacy International are holding a stupid security contest to discover the "world's most pointless, intrusive, annoying and self-serving security measures." Nominations can be submitted by email: stupidsecurity@privacy.org. My vote goes to the Ronald Reagan 'Free Trade' Center in Washington, where you have to show your driver's license to visit the food court. (Having a driver's license proves that you aren't dangerous!)"

5 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. I got one. by TripleA · · Score: 3, Interesting

    US web-vendors that requires international customers to e-mail or fax in a copy of their ID and credit card. Mailing a picture of the card kinda defeats the purpose of the secure, encrypted order form.

    1. Re:I got one. by bmetzler · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Well, the picture of the card is not sent via encrypted email, so it's not secure at all.

      Oh.

      I missed the email part. I just saw fax and mailing, and thought that it was a physical copy that they actually wanted to receive. Obviously email a graphic isn't a very good idea, considering it's probably easy to photoshop a CC image to begin with.

      -Brent
  2. The VISA application for the US by aWalrus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Have you guys ever seen one of those things? There's this form you have to fill when you request a VISA for travelling into the US. I think it's the same for most foreign countries. In Mexico, at least, it has about 10 checkboxes that look something like this:
    - I am a member of a violent terrorist organization yes / no
    - I am trafficking drugs/weapons/any sort of illegal substances into the US yes / no
    - I am an active member of a hate/racist group involved in violent attacks of minorities yes / no
    - I engage in satanic rituals.... etc. etc.

    I'm not kidding you. This is the sort of things the form actually asks. I guess there may be a legal precedent as to the need for these questions, but it's funny as hell anyway. Or maybe it actually works for stopping extremely stupid hatemongers / drug dealers from travelling into the country.

    --
    Overcaffeinated. Angry geeks.
  3. Stupidest security... by velcrokitty · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My favourite as of late is applying to security-minded companies, and embedding an image in my email from a server that I have access to. I can watch it as my cover-letter is passed from one department to another. I get to see what systems they are using, and I've found that a lot of companies have their IT department running one version of OS with a Google browser, while HR runs another version of OS (usually XP), and internal managers or reviewers running yet again another OS...

    Sillies. You want security, don't claim to be a security firm and yet allow people to view your internal operations... Sillies...

    --
    I stick to walls...
  4. The Passport Bureau by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I'm utterly serious. I went to renew my passport, and they wouldn't accept as ID either my birth certificate or learner's permit (Current and valid non-driver ID in the state of NY - good as a driver's license for any legal identification purpose!).

    What they DID accept was my recently expired college ID. WHAT???

    And if you want to call and complain to the passport office, it's a toll number!