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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!)"

6 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Stupid Security by Captain+Large+Face · · Score: 3, Funny

    How about...

    Using a one million bit key and claiming it's uncrackable on Slashdot?

  2. Signature via fax by DrSkwid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    & also "Company Letterhead via fax"

    I've encountered both of those as some sort of "security"

    --
    There are places where the networks are not touching,and there are places where they are-Boeing's Lori Gunter
  3. 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.

  4. Airport questions by Col.+Klink+(retired) · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guess they've stopped doing this, but the airline ticket agents asking if you're a terrorist always seemed pretty stupid to me.

    --

    -- Don't Tase me, bro!

  5. JavaScript by SoCalChris · · Score: 3, Insightful

    JavaScript on web pages that won't allow you to right click. Very stupid "security", and highly annoying too! Not to mention that it is super easy to get around...

  6. 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...