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Freakonomics Q&A With Bruce Schneier

Posted by kdawson on from the thinking-like-an-economist dept.

Samrobb writes "In grand Slashdot tradition, the Freakonomics blog solicited reader questions for a Q&A session with Bruce Schneier. The blog host writes that Mr. Schneier's answers '...are extraordinarily interesting, providing mandatory reading for anyone who uses a computer. He also plainly thinks like an economist: search below for "crime pays" to see his sober assessment of why it's better to earn a living as a security expert than as a computer criminal.'" The interview covers pretty much the whole range of issues Schneier has written about, and he provides links to more detailed writings on many of the questions.

14 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. The more things change... by linuxwrangler · · Score: 5, Funny

    "...In 1957, fifty years ago, there were fewer than 2,000 computers total, and they were essentially used to crunch numbers. They were huge, expensive, and unreliable; sometimes, they caught on fire..."

    Well, now they are small, inexpensive, and relatively reliable. But at least they still sometimes catch on fire.

    --

    ~~~~~~~
    "You are not remembered for doing what is expected of you." - Atul Chitnis
    1. Re:The more things change... by spun · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, now they are small, inexpensive, and relatively reliable. But at least they still sometimes catch on fire. That's exactly what I tell my computers when they act up, "Computers still sometimes catch on fire, you know." I keep a charred motherboard hanging on the wall in the server room, just to remind them. Helps keep the buggers running right.
      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    2. Re:The more things change... by tm2b · · Score: 4, Funny

      "The Aperture Science Center would like to remind you that Android Hell is a real place, and you will be sent there at the first sign of disobedience."

      --
      "It is our blasphemy which has made us great, and will sustain us, and which the gods secretly admire in us." - Zelazny
  2. But first, make sure you have the Bruce facts by sien · · Score: 5, Funny

    To get the most out of this interview, make sure you have the facts on Bruce Schneier. The man is not what he seems.

    1. Re:But first, make sure you have the Bruce facts by calebt3 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Chuck Norris

    2. Re:But first, make sure you have the Bruce facts by JK_the_Slacker · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm not sure, but I do know that Jason Bourne would limp away.

      Oh, and don't forget about the explosion that almost (ALMOST) kills John McClane.

      --
      I'm waiting for a "-1 somepeoplejustshouldn'tgetmodprivileges" meta-moderation.
  3. FTA: several websites by mseidl · · Score: 2, Funny

    There are several Web sites where I pay for access, and I have the same password for all of them.

    And these sites have content, content which gets stored under /.pr0n

  4. Best Answer by Odin_Tiger · · Score: 4, Funny

    Q: I recently had an experience on eBay in which a hacker copied and pasted an exact copy of my selling page with the intention of routing payments to himself. Afterwards, people informed me that such mischief is not uncommon. How can I ensure that it doesn't happen again?

    A: You can't. The attack had nothing to do with you. Anyone with a browser can copy your HTML code -- if they couldn't, they couldn't see your page -- and repost it at another URL. Welcome to the Internet.

    Poor Bruce must get awful tired of answering questions from people who don't understand how computers, etc. actually work.
    --
    Unpleasantries.
  5. Re:A billion times... by AuntieWillow · · Score: 3, Funny

    FTA:

    However, I wonder if software will be advanced enough by then to have AI agents assisting you like most sci-fi flicks. Usually software is the barrier in computing. Programmers are slow.
    Programmers are slow because, like me, they're probably surfing /. :-)
  6. Re:Too many to answer -- I'm not impressed however by jjohnson · · Score: 2, Funny

    This person needs to learn more about security



    You think Bruce Schneier needs to learn more about security?

    --
    Anyone who loves or hates any language, platform, or manufacturer, doesn't know what they're talking about.
  7. Re:/. Mods are Jew Rats by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Ok... eating a dude's shit turns you on. What about eating a girl's turd? If you found a nice big cosby kid in a toilet, not knowing the gender of the person, would you eat it? He's a Mac user. Of course not.
  8. Re:strange answer on wireless by flaming+error · · Score: 4, Funny

    It only seems risky until you learn that Bruce Schneier types in TwoFish.

  9. Re:strange answer on wireless by alexborges · · Score: 2, Funny

    My friend. The point is that is almost as easy to get data from a suposedly "encrypted" (weak ass encryption) wifi connection, as to do it from an unencrypted one.

    And I mean... what is this, Mr. SEAL, although you have an enviable 5 digit slashdot ID, im gonna HAVE to go with bruce on this one.... hell, id go with bruce on all the rest-of-them as well.

    --
    NO SIG
  10. Re:strange answer on wireless by Brickwall · · Score: 3, Funny
    It only seems risky until you learn that Bruce Schneier types in TwoFish.

    Gee, what happened to OneFish, and the RedFish and BlueFish?

    --
    What was once true, is no longer so