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Schneier's Keynote At Linux.conf.au

Stony Stevenson writes "Computer security expert Bruce Schneier took a swipe at a number of sacred cows of security including RFID tags, national ID cards, and public CCTV security cameras in his keynote address to Linux.conf.au (currently being held in Melbourne, Australia). These technologies were all examples of security products tailored to provide the perception of security rather than tackling actual security risks, Schneier said. The discussion of public security — which has always been clouded by emotional decision making — has been railroaded by groups with vested interests such as security vendors and political groups, he claimed. 'For most of my career I would insult "security theater" and "snake oil" for being dumb. In fact, they're not dumb. As security designers we need to address both the feeling and the reality of security. We can't ignore one. It's not enough to make someone secure, that person needs to also realize they've been made secure. If no-one realizes it, no-one's going to buy it,' Schneier said."

5 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. I have an opinion on this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    And it might be strange.

    It has to do with all of the NIGGERS!!!!!!!!

    coons!!!!!!!!!!

    jigaboos!!!!!!!

    porchmonkeys!!!

    and don't forget the SAND NIGGERS and DUNE COONS!!!

  2. Re:In other words . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Actually, Bruce wrote a crappy book copied from other sources, and couldn't hack doing real cryptography, so he's looking for other ways to look smart.

  3. who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    linux is for dick smokers

  4. Re:love this line... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    NO!!!!!!!!

    The job of the TSA is to screen out all of the towelheads/DUNE COONS/SAND NIGGERS/whatever you want to call them.

    I only ask one thing: if you are going to say they have a turban on their heads, for the love of God don't spell it "turbine". Doing that will only feed the trolls.

    nigger nigger nigger

    now c'mon, idiot mods. waste your points modding this down instead of modding up something edifying. for you idiot mods, i KNOW you CANNOT RESIST modding this one down. it said the keyword, "nigger". waste that point or two. you know you want to so get it over with. idiots like you shouldn't be modding anyway so waste it on an AC where it won't make any difference. DO IT FUCKER! DO IT!!

  5. Re:We nerds and geeks need to wake up to theater by everphilski · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Don't you mean GNU/Linux? There is already a "theater" fo GNU/Linux: Freedom. We are not just fighting for technical superiority, we are fighting for the freedom of the people--just like a secure e-voting machine would, by the way of allowing fair and efficient election to be held.

    Because 99% of us don't give a crap about RMS's holy war. We just want to get our work done.

    (and re: your followup to this thread, my Vista notebook has greater than 3 months uptime ... 1 reboot in 6 months of owning it)