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What Examples of Security Theater Have You Encountered?
swillden writes "Everyone who pays any attention at all to security, both computer security and 'meatspace' security, has heard the phrase Security Theater. For years I've paid close attention to security setups that I come in contact with, and tried to evaluate their real effectiveness vs their theatrical aspects. In the process I've found many examples of pure theater, but even more cases where the security was really a cover for another motive." swillden would like to know what you've encountered along these lines; read on for the rest of his question below.
swillden continues: "Recently, a neighbor uncovered a good example. He and his wife attended a local semi-pro baseball game where security guards were checking all bags for weapons. Since his wife carries a small pistol in her purse, they were concerned that there would be a problem. They decided to try anyway, and see if her concealed weapon permit satisfied the policy. The guard looked at her gun, said nothing and passed them in, then stopped the man behind them because he had beer and snacks in his bag. Park rules prohibit outside food. It's clear what the 'security' check was really about: improving park food vending revenues.
So, what examples of pure security theater have you noticed? Even more interesting, what examples of security-as-excuse have you seen?"
So, what examples of pure security theater have you noticed? Even more interesting, what examples of security-as-excuse have you seen?"
Eat lead, mf
rewriting history since 2109
Can he tell you how many millions of emails and documents are encrypted before one is protected? Because it would be nice if he met the same standards he holds others to -- it would be nice if anybody in computer security were held to the same cost/benefit standards as regular security. I used to have 16 different passwords at work, all requiring changes every 64 days, and I somehow doubt it was worth the trouble.
His examples are bunk anyway because he doesn't understand them. Deterrents work without working, that's the point. And the baby thing -- there's a big moral and societal difference between losing a sick kid to disease and having a healthy kid kidnapped. Otherwise, why imprison kidnappers but not doctors who treated patients who died?
Sure, 'Anarke' might be a reasonable phonetic facsimile of the word 'anarchy', but to those who know better, it simply detracts from people thinking of you as anything other than a douche.
Who REALLY needs to get laid.
I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
Whatever the reason that the 'guard' was searching handbags, the fact remains that discovering that someone has a gun puts you in the position of immediately deciding what you are going to do if the person with the gun doesn't want you to know about it or inform anyone else about it.
If they have the gun and you don't have one, all the more reason to just be cool about the situation. If you find someone with a gun in America and they are white middle-class, then there's a good chance that you could lose your job by hassling them about it. If you find someone with a gun in America and they are not white middle-class, then there's a good chance that you could lose your life by hassling them about it.
Either way, it's easier to be Mr. Righteous Bad Ass Security Guard with someone with illegal potato chips than someone with a gun. At least it is for me.
It would be damn near impossible to get me to murder, but I'm not a silly psychopath trying to get my 72 virgins or whatever lie we're telling about Muslims (or they're telling each other) this week.
I also wouldn't try to justify it for someone else, but this is Slashdot, where proprietary software is immoral and killing Americans is peachy fucking keen.
Who would steal a focus?
No, cars with automatic transmissions are cheaper used than cars without, because no one wants a car with worse performance and worse fuel economy, when the only benefit is that you don't have to change gears. Cars with automatic transmissions are only for the stupid and lazy.
You don't get it. It's far easier to whine about the problem on slashdot and blame an entire class of people and devices for it than it is to actually take steps to resolve it.
If you mod me Overrated, you are admitting that you have no penis.