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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?"
It's not "colonialism".
Islam has been waging war with the rest of the world since it was invented.
Most of the world that is muslim now is that way because of those wars.
Don't try to kid anyone.
A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
If this is true, and a person must carry a gun to safely traverse the distance back and forth to the ball diamond, then that country is an incredible amount of trouble.
Hi, I Boris. Hear fix bear, yes?
I agree. Apparently, slashdot is more about group dynamics of dominance now than simply being about talking tech stuff and learning more from each visit. I can't wait for it to be more like reddit where every other post is about Obama, Bush's latest gaffe or pictures of kittens doing the darnedest things.
I don't see wave after wave of people trying to storm our beaches, rape our infidel women or blow up idolatrous symbols of capitalistic greed over here.
It's too bad Europe can't say the same.
I regularly eat goats and barnacles, and I can confidently say the only good defense is spending as much as you can on commercial antivirus and firewall products. Because they won't get in.