A serious security flaw has been found in Internet Explorer – no big surprise there. But this one really IS serious – it was found by attackers before it was found by Microsoft. So exploits are already out there “in the wild.” (This BBC News story has more details.) The worst part of it is… Continue reading Now’s the time to switch to Firefox
Tag: security
The TSA’s Photo ID Rules are Useless
The rules that the TSA has rolled out regarding photo IDs and their requirements for getting onto passenger airplanes are usless. In fact, you could argue that they are worse than useless, since they create a false sense of security – and they cost us a lot of money (both directly and indrectly). But don’t… Continue reading The TSA’s Photo ID Rules are Useless
Microchip (RFID) Passport Cloned
In case there was any doubt that this whole digital passport / RFID passport thing was never about security (via Slashdot): “New microchip passports designed to be foolproof against identity theft failed the test when a researcher was able to manipulate one in minutes. The cloned passports were accepted as genuine by the computer software… Continue reading Microchip (RFID) Passport Cloned
TSA – Too much power, too little accountability
This article from “Ask the Pilot” by Patrick Smith is well worth reading. It recounts a story that a pilot had with the TSA people. Let me give you just one little snippet: “Ma’am, that’s an airline knife. It’s the knife they give you on the plane.“ You can probably imagine where this is headed.… Continue reading TSA – Too much power, too little accountability
The Quixotic Quest for Invulnerability
Schneier on Security: Homeland Security Cost-Benefit Analysis. A very worthwhile read – basically: The premises: The number of potential terrorist targets is essentially infinite. The probability that any individual target will be attacked is essentially zero. If one potential target happens to enjoy a degree of protection, the agile terrorist usually can readily move on… Continue reading The Quixotic Quest for Invulnerability