compare this to computer security flaws - typically the researchers that find the flaws disclose them to the public a few weeks after notifying the vendor.

but with the physical lock industry, this is a flaw that's been around for decades, that they refuse to fix because it would cost an extra $0.25 in metal for each door.

For me, I read about it like a decade ago online since I am into computers, security, privacy, etc. with other *geeks!

Super combative terminal jokey from the winning team is on camera saying he can't close IE On a system that is supposed to be secure ... I'm guessing CTF at DEF CON would wipe the floor with these folks.

Claiming to have "won" against the NSA at the end, more like failed less than the others.

These exercises are fine in themselves, but anybody who knows what they are doing and has been tasked to comply with NIST security controls ( the ones the US Gov requires) will notice that many of the requirement unambiguously reduce the security of the system, and the folks who audit these projects don't care how bad it is as long as it's checked on the list.

The problem for the military is that regimentation, "sailor proof" instructions and other necessities of running a massive organization that has to assume the lowest common denominator just don't work in computer security. If people don't know what they are doing no amount of check-listing is going to solve the problem.

Anybody who really knows what they are doing -- as some of these students may one day -- will realize that you have to choose one or the other optimal security or regulation compliance.

disclaimer: my rant may be excessive, I just wasted 18mo building a server cluster that needed to pass gov audit - so I'm bitter

When was torture last sanctioned by the state? The dark ages? Of course violent crime was higher in the dark ages. It was pretty difficult to enforce the law back then due to the lack of cars, satellites, computers, security cameras, guns, etc, not to mention that laws varied greatly depending on which part of the land you lived in and what lords you served under. Does Pinker's book have any contemporary examples that support your position?

In any case, regardless of whether you favor punishment or rehabilitation, the real solution is to address the root of the problem: lousy upbringings. Anyone can have children, no matter how qualified they are. They can have a criminal record, a history of mental illness and be unemploymed and still have as many kids as they want. It's ridiculous and the reason why so many children grow up to be criminals. We need to have strictly enforced regulation of reproduction. Parents should have to go through a thorough testing process and meet certain requirements (like having enough money to actually support a family) before being allowed to have kids. If a woman walks into a hospital with an unlicensed pregnancy, both she and the father should be arrested and executed without trial. Legal births would be recorded in an international database, which employers and government workers would reference during any hiring, licensing or authorization process. Essentially, illegal children would have no chance of ever becoming a part of regular society, forcing them to the outskirts and slums. This would make it easier to focus raids and clear out the most prominent concentrations of criminals.

This may sound dystopian but it's really the only way to fix the root of the problem. You will never be able to make people better if you let them be raised under lousy conditions. Morality is learned, not innate. If we want everyone to follow the same rules, they need to be taught to respect them. If the parents don't, why would the children?

Lol - yes, I suppose there is that issue, rottenseed, but I was thinking in broader terms of computer security.

*quality. Upon learning computer security more and more, the average person really is helpless. Hacking is one of the supreme examples that shows how powerful knowledge really can be. The most interesting point I see in this is while Zoz (yes I thought I recognized him from prototype this and why they canceled the show really baffles me) is dealing with an idiot, he still had the obstacles of bypassing his own security measures. True he knows his own system, but there are still plenty of obstacles to overcome along the way.

It just goes to show how much power is in the realm of computers.

Also, "Taking Photos In Public Places Is Not A Crime: Analysis"

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/computer-security/taking-photos-in-public-places-is-not-a-crime?click=pm_latest

I'm also getting it, shockingly it seems to be justified. Whenever I load a new videosift page, it transfers me to a "computer security" website that tells me my computer needs to be scanned and then automatically downloads something called setup_2006-52.exe (thankfully I have a mac).

What the hell?

I for one like Vista. I can never understand why so many people hate it. It's easy to use. I really don't mind clicking 'allow' - it's not that hard and maintains my computers security.

* I bet 299.5 million of those 300 million daily attacks on the pentagon are teenagers trying to guess FTP passwords or some such thing.

* Who knew West Virginia was such a hotspot for internet crimes

* I think this guy's in over his head in understanding computer security but to be fair he did just quote the president and ask someone else for an opinion.

For the record, personal storage media like thumb drives, floppy disks and CD/DVD-ROMS brought from home have been banned on DOD computers for a quite a while. The rule has not been enforced very well, but that is changing.

The most difficult obstacle in this part of the war is changing the culture. 99% of the people using computers in DOD do not understand computer security or view the computer as a weapon system just like a tank or a plane. Systems put in place to protect the network also tend to make things slower and/or less efficient. That means the end user sees computer security as a pain in the ass. Hell, even the tech guys see it as a pain in the ass.

Seriously, mintbbb, I have the same fear. And it's not a post-9/11 thing either...I just don't like the idea of not being in control. The funny thing is if I were flying the plane, I'd probably be OK with flying. I just don't like trusting someone else to make sure I don't wind up as a charcoal briquette on the ground.

Anyways, back to topic. I would HIGHLY advise you to visit your doctor and explain your fears, then have the doctor write you a prescription for some Xanax. That stuff is amazing. It's an anti-anxiety drug that will definitely help you with flying. You'll need 4; two for the trip there and two for the trip back. (Actually, you might need more like 8, seeing as it's an international flight) Take one when you get to the gate, take another once you get on the plane, and then 1 every x hours after that. I had to fly to Chicago for a computer security conference one year and slept the whole time there, but not on the way back. But even then, I was looking out the window at the ground, thinking very calmly, "Wow. We're really high up. Ok." I won't fly without it now.

This guy is like a real life mad scientist!

He's actually quite interesting considering all the things he's done in his lifetime as well as his stance on computers since he's VERY knowlegable in computer security. He reminds me of Doc in Back to the Future. I was waiting for him to talk about gigawatts.

Ahh so that's what happened to NIPC. This started out as a benign organization to identify computer security threats and disseminate that information. So now the emperor has co-opted it for evil purposes? Interesting.