Freakonomics Q&A With Bruce Schneier 147
Samrobb writes "In grand Slashdot tradition, the Freakonomics blog solicited reader questions for a Q&A session with Bruce Schneier. The blog host writes that Mr. Schneier's answers '...are extraordinarily interesting, providing mandatory reading for anyone who uses a computer. He also plainly thinks like an economist: search below for "crime pays" to see his sober assessment of why it's better to earn a living as a security expert than as a computer criminal.'" The interview covers pretty much the whole range of issues Schneier has written about, and he provides links to more detailed writings on many of the questions.
Re:His comments on terror and cameras were (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Too many to answer -- I'm not impressed however (Score:5, Insightful)
Consider that a point is being made that you're not getting, because "this person" is not a moron, and generally talks about security as it is actually practiced instead of how it would be practiced if everybody were an expert and made good security a priority. Since people in general will not make security a priority, you have to talk about how people actually behave and how to craft security that will take actual behavior into account.
Re:strange answer on wireless (Score:5, Insightful)
Any data that goes unencrypted between your computer and your wifi base station will also go unencrypted between the wifi base station and the target destination. On top of this, any data that's only encrypted by your wifi network will also go unencrypted between the wifi base station and its target destination.
Maybe Bruce is just wise enough to encrypt any sensitive data he transfers properly, and not rely on the encryption in his $30 hardware that will only protect against attackers within 50 meters?
Re:His comments on terror and cameras were (Score:2, Insightful)
Well, naval burials at sea make sea battles a bit more palatable.
However, even though Canadian popular support for the War in Afghanistan has gone down as a result of the flag-draped coffins which are more prominently shown on Canadian TV, it's still a lot higher than support here in the US where we basically ban national coverage of dead bodies or flag-draped coffins beyond the local news.
Basically, even though we choose to live in fear, it doesn't increase popular support. And, since you're in a country where people basically feel safe and are not used to living in fear, one could easily argue that that basic attitude probably has a lot to do with why there is more popular support, given the Canadian military being the bulk of the forces in Afghanistan, while most US forces are in Iraq.
Regardless, more interesting are the original article's commentary of Bruce Schneier's answers on privacy and the Net, especially public cameras and password security, IMHO.
Re:strange answer on wireless (Score:3, Insightful)
Or C) that an industrious/bored male techno-teenager lives within his wifi range
Re:ehh, not a great interview (Score:3, Insightful)
I saw it as more of a "here is a more in depth answer to this question, if you are interested"