This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Java Buzz by Michael Cote. Original Post: PeopleOverProcess.com: US Government Requiring More Security to Prevent Data Theft Feed Title: Cote's Weblog: Coding, Austin, etc. Feed URL: https://cote.io/feed/ Feed Description: Using Java to get to the ideal state. Latest Java Buzz Posts Latest Java Buzz Posts by Michael Cote Latest Posts From Cote's Weblog: Coding, Austin, etc.

I don't know the in's and out's of OMB decrees on the Federal government, but from this story, it looks like Federal government is doing a good job at addressing security concerned and data leakage. There can always be something better, but even these steps are more than I'd expect, that is, nothing.

While I certainly applaud action like this, I still maintain that the core problem is that an identity thief can screw your life over if he has your name, SSN, and other information that I'd expect to be "public." That is, the problem with The System is not that baddies can get ahold of that information, but that they need only that information to do bad things.

On the other hand, we clearly favor a good enough approach to security for the efficiencies and speed of transactions it provides: sliding a credit card it better than writing out a check. The end result, as I mentioned last time on this topic, is the unspoken agreement that we favor the group's ease over the individual: we profit in aggregate from crappy security, but individuals who get hacked have to go through months, if no years, of hassle.

On another note, thinking back on the hyped up drug-scares of the 80's and the red hunting of the 50's, do we actually know if all those lost laptops are having a huge, negative impact? I assume they are, but you know what they say about assuming.

Technorati Tags: privacy, usa, crypto