Computer security: It’s hopeless
December 5th, 2006
A couple of days ago I spent the evening helping a not particularly computer savvy friend to set up her new Windows laptop computer. Among other things, she wanted me to set up Skype for her and during the installation process I created an account and asked her what user nickname and password she would like to use. The resulting conversation made me realize that computer security is not going to happen in our lifetimes.
The situation is not just difficult, it’s hopeless — at least unless someone manages to figure out how to integrate a 100% reliable fingerprint reader that will work seamlessly for everything.
The conversation went like this:
| Me: | OK, what would you like to use as your name on Skype? |
| Cindy: | Cindy |
| Me: | That’s not going to work, there are lots of Cindys. You’ll need to put a number after it. |
| Cindy: | OK, then use Cindy7777 |
| Me: | (type type type) OK, that’s fine, that’s available. How about your password? |
| Cindy: | Just use 7777, that’ll make it easier to remember. |
| Me: | (very long pause) You’re not serious are you? That’s a terrible password and it’s also part of your user name. |
| Cindy: | But that’s what I use for everything, I can’t remember anything else. And why should anyone think that the number in my user name is my password? And anyway, it has four digits, how could anyone figure it out? |
| Me: | (even longer pause) Do you also use that password for your online banking? |
| Cindy: | No, the bank won’t let me. But I have all the user names and passwords for that written on that label on the computer under the keyboard. |
| Me: | Do you realize that if you lose your laptop you’re going to lose all your money? |
| Cindy: | Don’t be silly. I didn’t write the name of the bank on the label, that’s all in the bank software. Why should anybody think that those numbers could have anything to do with my bank account? |
| Me: | But you don’t even have a password installed for when you switch on your computer. |
| Cindy: | No, I don’t need that because I’m the only person who uses this computer. I asked a friend to turn that off for me. He also turned off that silly fingerprint reader, I could never figure it out. |
The human race is doomed…
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December 6th, 2006 at 10:22 am
now, now sweetheart… don’t forget it’s December, there’s no light and half the world is fighting off depression
I love the blog. Keep it up. Kisses…