From The Psychology of Security by Bruce Schneier (www.schneier.com/essay-155.html):
‘It makes no sense to just look at security in terms of effectiveness. “Is this effective against the threat?” is the wrong question to ask. You need to ask: “Is it a good trade-off?” Bulletproof vests work well, and are very effective at stopping bullets. But for most of us, living in lawful and relatively safe industrialized countries, wearing one is not a good trade-off. The additional security isn’t worth it: isn’t worth the cost, discomfort, or unfashionableness. Move to another part of the world, and you might make a different trade-off.
We make security trade-offs, large and small, every day. We make them when we decide to lock our doors in the morning, when we choose our driving route, and when we decide whether we’re going to pay for something via check, credit card, or cash. They’re often not the only factor in a decision, but they’re a contributing factor. And most of the time, we don’t even realize it. We make security trade-offs intuitively.’
Contact
If you’d like to discuss any issues or concerns about data security, please contact robbie.walker@port.ac.uk or mike.meredith@port.ac.uk.
You can read more tips from the University Security team at http://securityblog.port.ac.uk/.
