funsec mailing list archives
Re: Border Security System Left Open
From: Valdis.Kletnieks () vt edu
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2006 13:00:44 -0400
On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 13:32:41 +1200, Nick FitzGerald said:
Fergie wrote:A computer failure that hobbled border-screening systems at airports across the country last August occurred after Homeland Security officials deliberately held back a security patch that would have protected the sensitive computers from a virus then sweeping the internet, according to documents obtained by Wired News.One has to question whether the folk running these systems even have the _minimal_ competence for doing their job.
No need to question - we already know the answer to this. They don't. You *do* realize that DHS got a whole whopping 'F' grade on the latest GAO computer security scorecard, didn't you?
Why are "sensitive" systems such as these on networks where they _can_ be exposed to network-spreading malware or [D]DoS attacks?
Because the people at DHS are too busy playing 'Security Theatre' and defending against 'movie plot' threats to actually secure anything. You can hardly blame them, though. Really good security is nearly invisible, and John Q. Public will mistake it for not doing anything. Doing idiotic things that piss John Q. off in the name of security makes John Q. think that Something Is Being Done.
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_______________________________________________ Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts. https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.
Current thread:
- Border Security System Left Open Fergie (Apr 12)
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Nick FitzGerald (Apr 13)
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Valdis . Kletnieks (Apr 14)
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Dude VanWinkle (Apr 14)
- RE: Border Security System Left Open StyleWar (Apr 14)
- RE: Border Security System Left Open James Kehl (Apr 15)
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Dude VanWinkle (Apr 15)
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Dude VanWinkle (Apr 15)
- RE: Border Security System Left Open StyleWar (Apr 15)
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Valdis . Kletnieks (Apr 15)
- RE: Border Security System Left Open StyleWar (Apr 16)
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Valdis . Kletnieks (Apr 16)
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Valdis . Kletnieks (Apr 14)
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Nick FitzGerald (Apr 13)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Border Security System Left Open Fergie (Apr 13)