The whole notion of passwords is based on an oxymoron. The idea is to have a random string that is easy to remember. Unfortunately, if it's easy to remember, it's something nonrandom like 'Susan.' And if it's random, like 'r7U2*Qnp,' then it's not easy to remember.

Bruce Schneier

Categorized in : Ideas Remember Easy

If you think technology can solve your security problems, then you don't understand the problems and you don't understand the technology.

Bruce Schneier

technology understanding thinking

The mantra of any good security engineer is: "Security is a not a product, but a process." It's more than designing strong cryptography into a system; it's designing the entire system such that all security measures, including cryptography, work together.

Bruce Schneier

design strong working-together

I am regularly asked what the average Internet user can do to ensure his security. My first answer is usually 'Nothing; you're screwed'.

Bruce Schneier

internet-users answers average

Amateurs hack systems, professionals hack people.

Bruce Schneier

computer hacks people

People often represent the weakest link in the security chain and are chronically responsible for the failure of security systems.

Bruce Schneier

security-systems links people

More people are killed every year by pigs than by sharks, which shows you how good we are at evaluating risk.

Bruce Schneier

sharks pigs years

History has taught us: never underestimate the amount of money, time, and effort someone will expend to thwart a security system. It's always better to assume the worst. Assume your adversaries are better than they are. Assume science and technology will soon be able to do things they cannot yet. Give yourself a margin for error. Give yourself more security than you need today. When the unexpected happens, you'll be glad you did.

Bruce Schneier

security-systems errors technology

If someone steals your password, you can change it. But if someone steals your thumbprint, you can't get a new thumb. The failure modes are very different.

Bruce Schneier

thumbprints thumbs different

Don't make the mistake of thinking you're Facebook's customer, you're not - you're the product.

Bruce Schneier

customers mistake thinking

Security is a process, not a product.

Bruce Schneier

security products process

For if we are observed in all matters, we are constantly under threat of correction, judgment, criticism, even plagiarism of our own uniqueness. We become children, fettered under watchful eyes, constantly fearful that-either now or in the uncertain future-patterns we leave behind will be brought back to implicate us, by whatever authority has now become focused upon our once-private and innocent acts. We lose our individuality, because everything we do is observable and recordable.

Bruce Schneier

individuality eye children

There are two kinds of cryptography in this world: cryptography that will stop your kid sister from reading your files, and cryptography that will stop major governments from reading your files.

Bruce Schneier

government reading kids

Anyone, from the most clueless amateur to the best cryptographer, can create an algorithm that he himself can't break.

Bruce Schneier

algorithms clueless break

Hardware is easy to protect: lock it in a room, chain it to a desk, or buy a spare. Information poses more of a problem. It can exist in more than one place; be transported halfway across the planet in seconds; and be stolen without your knowledge.

Bruce Schneier

locks information rooms

Privacy is an inherent human right, and a requirement for maintaining the human condition with dignity and respect.

Bruce Schneier

maintaining requirements dignity

Surveillance is the business model of the Internet.

Bruce Schneier

surveillance models internet

It is insufficient to protect ourselves with laws; we need to protect ourselves with mathematics.

Bruce Schneier

mathematics law needs

The more technological a society is, the greater the security gap is.

Bruce Schneier

technological gaps greater

If you ask amateurs to act as front-line security personnel, you shouldn't be surprised when you get amateur security.

Bruce Schneier

asks lines ifs

There's an entire flight simulator hidden in every copy of Microsoft Excel 97.

Bruce Schneier

microsoft flight excellence