[LINK] UK gov't security expert: Balance cybersecurity risks

[Jan Whitaker]

At 03:23 PM 28/09/2006, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:

>"They say, 'I'd like to connect to anybody, anywhere, access anything for 
>practically any purpose, at any time,'" Longhurst said. "You could do all 
>this ... if we didn't have a Wild West out there."

And there is also a turn of phrase in IT shops to dissuade the techo 
cowboys who think it's 'neat' to fiddle: (we'll call it Rule 1)
"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should" - the moral restriction 
argument should apply (most times?)

A corollary might be:
"Just because you want it, doesn't mean you need it, or that it's 'safe' to 
have it" - many (most?) uninformed individuals lack sufficient knowledge to 
understand the knock-on effects, consequences, interactions, threats, etc 
of what they ask for. It's up to those with the knowledge, keeping in mind 
Rule 1, to discuss, negotiate, and examine the full (as far as possible) 
implications of what 'they' are asking for.

This isn't extreme, it's common sense. Reasonable people know they live 
with risk and opportunity every second of their lives, but they behave on 
norms of trust and understanding of their environments. The trouble today 
is that the magnitude of the risks are less understood because the 
characteristics of the tools aren't understood. So maybe it's time to start 
the meme of Rule 1 in the general public.

Jan

Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
personal: http://www.janwhitaker.com/personal/
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'Seed planting is often the most important step. Without the seed, there is 
no plant.' - JW, April 2005
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