Quote

The question to ask when you look at security is not whether this makes us safer, but whether it's worth the trade-off.

Bruce Schneier

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Bruce Schneier
Age: 61
Born: 1963
Born: January 15
Computer Scientist
Cryptographer
Mathematician
Physicist
Writer
New York City
New York
Whether
Makes
Look
Safer
Looks
Trade
Worth
Question
Security
Asks

More quotes by Bruce Schneier

Image
The fundamental driver in computer security, in all of the computer industry, is economics. That requires a lot of re-education for us security geeks.
Bruce Schneier
Image
It is poor civic hygiene to install technologies that could someday facilitate a police state.
Bruce Schneier
Image
The user's going to pick dancing pigs over security every time.
Bruce Schneier
Image
The more technological a society is, the greater the security gap is.
Bruce Schneier
Image
It doesn't matter how good the card is if the issuance process is flawed.
Bruce Schneier
Image
If you ask amateurs to act as front-line security personnel, you shouldn't be surprised when you get amateur security.
Bruce Schneier
Image
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
Image
Don't make the mistake of thinking you're Facebook's customer, you're not - you're the product.
Bruce Schneier
Image
Only amateurs attack machines professionals target people.
Bruce Schneier
Image
But in this country, while you have to be competent to pull off a terrorist attack, you don't have to be competent to cause terror. All you need to do is start plotting an attack and - regardless of whether or not you have a viable plan, weapons or even the faintest clue - the media will aid you in terrorizing the entire population.
Bruce Schneier
Image
Think of your existing power as the exponent in an equation that determines the value of information. The more power you have, the more additional power you derive from the new data.
Bruce Schneier
Image
Cryptography products may be declared illegal, but the information will never be
Bruce Schneier
Image
Microsoft made a big deal about Windows NT getting a C2 security rating. They were much less forthcoming with the fact that this rating only applied if the computer was not attached to a network and had no network card, and had its floppy drive epoxied shut, and was running on a Compaq 386. Solaris's C2 rating was just as silly.
Bruce Schneier
Image
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
Image
When my mother gets a prompt 'Do you want to download this?' she's going to say yes. It's disingenuous for Microsoft to give you all of these tools with which to hang yourself, and when you do, then say it's your fault.
Bruce Schneier
Image
There are two types of encryption: one that will prevent your sister from reading your diary and one that will prevent your government.
Bruce Schneier
Image
People often represent the weakest link in the security chain and are chronically responsible for the failure of security systems.
Bruce Schneier
Image
It is insufficient to protect ourselves with laws we need to protect ourselves with mathematics.
Bruce Schneier
Image
Metadata equals surveillance it's that simple.
Bruce Schneier
Image
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