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Mathematician warns NSA may be weakening next-gen encryption (www.newscientist.com)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Mathematician warns NSA may be weakening next-gen encryption::Quantum computers may soon be able to crack encryption methods in use today, so plans are already under way to replace them with new, secure algorithms. Now it seems the US National Security Agency may be undermining that process

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

As my grandfather was wont to say, locks are for honest people.

Most forms of security are theater and used as a deterrent.

If your door is locked, and your neighbors isn't, well your lock deterred them.

Then again, if someone means you in particular harm, they'll get in, bricks are cheap and most home windows are focused on limiting thermal transfer, not being overly durable (say under an attack). It may not be quiet, you may be able to defend yourself or run or whatever, but the lock was not a deterrent.

So yes, lock your doors, encrypt everything you can, keep devices updated, etc. But it won't stop a determined bad actor if they have reasonable capabilities to do you harm.

The problem with security, especially cyber security, is that you have to find a medium between secure and usable. Most companies, in my experience, tend to loosen security in the name of usability.

I'm not an expert, but I'm studying in that direction with my limited free time (and more to the point, energy and mental health)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

True, and a good social engineering hack will get you wonders quite often.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago

I hate the term social engineering. The only reason that social engineering is an issue is because security has gotten so good, that now people are the low hanging fruit.