50310e15   
   From: vagans@enki.eanna.net   
      
   Wy  wrote:   
      
      
      
   > As far as I can tell, Google does do its best to not only trade on,   
   > but actually respect the 'open' and 'free' memes. And as long as they   
   > do, why not?   
      
   Because "open" and "free" are of the same category of speech as "Four   
   out of five doctors recommend", and, like so many other things, are   
   two-edged swords. They are also "tired". I suspect "private" and   
   "secure" are now "wired". They're two-edged swords, as well.   
      
   My perspective is from law -- the domain of "discovery", not from the   
   domain of the security samurai. It tends to make me seem conservative   
   regarding availability of information.   
      
   Here're some wetware firewall rules suggested by recent news stories.   
      
   1 Assumne any free service, such as a social networking site,   
   understands that their members' private information is worth lots of   
   money if it were made public. Assume that privacy exposures such as   
   Facebook's and Google Buzz's were not "missteps" or "accidents" but   
   policy. If you must use those services, do not employ them for anything   
   you want private, because even if your privacy is respected now, that   
   doesn't mean it will be tomorrow.   
      
   2 Any remote operated sw/hw on your kid's school-provided laptop (the   
   Lower Merion School District case)? What hw do you use that was provided   
   to you? What's on it?   
      
   3 Do you really need a battery charger with a usb port (the Energizer   
   Bunny Trojan). Do you explore sw you download or do you just click ok to   
   install?   
      
   Wy, I think there are plenty good reasons for wetware firewalls (aka   
   "common sense"). Technically sophisticated people such as you, and even   
   I, can take care of ourselves and our families, but billions cannot. I'm   
   not weeping over their naivete and don't feel a need to save them. But I   
   recognize they are the weight the system we use must bear and account   
   for -- and it is a weight the market will exploit. We will have to swim   
   in that sea, no matter if we are elite or on the edge.   
      
      
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