Name: The security mirage
Uploaded: 2011-04-26T13:54:00Z
Duration: 20 min 48 s
Description: The feeling of security and the reality of security don't always match, says computer-security expert Bruce Schneier. In his talk, he explains why we spend billions addressing news story risks, like the "security theater" now playing at your local airport, while neglecting more probable risks -- and how we can break this pattern.

The feeling of security and the reality of security don't always match, says computer-security expert Bruce Schneier. In his talk, he explains why we spend billions addressing news story risks, like the "security theater" now playing at your local airport, while neglecting more probable risks -- and how we can break this pattern.

The security mirage

People often confuse feeling secure with actually being secure, leading to costly decisions that miss the real dangers. We are wired to overreact to dramatic threats, like poisoned Tylenol bottles, while ignoring common risks such as car crashes. Everyday security choices, from double-locking hotel doors to accepting tamper-proof medicine caps, reveal how intuition and reality frequently diverge. True safety comes from aligning our perceptions, models, and information with the real world, not just soothing our fears.