terrorism – Page 3 – SSL and internet security news

Australia Considering New Law Weakening Encryption

July 17, 2017 infossl

australia, childpornography, cryptowars, drugtrade, encryption, internet, Security technology, terrorism

News from Australia: Under the law, internet companies would have the same obligations telephone companies do to help law enforcement agencies, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said. Law enforcement agencies would need warrants to access the communications. “We’ve got a real problem in that the law enforcement agencies are increasingly unable to find out what terrorists … Read More “Australia Considering New Law Weakening Encryption” »

Data vs. Analysis in Counterterrorism

June 14, 2017 infossl

datacollection, intelligence, Security technology, terrorism, uk

This article argues that Britain’s counterterrorism problem isn’t lack of data, it’s lack of analysis. Powered by WPeMatico

Research into the Root Causes of Terrorism

February 15, 2017 infossl

academicpapers, alqaeda, propaganda, Security technology, terrorism

Interesting article in Science discussing field research on how people are radicalized to become terrorists. The potential for research that can overcome existing constraints can be seen in recent advances in understanding violent extremism and, partly, in interdiction and prevention. Most notable is waning interest in simplistic root-cause explanations of why individuals become violent extremists … Read More “Research into the Root Causes of Terrorism” »

How the Media Influences Our Fear of Terrorism

January 24, 2017 infossl

cars, overreactions, psychologyofsecurity, riskassessment, risks, Security technology, terrorism

Good article that crunches the data and shows that the press’s coverage of terrorism is disproportional to its comparative risk. This isn’t new. I’ve written about it before, and wrote about it more generally when I wrote about the psychology of risk, fear, and security. Basically, the issue is the availability heuristic. We tend to … Read More “How the Media Influences Our Fear of Terrorism” »

Are We Becoming More Moral Faster Than We're Becoming More Dangerous?

January 4, 2017 infossl

psychologyofsecurity, Security technology, societalsecurity, terrorism

In The Better Angels of Our Nature, Steven Pinker convincingly makes the point that by pretty much every measure you can think of, violence has declined on our planet over the long term. More generally, “the world continues to improve in just about every way.” He’s right, but there are two important caveats. One, he … Read More “Are We Becoming More Moral Faster Than We're Becoming More Dangerous?” »

Security Risks of TSA PreCheck

December 27, 2016 infossl

airtravel, intelligence, Security technology, securitytheater, terrorism, tsa

Former TSA Administrator Kip Hawley wrote an op-ed pointing out the security vulnerabilities in the TSA’s PreCheck program: The first vulnerability in the system is its enrollment process, which seeks to verify an applicant’s identity. We know verification is a challenge: A 2011 Government Accountability Office report on TSA’s system for checking airport workers’ identities … Read More “Security Risks of TSA PreCheck” »

Scott Atran on Why People Become Terrorists

August 10, 2016 infossl

academicpapers, psychologyofsecurity, Security technology, terrorism

Scott Atran has done some really interesting research on why ordinary people become terrorists. Academics who study warfare and terrorism typically don’t conduct research just kilometers from the front lines of battle. But taking the laboratory to the fight is crucial for figuring out what impels people to make the ultimate sacrifice to, for example, … Read More “Scott Atran on Why People Become Terrorists” »

Electronic Surveillance Failures Leading up to the 2008 Mumbai Terrorist Attacks

February 12, 2015 infossl

eavesdropping, edwardsnowden, india, intelligence, lawenforcement, privacy, Security technology, surveillance, terrorism

Long New York Times article based on “former American and Indian officials and classified documents disclosed by Edward J. Snowden” outlining the intelligence failures leading up to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks: Although electronic eavesdropping often yields valuable data, even tantalizing clues can be missed if the technology is not closely monitored, the intelligence gleaned … Read More “Electronic Surveillance Failures Leading up to the 2008 Mumbai Terrorist Attacks” »

Obama Says Terrorism Is Not an Existential Threat

February 3, 2015 infossl

nationalsecuritypolicy, riskassessment, risks, Security technology, terrorism

In an interview this week, President Obama said that terrorism does not pose an existential threat: What I do insist on is that we maintain a proper perspective and that we do not provide a victory to these terrorist networks by overinflating their importance and suggesting in some fashion that they are an existential threat … Read More “Obama Says Terrorism Is Not an Existential Threat” »

David Cameron's Plan to Ban Encryption in the UK

January 13, 2015 infossl

cryptography, cryptowars, encryption, nationalsecuritypolicy, Security technology, securitytheater, terrorism, uk

In the wake of the Paris terrorist shootings, David Cameron has said that he wants to ban encryption in the UK. Here’s the quote: “If I am prime minister I will make sure that it is a comprehensive piece of legislation that does not allow terrorists safe space to communicate with each other.” This is … Read More “David Cameron's Plan to Ban Encryption in the UK” »