Bruce Schneier's essay on CYA security

CYA Security

I was in the Air Force for four years, and I remember the CYA mentality distinctly. For those who are fortunate enough not to know, CYA means "cover your ass." The result of this mentality is that if you must make a decision, be sure you can't be blamed for a result. As Mr. Schneier points out, CYA means that the TSA can never remove anyone from the no-fly list because of the risk that someone removed might however remotely be involved in a terrorist action of some kind.

It also explains how the Boston Police Department spent a million dollars on securing Boston from the Aqua Teen Hunger Force blinking signs. If the devices had turned out to be bombs, there would have been inquiries. Resignations. Obviously, their jobs were at stake, a matter of more interest than actual bombs.

The essay covers why we spend our security dollars securing our skies from knives and box cutters, then from shoes, and now from liquids. Why we might end up with national ID cards and a wall between Mexico and us - Politicians play CYA to get re-elected.

I highly recommend reading his essay. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to figure out a way to stop CYA security.

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