Computers are not great for storing secrets

--- The Economist, Data breaches in America: The rise of the hacker, 7 Nov 2015

In context:

Computers are not great for storing secrets. The number of reported data breaches at organisations in America hit a record high of 783 in 2014 according to the Identity Theft Resource Centre, an industry body. It defines a data breach as the loss of information from computers or storage media that could potentially lead to identity theft, including social-security numbers, bank-account details, driving-licence numbers and medical information. 

Since 2005 there have been more than 5,000 known incidents of this type, involving an estimated 675m individual records. The real figures are likely to be far higher: many firms fail to report data thefts, since the consequences of disclosure can be severe. 

Rather than building ‘superfast’ networks, what we are really building are ‘superidle’ ones

--- Martin Geddes, My Great Telco Debate homework, 23 Sep 2015

Quote in context

There is a ‘cycle of doom’ that telcos are stuck in, whereby they are attempting to use capacity to overcome contention effects. With each cycle, the effectiveness of the over-provisioning declines. Rather than building ‘superfast’ networks, what we are really building are ‘superidle’ ones.

Please don’t tell the investors though, as they might cut off the supply of pension funds that we are busy turning into muddy holes and underused equipment. That might be a bit too uncomfortable. The way to avoid their ire is to treat contention issues with better scheduling, not cheaper capital.

More from this piece

The issue they face is that the industry is configured to be supply-led with one-size-fits-all products. We have been a ‘built it and they will (and did) come’ business. The primary task has been to build capacity, and the primary risk has been that there won’t be enough customers to pay back the sunk investment. The roles, responsibilities and incentives inside an operator are all configured towards managing those two goals.

The power and profit going forward is in the systems that match supply to demand, and the markets that form around them. Networks are going from a ‘pipe’ metaphor to a ‘resource trading platform’ one. SDN and NFV are just a part of this puzzle. They offer the mechanisms needed to exploit some of the 'trades' at some of the timescales. Much more is possible.

Whatever you do, when they're talking to you: For god's sakes, lie!

=== 3 Dead Trolls in a Baggie, The Privacy Song, video

A few more excerpts
"We can beat them back with bullshit"
"They can take away or privacy, but they can't have the truth"
"Let's face it, there's only one magical person who knows all our secrets -- and if Santa ever does sell his database, we're all screwed"

Afrikaans moet vrede maak en uitreik en deel word van die swartheid van die land

--- Antjie Krog gedurende die Vierde Swart Afrikaanse Skrywersimposium, Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland, 2 - 3 Oktober 2015. Bron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rq4vTGEdEE&t=1m16s.