I work in the Automation business and its not quite so simple. Until the last few years most automation systems worked as "islands of automation" not connected to anything except the equipment up and down stream of the machine and that often was hardwired with no network at all.
Management demanded that all this equipment talk so that they could monitor the plant while they are in their front offices or at corporate HQ. That drove network connectivity big time. Too much demand while not much effort put into the security as it really wasn't needed until recent days. With no funding to speak of (security doesn't get any more product out the door) this was a obvious result.
Stuxnet was an eye opener but not unexpected by us in the trenches. It is the management who controls budgets and until this event no one at my pay level had any attention of management.
Here in AZ (or is it OZ?) the police at every level are going after the "low hanging fruit" exemplified by the infamous Crime Suppression Sweeps that Brother Joe conducts. 100+ officers in the desert for a whole day to catch less than a dozen is not good use of resources and is going after those who aren't dangerous.
Our outgoing AG had it right but no one is listening. He is interested in the organized crime and major criminals and doesn't want to go after the weak and powerless just trying to get by. That didn't get headlines; only the media whore Arpaio gets the TV time.
Note that there are "only" 350+ of these wize bang scanners in operation right now (only 1 that I know of at PHX for example). It does take longer to go through these scanners (my time was about 20 sec. and then since i was "too tall" they still had to check me). It doesn't take much to realize that to cover everyone and not spend huge amounts of $$, we will be hearing that you now need to allow 3 hours before flight time rather than 2 so all of us can have a turn being naked.
Of course, one other concern is that you have to empty all items from any pockets and can't be carring anything in your hands. That meant that I had to give up control of my boarding pass (minor) and also my passport (major). I can deal with packing my watch, cell phone etc. into my carry-on bag before going trhough the x-ray machine but you need the ID for the TSA. This is a rip-off situation just waiting to happen.
Of course, we've always had an issue with being patted down and not having control of the carry-on for however long that takes (it can go for several minutes if a TSA agent is not immediately available). All that time and my laptop is just sitting at the exit of the x-ray machine, often out of my sight just waiting for someone to help themselves.
I went through the backscatter machine a few weeks ago (had to give up EVERYTHING in my possion including my passport to go through the dang thing). Then I still had to go through the pat down since I was "too tall". Now I am not quite 6' so how do people who are taller go through? This may have been an excuse since the TSA guy had it in for me since I actually asked a question ("what do I do with my passport?") and didn't just blindly know what to do. And I am a Gold Elite flyer (last time I checked i have 39 flight segments this year).
I see a big problem not only with the radiation and "enhanced" techniques but with the loss of control of my ID. Since when is it OK to not at least carry a borading pass and passport on your person at all times? Does a piece of paper cause a image problem on these machines?
Now that the FB posts are back several weeks after the initial DMCA notice, it means much less to the film company - they had the exclusive time when they wanted it.
Working in Automation
Management demanded that all this equipment talk so that they could monitor the plant while they are in their front offices or at corporate HQ. That drove network connectivity big time. Too much demand while not much effort put into the security as it really wasn't needed until recent days. With no funding to speak of (security doesn't get any more product out the door) this was a obvious result.
Stuxnet was an eye opener but not unexpected by us in the trenches. It is the management who controls budgets and until this event no one at my pay level had any attention of management.
Re:
Really??!!!
#21 IS RIGHT
Our outgoing AG had it right but no one is listening. He is interested in the organized crime and major criminals and doesn't want to go after the weak and powerless just trying to get by. That didn't get headlines; only the media whore Arpaio gets the TV time.
The next thing
Of course, one other concern is that you have to empty all items from any pockets and can't be carring anything in your hands. That meant that I had to give up control of my boarding pass (minor) and also my passport (major). I can deal with packing my watch, cell phone etc. into my carry-on bag before going trhough the x-ray machine but you need the ID for the TSA. This is a rip-off situation just waiting to happen.
Of course, we've always had an issue with being patted down and not having control of the carry-on for however long that takes (it can go for several minutes if a TSA agent is not immediately available). All that time and my laptop is just sitting at the exit of the x-ray machine, often out of my sight just waiting for someone to help themselves.
Backscattered but still had a pat-down
I see a big problem not only with the radiation and "enhanced" techniques but with the loss of control of my ID. Since when is it OK to not at least carry a borading pass and passport on your person at all times? Does a piece of paper cause a image problem on these machines?
The DMCA had its effect
Note to Redskins
Just wait for Detroit to go 1-15 this season.
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