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Danger posed by Internet-linked Biometrics and DNA-Genome Data-banks
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Akintunde
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Feb 28, 2011 11:43AM
Everyone must read this article to get the full gist before any discussion can proceed, http://ezinearticles.com/?Danger-Pose...
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The same arguments apply to any large database, but probably the closest would be the Federal ID project that seems to have fallen out of the public eye. Any large database with personal information is going to interest hackers. The bigger & better, the more interest. The more folks that have access, the easier it is going to be to crack.I don't know what the answer is, but I'd rather err on the side of caution - caution for privacy. Lots of little databases mean it's tougher for someone to crack them all. Of course, it's also harder for the authorities to gather information in a hurry, so we're not as 'secure', but from what I've read, the crime stats in this country show that we're as secure as we've ever been. Privacy is going away fast, but I'd like to keep what I have as long as possible.
Face it, the world is becoming digitized. All our information will eventually wind up in some database. Disconnected databases provide some security since one can be compromised & others, with redundant data, will not be.
Unsurprisingly, security isn't so hot yet since it is a relatively new technology. The Internet, like Microsoft, started out with the idea of sharing everything. That got it established & now we're trying to lock it down, but it's a big, juicy target. Besides, that isn't the proper way to create a secure environment. It leaves too many holes as security fights with normal usage.
And then there is the human factor. People can be the weakest link. They can be subverted, stupid or just goof. If there is a way to screw up, someone will do it. If they do it on a top level database, the victim could really be up a creek.
Of course, others will argue just the opposite & they have a valid point. I can't say for sure, so I'll opt for going into any centralized databases slowly. I've read too many SF books where it was a bad idea.
Jim wrote: "The same arguments apply to any large database, but probably the closest would be the Federal ID project that seems to have fallen out of the public eye. Any large database with personal informati..."But if one could erase himself from such a database...
