WW: Bruce Schneier on why security can't work

Tue Mar 19 08:07:30 UTC 2013

On Mon, Mar 18, 2013 at 06:31:03PM -0500, Jimmy Hess wrote:
> On 3/18/13, Jay Ashworth <jra at baylink.com> wrote:
> [snip]
> > In the next 3 years, it will become possible to build an autonomously
> > navigating aircraft that can a) cross the Atlantic and b) carry a
> > nuclear weapon.
> 
> Not only is it already possible to build a human manually navigated aircraft
> that can do both (a), and (b),   they  already exist,  and computer

Or you could use a shipping container, or just bring in the parts
in hand luggage, and assemble on site.

> autonomy isn't necessary or useful,  to hit a single big target;  now
> computer autonomous aircraft that can do only (a) could be just as
> useful as decoys.
> 
> Nuclear weapons are rare, expensive,  and the existing ones are

Far from expensive, a bargain-basement version would only 
cost you 100 kUSD in materials. Even at MUSD level, the
kill costs at about 1 USD/kill is extremely cost-effective.

> (hopefully) well-secured,  due to their extremely high value.    I
> would be more concerned about  the possibility of a large swarm -- of
> half a million solar powered drones   of the approximate size of a
> large eagle capable of  crossing the oceans and releasing a spray of
> bio agents over very large distances.