[148305] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Re: [Cryptography] Microsoft announces new email encryption
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Phillip Hallam-Baker)
Wed Nov 27 14:26:27 2013
X-Original-To: cryptography@metzdowd.com
In-Reply-To: <201311270403.rAR43JoW028360@new.toad.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:10:58 -0500
From: Phillip Hallam-Baker <hallam@gmail.com>
To: John Gilmore <gnu@toad.com>
Cc: "cryptography@metzdowd.com" <cryptography@metzdowd.com>
Errors-To: cryptography-bounces+crypto.discuss=bloom-picayune.mit.edu@metzdowd.com
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On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 11:03 PM, John Gilmore <gnu@toad.com> wrote:
> A doctor I use tried sending me encrypted emails with a scheme similar
> to this, a few years ago. I could never read them -- but I don't
> "open" attachments nor type my passwords into random remote websites.
>
> Looks like an epic fail to me, but people who pay Microsoft for
> operating systems may be dumb enough to use it. Anybody know more?
>
That is not how I would see it. I think this is more the result of
designing the security down to meet a set of usability goals that say the
user must not take any effort ever. So they decide to deny the user any
ability to know what is happening.
To make a car analogy, if the typical usability crew were given the task of
designing a car they would remove all the gauges from the dashboard and
replace them with a soft red light to tell you everything is OK. So you
would have to drive without fuel, oil or water temperatures, no tachometer,
no speedo either. Just a big red light that is 'easy to use'.
And its not just Mr Softy that does that. Apple is just a guilty and some
of the Linux Distos are going the same way.
--
Website: http://hallambaker.com/
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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On T=
ue, Nov 26, 2013 at 11:03 PM, John Gilmore <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D=
"mailto:gnu@toad.com" target=3D"_blank">gnu@toad.com</a>></span> wrote:<=
br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left=
:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
A doctor I use tried sending me encrypted emails with a scheme similar<br>
to this, a few years ago. =A0I could never read them -- but I don't<br>
"open" attachments nor type my passwords into random remote websi=
tes.<br>
<br>
Looks like an epic fail to me, but people who pay Microsoft for<br>
operating systems may be dumb enough to use it. =A0Anybody know more?<br></=
blockquote><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>That is not how I would see i=
t. I think this is more the result of designing the security down to meet a=
set of usability goals that say the user must not take any effort ever. So=
they decide to deny the user any ability to know what is happening.</div>
<div><br></div><div>To make a car analogy, if the typical usability crew we=
re given the task of designing a car they would remove all the gauges from =
the dashboard and replace them with a soft red light to tell you everything=
is OK. So you would have to drive without fuel, oil or water temperatures,=
no tachometer, no speedo either. Just a big red light that is 'easy to=
use'.</div>
</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>And its not just Mr Softy that doe=
s that. Apple is just a guilty and some of the Linux Distos are going the s=
ame way.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>-- <br>Website: <a href=3D"http=
://hallambaker.com/">http://hallambaker.com/</a><br>
</div></div>
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