What is Security: Definition and 187 Discussions

Security is freedom from, or resilience against, potential harm (or other unwanted coercive change) caused by others. Beneficiaries (technically referents) of security may be of persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems or any other entity or phenomenon vulnerable to unwanted change.

Security mostly refers to protection from hostile forces, but it has a wide range of other senses: for example, as the absence of harm (e.g. freedom from want); as the presence of an essential good (e.g. food security); as resilience against potential damage or harm (e.g. secure foundations); as secrecy (e.g. a secure telephone line); as containment (e.g. a secure room or cell); and as a state of mind (e.g. emotional security).
The term is also used to refer to acts and systems whose purpose may be to provide security (e.g.: security companies, security forces, security guard, cyber security systems, security cameras, remote guarding).
Security is not only physical but it can also be Virtual.

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  1. H

    -Trend Micro Internet Security

    So here's the situation: A few months ago, my dad decided to try a free internet security trial from Trend Micro. It simply involves downloading updates about once a day, and a routine scan for potential viruses. Everything was fine for the first few months, but just today it reported that...
  2. SixNein

    Weakness in socal security numbers found.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/us/07numbers.html?_r=1 Ouch?!
  3. E

    Safe Methods for Transmitting Sensitive Data: Info Security

    Which of the following means of communications is it safe to transmit sensitive data such as a credit card number or a social security number through: 1) cell phone 2) landline phone 3) fax 4) snail mail ? I have been trying to use google to get an answer to this question, but that did...
  4. P

    Secrecy of Science: Public Access vs. National Security

    Note: Please DO NOT post speculative comments without some type of scientific validation. Anyway, here's my comment/question: With the advances in physics, I accept that there are some technologies which are kept from the general public due mostly to national security concerns; such as...
  5. P

    News Our Budget is a Threat to our National Security

    The past and current administration have run up record deficits, with a large portion of this coming from foreign nations - China in particular. Our dependence on Chinese credit means that they will have a large say in dictating our policies. Nothing is forcing them to buy our bonds, and our...
  6. TheStatutoryApe

    Why Can't I Find Out Who Compromised My Bank Card?

    The other day I learned that my bank canceled my debit card. After talking to several people on the phone I was able to find out rather little about what happened. Apparently some merchant or investigative agency contacted my bank to tell them that my card information may have been...
  7. A

    Doppler Effect of a security alarm

    Homework Statement The security alarm on a parked car goes off and produces a frequency of 735 Hz. The speed of sound is 343 m/s. As you drive toward this parked car, pass it, and drive away, you observe the frequency to change by 78.4 Hz. At what speed are you driving? 2. The attempt at...
  8. V

    Internet Security Recommendations (PC)

    Hey guys, I was wondering what brand of internet security software would you recommend for the PC? I am currently using Norton Internet Security 2009, however, I hear some of the other brands are better such as McAfee and Trend Micro? What do you guys think of Norton 360? Its just that I have...
  9. Ivan Seeking

    News Should Social Security be privatized?

    McCain supported this. I'm not clear on his current position, but it certainly speaks to his judgement. Of course the fundamentals of the economy are strong. http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/mccain_retirement.cfm http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/19/nation/na-obama19
  10. T

    There goes that security deposit AGAIN

    Okay, I used to paint a lot, but I haven't done any painting lately. I decided to sell my paint supplies and brushes and easel. I was gathering everything together and decided I'll just paint one last one before I give it up. The only problem was I didn't have any canvas. So I'm looking around...
  11. H

    Can an EE Major Help Prevent Nuclear Terrorism?

    I'm an EE major and I kind of want to go into a job where my skills can be used to make this country safer against terrorism. I understand that the risk of terrorism is small, but the consequences of a chemical, biological, or radiological strike would be unspeakable. I want to prevent such...
  12. D

    Digital signature with information theoretical security

    Is there such a classical scheme? I only know of those which offer security from computationally bounded attacks.
  13. B

    News Why is the security of Israel so important to the United States

    I know the conflicts between Israel and other Arab and middle eastern countries have been mentioned many times in PF. Rarely is it ever mentioned why we should continue supporting Israel . Since the 1970''s , the United states has given is a total estimate of 1.3 trillion dollars of taxpayers...
  14. J

    News How can teaching gun safety in schools help prevent gun violence?

    The Supreme Court basically told us that Americans have a right to own a handgun. How exactly does handgun ownership makes an individual and his/her property safer? This is simply the equivalent of a child covering him/herself with a bedsheet to ward off the evil monsters. Any burglar with a...
  15. F

    News US-Iraq Security Pact: Impasse over Sovereignty

    Since there's no thread about this yet: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gK64eeNme-jyZF-g9qsIQhGe64vA That's an understatement! Check out this report from the National Security Archive about a newly-declassified military powerpoint from 2003(!)...
  16. R

    News Does Homeland Security Really Protect US?

    Homeland... Security?? Is there any definitive evidence that the formation of the Department of Homeland Security and the many operations/rules ect. that it carries out to protect the US, has prevented or even lowered the risk of a terrorist attack or terrorist activity? My point being that...
  17. P

    Gun T-Shirt was a security risk

    Gun T-Shirt was a "security risk" Words fail me... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7431640.stm
  18. F

    Questions On Security Mirrors Help

    Questions On Security Mirrors! Help! Hello anyone who can help me! I am from Aus, Yr 9 and need some help for an assignment. Here are the questions: What type of mirror is used in shops as the Security mirror? - i have already answered this Why is this type of mirror used?- have...
  19. M

    News Is Homeland Security Spoof or Serious Satire?

    As the FatherLand/MotherLand/ApplePieLand industry gets weirder - I can't work out if this is a spoof or not! http://dhsnnw.org/index.html
  20. A

    Interesting topics in network security?

    I need to come up with a topic to present in one of my classes but I'm having a hard time coming up with something. I thought about doing a presentation on video security or how a cable box is securing the incoming video but someone else is doing it. I thought about maybe doing it on some type...
  21. G

    Internet Security: Protecting Yourself from Phishers

    So I'm taking a computers for business class and the teacher did a lecture on how everyone on the interent is trying to steal from me. One thing he talked about was phishing. What I don't get, and he couldn't really answer, is that phisherman(phishers?) use websites to mimic legit sites to get...
  22. U

    Understanding the Duration of a Secret Security Clearance for Interns

    If I get a "Secret" clearance through my summer internship, will it last the 10 years as it says on websites, or will I still have to be employed with a company that requires it in order for it to stay active? So if I work for a defense contractor this summer, and choose to work with a company...
  23. F

    Security Clearance and Job Offers - Advice Needed

    I have accepted a job offer at a company that is contingent upon a security clearance. The start date for the job is in mid June (I graduate in May), however the clearance process has just started. I keep getting a lot of offers for interviews with other companies (that do not require...
  24. H

    Problem: security alerts and connection error

    just after cleaning its CPU fan because of its noise...when a open many sites and navigate and when i login to any site (it happenned 3 times while signing into yahoo), a security alert says "information you exchange with this site cannot be viewed or changed by others. However, there is a...
  25. B

    Schools 21-Year-Old Security Guard Weighing Online Physics/Math Degree Options

    im 21 and curently a security guard. my dad go hurt and i had to get a job straight out of high school to help support my family doing so putting my education on hold.My question is if the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Interdisciplinary Studies - Math and Physics at Ellis College online would be a...
  26. G

    News This is something Bush has gotten right-the need for social security reform NOW

    This is something Bush has gotten right--the need for social security reform NOW http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/social-security/ I pretty much have to agree with a lot of Bush admin's stance on SS reform. What gives baby boomers the right to think that they can burden my generation...
  27. edward

    News How Did a Sham Marriage Enable Security Breaches at the FBI and CIA?

    The woman in this article worked first for the FBI and then for the CIA. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/13/AR2007111302033.html?hpid=sec-nation There is additional information in this CBS link...
  28. R

    News Could Bush stay indefinately for National Security?

    Should we all be as angry as this congressman is? Bush officials have denied Congressman Peter DeFazio from his duty to review classified White House documents that describe how the Administration plans to conduct the US government if martial law is declared. He's angry that the bush...
  29. Ivan Seeking

    The First Baby Boomer Collects Social Security

    http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/LifeStages/story?id=3732745&page=1
  30. wolram

    Deciding Between Money and Security: A Tough Choice

    Is it worth it, one seems to miss out on everything, ok i get paid buckets of money, but i never have time to spend it, but then i am almost my own boss and do not have to put up with the day to day triva, just the c--p that the day shift leaves me with, stuff that they say they had no time to...
  31. W

    Pursuing a Computer Hardware Engineer Career in CA or AZ: Pay & Security

    I am planning to persuade the Computer Hardware Engineer career. And I also planning to work in CA(San Jose) or AZ(Phoenix). So i wonder will you get a good pay ? Is there a big chance that i will be laid off.
  32. Astronuc

    News Affordable Healthcare and Financial Security

    Rather than continue the healthcare and other issues in the Vote Republican thread, I decided to open a separate thread. These two issues are mentioned in a number of other threads related to economics, politics and role of government in the lives of citizens. AARP is now emphasizing...
  33. wolram

    What measures is Britain taking to increase security after recent attacks?

    http://news.monstersandcritics.com/uk/news/article_1324460.php/Britain_steps_up_security_after_Glasgow_airport_attack__2nd_Roundup_
  34. edward

    News GITMO has new maximum security unit.

    While many were busy talking about closing Guantanamo, a Haliburton subsidiary was busy building a new maximum security unit. It seems to me that $37 million is a lot to pay for a plain concrete building with only 178 cells. A number of prisoners, oops make that detainees, were being put into...
  35. edward

    News What are the consequences of state control and how can we eliminate it?

    Sure it is working in a few places, nice photo op though. Click on the link, then click on the picture of the stadium lights. http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/177688 The border isn't like that except in a very few places. It is like this...
  36. C

    Internet Security: Understanding Encoding & Decoding Data

    This may not be the best place to ask something like this, but I want to know how website security systems work. I don't have any malicious intent. Its just that cryptography interests me. How does encoding/decoding data over the net work?
  37. BobG

    How long will you be a drain on Social Security?

    Here's a calculator that estimates how long you'll live based on your family history and lifestyles. http://www.livingto100.com/ Those of you advanced in years that are concerned about the coming Social Security crisis should take up some bad habits. The rest of us will appreciate you...
  38. A

    How to provide network security on steganography

    I got a difficulty in my final year project.It is made on steganography.But I don't understand how to provide network security during data transfer..though we know it theoretically bt dealing it practically is a bit problamatic..In it we are using image file as carrier file ..i need some...
  39. W

    Network Security | Infolocktech.com

    Hello, Can anybody tell me of a good website that provides information about network security?Someone recommended www.infolocktech.com. Any recommendations on this? werstyle teen
  40. S

    Car Security Systems: Get Protection & Peace of Mind

    Does anyone here have any kind of security system for their vehicle? I'm thinking of getting one if I can find one for a decent price, probably cheaper to get one vs paying for windows and whatnot every time something happens. Seems like in my parking garage the vehicles with security systems...
  41. turbo

    News Big security hole at US points of entry.

    Just now on Al Jazeera TV, Ronald Noble of Interpol was interviewed. Interpol maintains a database of stolen and lost passports and has millions of them on file. He is concerned because they set up a database with which any government can check the validity of people passing through customs...
  42. edward

    News Data stolen from National Nuclear Security Administration

    Government workers are sleeping at the wheel. Why in Gods name would information on a National Nuclear Security Administration's computer be hackable? Perhaps the NSA should use their high tech equipment to take a closer look at other federal government agencies...
  43. edward

    News Iraqis to lead role for security by years end

    This sounds good, but who are they kidding, the new Iraqi govenment officials can't even travel outside of the greeen zone. Policemen are issued a single Glock handgun, and soldiers are issued an AK47. On the other side the insergents have morters, RPG's, rockets and heavy machine guns...
  44. A

    Is Australia Tightening Air Security Measures?

    In these days, one cannot be too cautious: [PLAIN]&eurl=[/URL]
  45. S

    Security Theorem: Is Perfect Data Security Impossible?

    Just like there is the Entropy theorem which proves that you can perform lossless compression only upto a certain limit, is there a theorem which proves that perfect Security of data is impossible?
  46. Ivan Seeking

    News Tax breaks for the rich that undermine national security

    http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/business/national/story/3181469p-11893943c.html So, tax breaks that help to increase the demand for oil... Whose side are these guys on?
  47. Ivan Seeking

    News Control of US ports: Bush selling out on US security?

    http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_national/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19860_4475139,00.html This is simply beyond belief!
  48. Astronuc

    Popular apps have more security flaws than Windows

    Andrew Sullivan From the March 2006 issue of PC World magazine Posted Monday, January 30, 2006 ! http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,124510,tk,wbxnws,00.asp
  49. dduardo

    News Homeland Security Watching What You Read

    This is pretty scary. I can't believe the government has the right to deny which books we can read. 1984 here we come. http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-05/12-17-05/a09lo650.htm
  50. Evo

    Is Your Driver's License Exposed Online?

    This is upsetting but I thought I should pass it along. Check your Drivers license. Now you can see anyone's Driver's License on the Internet, including your own! I just searched for mine and there it was. . . picture and all! Thanks Homeland Security! Where are our rights? I definitely...
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