Security and Fear

It’s a sure thing that living in fear will seriously harm your quality of life.  But fear is a base human emotion, ever-ready to come charging over the hill to storm your fort.  Many writers have stressed the importance of living without fear (or indeed feeling it and doing it anyway).

But a little fear can be good for you if it leads you to take sensible precautions.  Riding a motorbike without a helmet because you feel no fear won’t stop your skull bursting like a pinata if you fall off.  That’s basic safety, and it’s common sense.  Another area of life in which fear leads you to take sensible precautions is security.  You lock your doors when you go out so opportunistic bad guys can’t just waltz into your home and eat your lunch.

So much for all of that.  Let’s get an update on the price of fish

It’s funny how people we think we know very well, in this instance me, react to certain events that befall them.  Last week I had my bicycle stolen.  I’ll spare you the gory details, but let’s just say I didn’t have an opportunity to confront the doubtless bolt cutter-wielding hoodies who made off with it in a heroic stand for honour and common decency.

But I did take action.  I replaced the medium-strength lock they defeated with one heavy-duty lock, one medium-strength lock of a different type and a tertiary lock for securing my saddle.  Overkill?  Stable door and bolted horses?  I haven’t even replaced the bike yet.

Somehow it made me feel better.  And it prompted me to examine the security arrangements in other areas of my life, particularly online.

Identity theft and fraud are on the increase, or so we’re told.  I have some basic security measures for my online presences: I don’t use the same password for everything, I use an algorithm that keeps them all different but memorable.  There are plenty of tips out there on this, you don’t need me.

But now I’m thinking I should upgrade to something like 1Password.  The chances of identity theft striking me are still statistically small, and my passwords are probably stronger than most.  But part of me says, why take the risk?  Why not protect access to my bank accounts as well as I can?

I’m thinking about it.  The main reason I haven’t is it ties you to one computer.

Psychological effects

What does this way of thinking do to your psyche?  Is it healthy?  As in so many aspects of life, it’s about knowing where to strike a balance.

“They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security” - Benjamin Franklin

That’s a strong statement which reminds us that placing too much emphasis on security can restrict our liberty.  You can go into crazy lockdown mode and have security take over your life, which will make you a prisoner of your own paranoia.

My solution is this: find the average level of security in a given context, then go just above it.  To use my bicycle example again, if most people have a single lock, get two.  This makes you more of a hassle to attack than most others, but doesn’t have you so locked down it restricts you.  Plus, too much security and you’ll get people interested in finding out what you have to protect that’s so valuable.

Find the mean, then beat it.

photo credit: Thomas Hawk

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Related posts

• New Beginnings
• The Fear of Seeming Cheap
• How to Benefit from Your Finite Capacity for Worry
• Diversify Your Life
• Ethical Living in the Real World

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