Security is Relative (Score 1)

Security is never absolute. Period.

The more secure a system is the less user-friendly a system is. I don't want to have a retinal scan to use my gas charge card - it's just not worth it to me.

Also, I defy anyone to not give over their password/code-phrase/hand-print if some nut has a gun held to their spouse/child's head. If someone wants to get at anything in the world, all they have to do is be willing to sacrifice their life. Big deal.

Given that I am of little consequence in this world - I doubt anyone one of you knows me, I think the risk that my medical records will be the target of some well-funded person or persons bent on gathering my innermost details of my blood pressure is very low .

That's not to say that there shouldn't be some security, but it always needs to be balanced with the costs. An on-line medical system has enormous benefits, and while I want some security, I think the system of multiple emails is too much for me to want to use.

I like charge cards. So long as I don't report it stolen, I can use it very easily and conveniently. It's 'read' at thousands of places on the globe and works wonderfully most of the time. Working at a Bank I know that they have advanced systems to track fraud or other misuse.

If I had my Medical Insurance card so programmed, then I could 'swipe' it at the doctors office and they could get access to anything I had. If I needed my records on me, make it a smart card that I gave to them when I arrived, and took with me when I left. I could have numerous backup devices at my home under any level of security I wanted.

The web is now far more secure than mail and the phone which does far more business and carries as much sensitive data as this article talks about. Let it be and move on to something else.