That doesn't work, either. The only way to commercially viable would be for a third party to sell such a package (and I used to be in that business). However, if such a thing becomes prevalent enough, it will get hacked as well. Plus, it has to go over the internet anyway unless you expect bank customers to use speical hardware.

It's amazing how simple things are when looked at by uninformed people.

I assure you, it is not as simple as you seem to imply.

So, you are suggesting security by obscurity?

I wish I could remember who said "Democracy is not two wolves and a sheep deciding what is for dinner". I am sure somebody out there can cite the correct source.

...not to mention the requirement of some semblance of intelligence on the part of those governing (the masses in this case), otherwise we end up with either some sort of oligarchy (like FOSS) or a complete welfare state... er... oh crap.

The worst part is the response to this kind of thing... Propeller-heads around the world will set their Password Service to require more complex content, such as 14 punctuation marks, etc.

Personally, as a published expert on this subject, I think that is the worst thing to do. THe problem is, that as more sites "tighten" to stronger content, people start to write them down and that's far worse... Lose the little black book or the iPhone and everything is gone. Make your rules that much more complex and suddenly the patterns people have been using for years (patterns, not always values) no longer work, forcing the "backup" system to memorizing it.

The other thing is that some sites simply need to get over themselves... A donut shop need not require 16 character passwords, email confirmation and CAPCHA just to get info about the latest sales...

To paraphrase somebody else: Passwords are a horrible form of authentication, just better than everything else [for typical uses].

He was convicted as a spy... and sentenced to 15 years...

Show me a staff that consistently delivers products on time and one of the following will always be true:

1) One or more of your highest performers works extensive amounts of overtime (and is likely to burnout)
2) Project times are consistently overestimated.

It's a variation of the George Carlin Principle... People will adapt to fill the space, one way or the other.

I really did.

You said "If you allowed people to be executed without trial..."

I just pointed out that there was a trial.

The issue of execution or life sentences is a different one.

I did use my brains. Read the original article.

There was a trial. He was convicted of spying and sentenced to 15 years.

"New war" with China? Pull your head out of the sand... we've been at war for quite awhile.

He had a trial and was found guilty. Then sentenced to 15 years... instead of the death penalty.

So you think that the act itself doesn't deserve the punishment, that it is the severity of the damage done?

By that thinking, you support driving drunk unless (until) you actually kill somebody?

Fry the bastard.

If they even bothered with a trial... A US spy, if that clearcut, would just disappear, so no press coverage.

Instead, we imprison with cable TV and free health care. I hear our prisons are lavish compared to the standard of a normal Chinese citizen. Might not be up to the $3M lifestyle "on the outside", but still better than his ancestors.

Except that we've saved them billions by letting them learn from OUR mistakes...

Send him to Gitmo, then death penalty. No New York trials. He's a spy, stealing information that can be used against us. When are we going to acknowledge that we are at (cyber) war with China, have been for years, and start acting accordingly?

Men are running the program - we just want to go home! We're from Mars, ya know?

And now, thanks to the ISS, we'll have both topping for our pizza and athlete's foot when we get there.