Re:Are we doing this again? Yes, we're doing this again
by nonrandomstring on Thursday November 09, 2023 @06:00AM
(#38203474)
The quote is a pithy formulation of Blotto game theory, or "front
analysis" [0] which I've taught in cybersecurity for some years now as
an introductory concept alongside Dolev-Yeo [1]. It is obliquely
connected to the "attackers advantage" (here as a business concept
[2]) and "terrorists always win in the end".
As the number of fronts to defend grows, in space or time, the
uncertainty of how to allocate resources against novel attacks becomes
overwhelming, as does the burden of hyper-vigilance. The enemy can
afford to sleep and wait.
Security is an essentially conservative project. One is defending
existing resources, rights, powers... against an opportunistic
insurgent. Security of democracy (as Franklin said, "if you can keep
it") against tyrants (who are simply "terrorists" in waiting) is no
different.
As the number of fronts to defend grows, in space or time, the uncertainty of how to allocate resources against novel attacks becomes overwhelming, as does the burden of hyper-vigilance. The enemy can afford to sleep and wait.
Security is an essentially conservative project. One is defending existing resources, rights, powers... against an opportunistic insurgent. Security of democracy (as Franklin said, "if you can keep it") against tyrants (who are simply "terrorists" in waiting) is no different.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blotto_game
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolev%E2%80%93Yao_model
[2] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21413841-the-attacker-s-...