security through obscurity
English
Alternative forms
- security by obscurity, security-by-obscurity
- security-through-obscurity
Noun
security through obscurity (uncountable)
- (computer security) Relying on a potential attacker's lack of knowledge as a means of security.
- 1990, W Cattey, The Evolution of turnin A Classroom Oriented File Exchange Service, USENIX Summer Conference:
- This security through obscurity proved adequate for our prototype, but it was unacceptable for a turnin service in wide use.
- 2006, Harold F. Tipton, Micki Krause, Information Security Management Handbook:
- According to security-through-obscurity advocates, if we carefully hide our gaping vulnerabilities from our enemies, the bad guys will give up in frustration when they cannot easily find holes.
- 2008, Shon Harris, CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide:
- Things such as security through obscurity become common practices that usually have damaging results.
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Antonyms
- Kerckhoffs's principle (in cryptography)
- security by design
See also
- steganography
