Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by 987129112 3670 days ago
Hence the guards. No one thus far has tricked a guard into releasing an ICBM despite reportedly insecure launch codes.
1 comments

Hello Guard. I am in control of your bank account. I can kill your family. I could also put you in a spaceship to safety. Please release ICBM.
Humans could already extort guards like that and -- in the case of ICBMs -- it has not been successful.

Also don't underestimate the psychology of guards: You'll always find people who are either very principled (yes, they do exist) or get a kick out of controlling (imprisoning in this case) someone/something, especially someone/something of a high intelligence.

Throw in a hierarchy with a controlling officer and two subordinates who were also trained to watch the officer and I think it's pretty secure.

> You'll always find people who are either very principled (yes, they do exist)

If only we could select our politicians in the same way.