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The comic does actually suggest that, and the comment I replied to specifically suggested that. This sort of interrogation typically starts with "we know you d

by grugq 13y ago

The comic does actually suggest that, and the comment I replied to specifically suggested that. This sort of interrogation typically starts with "we know you did it, so why don't you make things easy for yourself...", not "break his finger so he knows we're serious". The XKCD 538 fallacy is the delusional belief that torture and threats of violence are how people are coerced into confession during an interrogation. That is not the case. Perpetuating that fallacy actually helps interrogators, since the fear of "confess or else you'll get the wrench" is implanted in people's minds. Since that is not how things actually work, it is counter productive. It does not help anyone except the authorities. This is why I say stop perpetuating the fallacy. Seriously.

Crito 13y ago
The person who posted that comic was not literally suggesting that a $5 wrench was used. The FBI asked the guy some questions, and he folded. The XKCD comic was referenced because he rightly understood the comic to be making a general statement about the worth of cryptography when you consider the human element. Seriously, you are not telling anybody here anything they did not already know.
ryanfreeborn 13y ago
I think you're reading into the $5 wrench a bit too literally. It's not about perpetuating the idea (false or not) that torture is an effective means of procuring intelligence. The point of the comic—at least to me—is about tunnel vision w/r/t security. Someone might invest a great amount of time and effort on encryption, but then look past the fact that the encryption is only as strong as the password that protects it...or that the password is only as secure as the place it is stored (lastpass, 1password, or even your brain). There are many creative ways to circumvent encryption, and one of those ways could be something sinister like a wrench-torture, but it could also be through social engineering or psychological craft. The wrench is just an extreme example, maybe even a metaphor.

by grugq 13y ago

Crito 13y ago

The person who posted that comic was not literally suggesting that a $5 wrench was used. The FBI asked the guy some questions, and he folded. The XKCD comic was referenced because he rightly understood the comic to be making a general statement about the worth of cryptography when you consider the human element. Seriously, you are not telling anybody here anything they did not already know.

ryanfreeborn 13y ago

I think you're reading into the $5 wrench a bit too literally. It's not about perpetuating the idea (false or not) that torture is an effective means of procuring intelligence. The point of the comic—at least to me—is about tunnel vision w/r/t security. Someone might invest a great amount of time and effort on encryption, but then look past the fact that the encryption is only as strong as the password that protects it...or that the password is only as secure as the place it is stored (lastpass, 1password, or even your brain). There are many creative ways to circumvent encryption, and one of those ways could be something sinister like a wrench-torture, but it could also be through social engineering or psychological craft. The wrench is just an extreme example, maybe even a metaphor.