Spider-Man, Hubris, and the Future of Security and Privacy

H ow do we realistically assess the past, present, and future of our security and privacy technology? Like Spider-Man, with our great computing power comes great responsibility—to use our power wisely, to design high-quality security and privacy applications, and to quickly correct errors and improve results. The difficulty of predicting the future of security and privacy is often accompanied by arrogance about our abilities to understand issues and solve problems effectively. But this scientific hubris can also be an opportunity to look back, applaud our successes, evaluate our mistakes, and take corrective action. This article is my last as editor in chief of IEEE Security & Privacy. It’s also my last professional article; I’m refocusing my efforts on helping mend America’s fraying social safety net. So it seems appropriate to look closely at security and privacy in a societal context: how we got here, where we are now, and what we need to ensure that we use our great power responsibly.