Editing Security (section)

== Perceptions of security ==
Since it is not possible to know with precision the extent to which something is 'secure' (and a measure of vulnerability is unavoidable), perceptions of security vary, often greatly.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> For example, a fear of death by earthquake is common in the United States (US), but slipping on the bathroom floor kills more people;<ref name=":3">Bruce Schneier, ''Beyond Fear: Thinking about Security in an Uncertain World'', Copernicus Books, pages 26–27</ref> and in France, the United Kingdom, and the US, there are far fewer deaths caused by [[terrorism]] than there are women killed by their partners in the home.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://terrorismlegislationreviewer.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/report-terrorism-acts-2011.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://terrorismlegislationreviewer.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/report-terrorism-acts-2011.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=The Terrorism Acts in 2011|last=David Anderson QC|date=2012|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.womensaid.org.uk/what-is-femicide/|title=What is femicide?|work=Women's Aid|access-date=2017-12-17|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.upworthy.com/dont-believe-in-the-war-on-women-would-a-body-count-change-your-mind|title=Don't Believe In The War On Women? Would A Body Count Change Your Mind?|work=Upworthy|access-date=2017-12-17|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.liberation.fr/societe/2015/06/11/violences-conjugales-118-femmes-tuees-en-2014_1327822|title=Violences conjugales: 118 femmes tuées en 2014|work=Libération.fr|access-date=2017-12-17|language=fr}}</ref>

Another problem of perception is the common assumption that the mere presence of a security system (such as [[Military|armed forces]] or [[antivirus software]]) implies security. For example, two [[computer security]] programs installed on the same device can prevent each other from working properly, while the user assumes that he or she benefits from twice the protection that only one program would afford.

[[Security theater]] is a critical term for measures that change perceptions of security without necessarily affecting security itself. For example, visual signs of security protections, such as a home that advertises its alarm system, may deter an [[Trespasser|intruder]], whether or not the system functions properly. Similarly, the [[Security increase|increased presence of military personnel]] on the streets of a city after a [[Terrorism|terrorist attack]] may help to reassure the public, whether or not it diminishes the risk of further attacks.