What not to write on your security clearance form (1988) (milk.com)

Article summary

The article tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who created a cryptographic code with his friend, which was later found by the FBI and led to an investigation. The boy was suspected of being a Japanese spy, but the investigation was eventually dropped. The incident caused problems for the boy later in life when he applied for a security clearance. He was advised to conceal the incident on his application form in order to be granted clearance.

Main themes

• security clearance
• government investigation
• cryptographic code
• domain names
• security theater
• government spending

What commenters say

• Some commenters find it amusing that the government spent thousands of dollars investigating a dead-end lead, highlighting the potential for wasteful spending.
• Others argue that the investigation was reasonable given the context of wartime and the discovery of a cryptographic key.
• The discussion also touches on the idea that security clearance processes can be flawed and that certain information can be used to speed up or slow down the clearance process.
• Some commenters criticize the government's approach to security and surveillance, suggesting that it can be overly broad and ineffective.
• There is also a discussion about the value and potential depreciation of domain names, with some arguing that it may be wise to sell a valuable domain name like milk.com.
• Others believe that owning a unique domain name can be a valuable asset and a symbol of prestige.