Read Crypto-gram and feel better?
I’ve been a reader of Bruce Schneier’s CRYPTO-GRAM newsletter for some years now and it always inspires mixed feelings. Schneier writes with authority on security, terrorism and the psychology of both. At the danger of being misrepresentative, here’s a quote
“We worry about airplane crashes and rampaging shooters instead of automobile crashes and domestic violence — both far more common”
Depending on the issue, you might feel safer after reading but generally you come away worrying about people’s ability to be duped over what is and isn’t an actual probable risk to them. You’ll worry about politicians taking advantage of these as easy emotive issues rather than focusing on more likely ones that are harder to “sell” and you’ll worry about the media herding people in the direction of their statistically improbable fears rather than acting as a responsible platform.
“I tell people that if it’s in the news, don’t worry about it. The very definition of “news” is “something that hardly ever happens.” It’s when something isn’t in the news, when it’s so common that it’s no longer news — car crashes, domestic violence — that you should start worrying”
On the good side, it’ll help you be more rational about the security threats that are actually likely to effect you. I’ve scared the crap out of my partner on more than one occasion by arguing that if someone really wants to get to you or the contents of your house, the lock on the door and the burglar alarm are really only a formality. They stop people wandering in but they won’t stop someone breaking in (unless they’re inept…which is another story). So what really determines if you should be scared of burglary is the amount of attractive swag you have in your home and how many people know you’ve got it.
It’ll also remind you that security theatre like a burglar alarm is still worth it so you don’t have to get up every time the freezer clunks in the hall, one thing I really like about Schneier’s writing is he doesn’t belittle people for being people (and that must be oh so tempting when you’ve been working in the field as long as he has).
The newsletter is perhaps over long for the “average” reader, but for every single intelligent person I’d advise having a read, it just might help you feel more rational and clear headed about what you ought to be spending your valuable time worrying about 
