Introduction to Panels on E-Security, Granular Computing and Web Intelligence

A common definition of computer security is: ” a system is secure if it adequately protects information that it processes against unauthorized disclosure, unauthorized modification, and unauthorized withholding (denial of service).” Currently, no systems can assure all of these. The first major efforts on such a system is the so called mandatory access control (MAC). It is for military security. The main idea is the control of information flows. In commercial side, a commonly used model is called discretionary access control (DAC). It is based on a totally different concept. In spite of its popularity DAC is known to be, due to the Trojan horse problem, not a secure system under this definition. The E-security, often implemented in DAC form, does need stronger security; information flows do need to be regulated. For example, an HIP patient may has to give his information to Medical organization, yet he definitely does not want the information being forward to insurance company. DAC is powerless on this; some have suggested that we regulate by the privacy law. However, the law cannot stop the Trojan horse. Recent development of granular computing does provide some light on E-security; that will be addressed by T. Y. Lin in this panel.