Comment 20 for bug 36017

Yes. A shield is about protection, ie, secure communication. A lock is about
access, ie, password request. These are very distinct operations. We should not
use the same icon for both. When you see a lock in an authentication request
dialog, do you automatically assume that the connection your password is being
sent over is secure, or that your password itself is securely encrypted? If you
do, then you just pointed out why exactly these need to be distinct metaphors.
Nobody said the icon in Tango was perfect. It is, however, much better than the
lock. The red radio waves to show that it is wireless, may not be the best way
to show it. Perhaps we can place an antenna icon on the shield instead. And
perhaps we could make the shield gold, rather than grey. I won't disagree that
it could perhaps use a few minor changes. However, I will strongly disagree that
it should be a lock.