NSA has direct access to tech giants' systems for user data, secret files reveal

I can't imagine how anyone "missed" Crimea.

Russia has very few seaports, and it would never relinquish the Baltic port. Once Ukraine revolted, the fate of Crimea was sealed. In US terms, this would rather be like keeping Houston (and maybe Dallas) after Texas rejoined Mexico

 

I don't either. It just shows how low they will stoop when the opportunity arises to blame someone else for their incompetent policies, especially Snowden.

How about a real world example, West Berlin after WWII.

 

• Beijing demands US explain Huawei spying •

http://www.zdnet.com/cn/beijing-demands-us-explain-huawei-spying-7000027664/

 

The NSA is burning down the web, but what if we rebuilt a spy-proof internet? by David Byrne (Yes! That David Byrne of Talking Heads fame)!

-- Tom

 

Obama to Call for End to N.S.A.’s Bulk Data Collection

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/25/us/obama-to-seek-nsa-curb-on-call-data.html

 

What a trip

I was going to post a link to "Life During Wartime" a few days ago.

 

As long as we rely on ISPs, backbone services, and the rest of the commercial infrastructure, a spy proof internet is impossible. What we really need is a separate, decentralized service that doesn't provide locations for bulk data collection. A variation of end to end encryption and Tor combined with interconnected wireless routers comes to mind.

 

http://www.spiegel.de/international...rgeted-private-german-companies-a-961444.html

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/...mpanies-put-merkel-list-122-targeted-leaders/

 

How the NSA Can Use Metadata to Predict Your Personality

http://www.defenseone.com/technolog...edict-your-personality/81538/?oref=d-topstory

 

I don't have any metdata (no telephone).

There's just me and my machines, in my bunker on the beach.

 

IMO, totally irrelevant from a statistical point of view, hence of no use to NSA.

 

Surprise, surprise: my online metadata actually reveals where I’ve been.

-- Tom

 

Exclusive: NSA infiltrated RSA security more deeply than thought - study
(Reuters) -

 

NSA performed warrantless searches on Americans' calls and emails – Clapper
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/01/nsa-surveillance-loophole-americans-data

US intelligence chiefs have confirmed that the National Security Agency has used a "back door" in surveillance law to perform warrantless searches on Americans’ communications.

The NSA's collection programs are ostensibly targeted at foreigners, but in August the Guardian revealed a secret rule change allowing NSA analysts to search for Americans' details within the databases.

Now, in a letter to Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat on the intelligence committee, the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, has confirmed for the first time the use of this legal authority to search for data related to “US persons”.

 

Secure protocols for accountable warrant execution.

-- Tom

 

Study Shows Flawed U.S. Encryption Standard Could Be Broken in Seconds.

-- Tom

 

IMO, it is reasonable to assume that the NSA has subverted or has attempted to subvert every form of encryption that has been adopted as a standard.

 

Yahoo introduces new encryption methods to protect users from spying (article)

 

NSA Blows Its Own Top Secret Program in Order to Propagandize

 

I suppose there are ways to temporarily remain anonymous on the web, but not for very long.
Not unless you are of absolutely no interest to domestic or foreign governments and are not in any way associated with anyone or any company, organization, or agency that is or someday will be deemed a threat.

The thought occurred to me earlier today; how many software vendors are actually "in-league" with the intelligence community; funded by them, staffed by them, and in business to serve them ?
How many are intentionally marketing applications with the stated purpose of enhancing security but, in truth, are marketing software with back-door access known only to those agencies that the software is supposedly designed to thwart ?

Whatever the revelations and disclosures, I believe the intelligence community always has a backup plan and a backup plan for the backup plan.
They are not going to stop spying on us because no agency director wants to accept the blame for allowing the next 9-11, and no politician wants to be recognized as the one who neutered the agencies who exist to protect our national interests. This holds true whether we are talking about The United States, China, Italy, Brazil, The Koreas, Israel, Great Britain, Pakistan, or any other nation.

This is the world we live in and it's not going away.

 

And from previously posted here

Eric Rescorla is one of the big guys for Mozilla link.
I don't expect him to comment but Mozilla's 'No comment', that I don't like.

 

That opens up some very nasty possibilities. At the very least it's a major conflict of interest. At worst, the NSA used Rescorla to compromise the security of Mozilla products.

 

http://threatpost.com/with-extended-random-cracking-dual-ec-in-bsafe-trivial/105170

http://arstechnica.com/security/201...ypto-product-with-second-nsa-influenced-code/

 

Interactive Graphic: The NSA Spying Machine.

-- Tom

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/04/05/aclu_launches_userfriendly_database_of_every_snowden_doc/