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

Snowden: Big revelations to come, reporting them is not a crime.

-- Tom

 

After Snowden, Australia’s cops worry about people using crypto

After Snowden, Australia’s cops worry about people using crypto.

-- Tom

 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/19/us-tech-giants-knew-nsa-data-collection-rajesh-de

 

I am an American, so I see this issue primarily from the perspective of what takes place in the United States as well as what is sanctioned by the U.S. government.

Whether or not activities of the NSA are exposed and investigated is a moot point. Those involved in the collection of data will continue regardless of the public outcry because we have given them the mandate through legislation (the Patriot Act for one example) and also the constant erosion of not only the sanctity of our rights but our willingness to to vigorously defend those rights.

The so-called choice between our right to privacy and the war on terror is a Red Herring because those agencies we employ to fight that war are also the very agencies who violate our privacy rights. The NSA, CIA, FBI, military intelligence, and those who do the same for other nations will always have the advantage because it is they who hold the power to influence top government officials, to subpoena and to imprison. Their budgets are largely secret, and their reach is world-wide.

"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." George Orwell.

 

Re: After Snowden, Australia’s cops worry about people using crypto

This is not unexpected. I predicted a ton of people would 'go dark' for monitoring. I would guess roughly 20%+ increase in people using encryption in the private sector. Commercial wise, the number one request from my clients are how they can gain more privacy and security, and roughly 75-80% of them are seeking encryption options.

All of this is bad news for big brother, and good news for us.

Now that it is COMMERCIALLY profitable to ensure privacy/security, more companies are offering a wider range of products/services, and this is increasing by the day. Prices for VPN's are declining. I recently signed up for a new VPN, unlimited speed/bandwidth, 200+ servers for a mere $29 a YEAR. Offshore, encrypted, privacy protected email accounts can be snagged for as low as $10 a year now. HTTPS Everywhere is becoming the most used browser extension! One of LH's top used extension behind Adblock is HTTPS Everywhere.

Overall - this new 'industry' Snowden revelations created is great for consumers, and good for businesses that specialize in security/privacy. I may change firms, and the firm I may move to is a Privacy/Encryption focused firm. Huge numbers of openings in that field as businesses want to protect their investments - including protect them from govt. espionage.

 

Re: After Snowden, Australia’s cops worry about people using crypto

NSA Leaks Shift Market Share to European Cloud Providers.

-- Tom

 

Re: After Snowden, Australia’s cops worry about people using crypto

Spinoffs from Spyland.

-- Tom

 

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/...cret-efforts-hunt-hack-system-administrators/

 

Going after sysadmins was a LulzSec tactic too

 

Barack Obama to meet again with tech CEOs about NSA

 

Google tries to NSA-proof Gmail

 

The NSA’s System of Secret Law.

-- Tom

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/22/b...en-hurting-bottom-line-of-tech-companies.html

 

Don't Fall For Misleading Story Being Spread By NSA Suggesting Tech Companies Lied About PRISM

 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/22/nsa-huawei-china-telecoms-times-spiegel

 

Targeting Huawei: NSA Spied on Chinese Government and Networking Firm

 

About the same story as posted above by siljaline:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/world/asia/nsa-breached-chinese-servers-seen-as-spy-peril.html?hp&_r=0

 

What does this issue imply for the future of GPL? Or the future of ANYTHING for that matter? Will Linux/Unix and other OS become illegal? Shall we become illegal?

Dave

 

If it ever gets to the point that they make Open Source illegal because it interferes with their ability to compromise it, they'll have made it clear that they are enemies of humanity in general and should be treated accordingly.

 

noone

I'll buy that. This is now a very frightening issue. "Who fights whom or what, when, where or how?" is my concern. Is my word to my government enough in that I love merely to boot BasicLinux 2 from floppies only to have fun? What part of the world have I missed while searching for old Linux winmodem files?

Dave

"It" gets crazy, but not crazy enough for me! (WHATEVERTHATMEANS!)

 

By Glenn Greenwald,

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/03/23/facts-nsa-stories-reported/

 

There are no heros in this China vs US etc etc "cold war".

They all end up making the Internet less secure for the rest of us

 

Are Intelligence Officials Justified in Blaming Snowden for Not Predicting Crimea?.

-- Tom

 

So this global surveillance system "missed" Crimea, just like it missed the Boston bombing, 9/11, etc, etc. They can't produce any examples showing their surveillance system actually succeeding at its stated purpose. This points to two possible conclusions.
1, The entire surveillance system is a total failure in regards to its stated purpose.
2, Its stated purpose is a cover for its real purpose. Leaks showing its use to collect all of the phone traffic for individual countries, its use to infiltrate foreign corporations, and its overly broad use domestically point to the 2nd conclusion.

 

A 10-Point Plan to Keep the NSA Out of Our Data.

-- Tom