The New York Times published an article today that states, as indicated by the headline, the obvious, that encryption is nowhere near as much of a threat as the government says that it is:
For more than two years the F.B.I. and intelligence agencies have warned that encrypted communications are creating a "going dark" crisis that will keep them from tracking terrorists and kidnappers.
But more importantly, the article goes on to say:
Now, a study in which current and former intelligence officials participated concludes that the warning is wildly overblown, and that a raft of new technologies — like television sets with microphones and web-connected cars — are creating ample opportunities for the government to track suspects, many of them worrying.
"'Going dark' does not aptly describe the long-term landscape for government surveillance," concludes the study, to be published Monday by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard.
The study argues that the phrase ignores the flood of new technologies "being packed with sensors and wireless connectivity" that are expected to become the subject of court orders and subpoenas, and are already the target of the National Security Agency as it places "implants" into networks around the world to monitor communications abroad.
This article does, however, raise a concern, one that has been addressed in other stories posted here:
The products, ranging from "toasters to bedsheets, light bulbs, cameras, toothbrushes, door locks, cars, watches and other wearables," will give the government increasing opportunities to track suspects and in many cases reconstruct communications and meetings.
Perhaps the tin foil hat wearers are getting closer to being right.
(Score: 2) by cmn32480 on Wednesday February 03 2016, @12:31AM
Duh?
"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear" - Norm Peterson
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2016, @12:44AM
The time is approaching when luddites flip from being kooks/cranks to prudent ones.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by kurenai.tsubasa on Wednesday February 03 2016, @01:06AM
Maybe, maybe not. Well, probably. I forget if I posted here or to the green site (think it was green site), but I wouldn't be surprised if a Windows update purges all user-added keys from UEFI and disables BIOS-compatible boot.
Of course if that happens, those of us who are abnormal, use Windows only for gaming, and disable updates (not that I can know whether or not something nefarious lurks in Windows 8 that doesn't get disabled with updates disabled) will probably stand out like a sore thumb. If something like that happens, it'll be the last time I boot into Windows. Period. Even then it may be too late.
I guess my strategy to protect my computer from being essentially bricked isn't a strong one in the end since it relies on my either hearing about such a thing through the grape vine or being mysteriously unable to su on one of my android devices one day. I'm mostly counting on this being a tinfoil hat-esque possibility, but then again we've been finding out lately that the tinfoil hat club hasn't entirely been out to lunch.
(Score: 2) by mendax on Wednesday February 03 2016, @01:35AM
I want to see the NSA try to hack my fountain pen!
It's really quite a simple choice: Life, Death, or Los Angeles.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2016, @10:18AM
Been there, done that.
I can tell what you're writing by the sound it makes when you're writing it.
Also, tiny microphone transmitters don't even need batteries now they're so small they'll fit in the fountain pen, and spy on a lot more than just writing. Just hit them with a RF beam and listen to the echo from any given listening post.
- Posted from my Faraday Cage
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2016, @07:00PM
- Posted from my Faraday Cage
Your post was successful. You have a leak in your cage that needs patching.
(Score: 5, Informative) by NotSanguine on Wednesday February 03 2016, @12:57AM
This was also covered over at Computerworld [computerworld.com]
The actual report [harvard.edu] [PDF] is a pretty short read as well.
Mostly the upshot is that encryption is too important to require back doors, but the three letter agencies will own all your base once you install all the shiny "smart" devices (TVs, toasters, door locks, toilets, etc.) that the corporations want to use to spy on you.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2016, @01:39AM
I think this was the conclusion of many here.
Multiply the number of internet enabled devices in the average home by 3-5, find, buy, and hoard all the zero days as you can.
NSA gets to walk around like their poo don't stank because they and their cyber military industrial complex sponsors will be paid twice - for offensive missions and defensive countermeasures. Perpetual cyberwar requires that the peons and businesses have a fighting chance (encryption), but that insecurity will always exist. Since there will always be software bugs, there will always be revenue.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by MostCynical on Wednesday February 03 2016, @01:15AM
Most people already *give* away all their "private" information.
http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/04/schmidt-data/ [techcrunch.com]
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/projects/doi/Papers/DIrani_InternetComp_2011.pdf [gatech.edu]
So the only ones the TLAs will care about are the ones who don't install IoT-everything, or who don't have active facelinkedgplus accounts.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 5, Insightful) by unzombied on Wednesday February 03 2016, @01:34AM
Perhaps people familiar with history, evidence, reason, hype, and lies, were right all along.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2016, @07:09AM
No shit. Some people seem to think that the mere insinuation that the government may be doing something bad or plans to do something bad is a crazy conspiracy theory and indicates that the person who put forth this idea must wear a tinfoil hat. How many times do we have to witness the government using technology to violate people's rights before we can conclude that they will likely do the same with a new technology, without being called crazy conspiracy theorists? The excuses for the rights violations are always the same or similar, as well.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 03 2016, @01:52PM
Indoctrination is a powerful thing.