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posted by janrinok on Saturday July 26 2014, @12:58PM   Printer-friendly
from the how-long-will-TOR-resist? dept.

International Business News reports that Russia is offering $111,000 to any citizen who can crack the popular encrypted Tor network.

FTFA:

The Russian federal government is concerned about the number of people using Tor to anonymously surf the web in the country and has set up a competition to find a technological solution to solve the problem.

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) is offering 3.9 million roubles ($111,000, £65,370) to researchers who will "study the possibility of obtaining technical information about users and users equipment on the Tor anonymous network," according to a translated version of the proposal. In order to apply, entrants must pay 195,000 roubles, and foreigners are not allowed to enter the competition, in order to ensure the "defence and security" of the Russian Federation.

I imagine a lot of Russian crackers will be right on this.

 
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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by present_arms on Saturday July 26 2014, @01:26PM

    by present_arms (4392) on Saturday July 26 2014, @01:26PM (#74168) Homepage Journal

    If they do succeed but fail to release/leak how and what, then that can't be good. That could lead to a false sense of security with people using the network and being spied upon. I really hope if it is cracked they do release for the reasons you have already mentioned.

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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by No.Limit on Saturday July 26 2014, @01:53PM

    by No.Limit (1965) on Saturday July 26 2014, @01:53PM (#74174)

    That's true, but considering that the competition is for researchers and probably crackers, I think there is a high chance that the information will be released or leaked soon.
    Both groups probably wouldn't like if the government could use the information exclusively.

    • (Score: 4, Insightful) by present_arms on Saturday July 26 2014, @01:58PM

      by present_arms (4392) on Saturday July 26 2014, @01:58PM (#74175) Homepage Journal

      Totally agree with you, But the Gov could without recourse use the information exclusively, I find that scary.

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      • (Score: 5, Insightful) by janrinok on Saturday July 26 2014, @02:42PM

        by janrinok (52) Subscriber Badge on Saturday July 26 2014, @02:42PM (#74181) Journal

        Its funded by the Russian Government, and non-Russians are not eligible to take part. I strongly suspect that the results will not be released. Then you will never know if 'they' can crack the system that 'we' believe cannot yet be broken. The Russian Government could always say that they have paid the prize to "made-up-name", a cracker who wishes to remain anonymous. As TOR is used by lots of legal users who have legitimate reasons for wanting to stay untraceable, would your Government rely on a system that another Government claims to have defeated?

        • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 26 2014, @03:12PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 26 2014, @03:12PM (#74185)

          Or the government can lie and claim that it 'cracked' the system or found weaknesses simply to deter others from using it when all of the 'weaknesses' found are either inconsequential or already well known. In fact maybe that's what Russia is planning all along.