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The NSA Will Release 'Niagarafiles' Data Analysis Tool as Open Source

posted by janrinok on Wednesday November 26 2014, @03:14PM   Printer-friendly
from the I'd-prefer-the-data dept.

sigma writes:

A ZDNet story explains that Niagarafiles, renamed as NiFi, will be released under the Apache license. The tool, which is conceptually derived from flow-based programming, is used for automating data flows across multiple networks, even where data formats and protocols differ.

The project's lead developer, Joseph Witt, said the NSA took great pains to develop the tool in a way that would eventually allow the agency to release its source code.

"From its inception, NiFi was developed with an open source philosophy in mind and with the hopes of eventually being truly open sourced," Witt explained.

 
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 26 2014, @04:48PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday November 26 2014, @04:48PM (#120314)

    Well lets see it is a bit of software written by guys who like to track flows of data.

    I am positive it is very good at what it does. It is not entirely clear *what* it does other than 'prioritize data'.

    The NSA has a serious credibility problem. They are one organization trying to do 2 things. These 2 things are at perfect odds with each other. One is protect the infrastructure the other is to undermine it. To do one you need to do the other. Unfortunately it is easier to break things than fix them. Then for political reasons to leave them broken and not tell anyone they hurled a brick thru the window as they abscond away with the shoes.

  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday November 26 2014, @11:05PM

    by bob_super (1357) on Wednesday November 26 2014, @11:05PM (#120422)

    It is the primary job of every military on the planet to protect national infrastructures while practicing blowing up the enemy's. They are related and not at all at odds...
    Did you check which department the NSA sits under?

    Conversely, the traditional military doesn't prep landmines under all national infrastructure, just in case they either have to take it back, blow up a wall to see inside, or in case buildings get exported... They are a lot more limited in their ability to weaken weapons made for export.