11–20 of 218 posts
I sincerely hope for America's sake that there's no substance to the claims that the CIA are working with these cartels.
If you're going to whistleblow on your local government online (be that a legitimate government, or a violent drug cartel), the only reasonably safe way to do it is from outside the country AND using Tor. It amazes me that people don't take these basic precautions. Mexican cartels are known to have infiltrated ISPs, where they were able to tie IP addresses to identities. Using encryption is the only way. EDIT: may I…
I would say that for some of these local journalists, you're correct in suspecting that their technical expertise isn't high...however, it's not easy to report on dangerous local conditions from outside that locality. For one thing, you've introduced another attack vector for a MITM attack -- between the local stringer and the international point-of-contact who then publishes the content.
But the bigger problem is this: the people most passionate about this kind of local reporting, well, they're passionate about it because it is in their town or neighborhood. It's generally not feasible to be a long-time resident (the type who really gives a shit about the terror that's going on in the neighborhood) and then uproot so that you can do reporting safely. For one thing, you're just not as connected to the events once you've left the area.
And that is what the USA 'War on Drugs' is doing to the poorer neighbours.
At this point, the cartels have diversified far beyond drug trafficking. http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB100014240527023032777045793...
When twitter and facebook don't let you connect anonymously from tor, this is what the result is. If you have a major website that is used by dissidents and journalists in countries such as Mexico or Iran and you don't have a plain html form to fall back on and insist on javascript being on all the time you really do have blood on your hands.
If you're going to whistleblow on your local government online (be that a legitimate government, or a violent drug cartel), the only reasonably safe way to do it is from outside the country AND using Tor. It amazes me that people don't take these basic precautions. Mexican cartels are known to have infiltrated ISPs, where they were able to tie IP addresses to identities. Using encryption is the only way. EDIT: may I…
I think you were downvoted because people suspected you of glossing over the subject at hand (for the record, I upvoted you). I would say that for some of these local journalists, you're correct in suspecting that their technical expertise isn't high...however, it's not easy to report on dangerous local conditions from outside that locality. For one thing, you've introduced another attack vector for a MITM attack --…
Some newspapers (correct me if I'm wrong, I think it was NY Times) have even started running an .onion website where people can leave so called "dead drops".
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not sure how you're going to get out real journalism about the events going on within your city from another country... Did you read the article?
I did, and it clearly says that other citizens were sending her information to post online. I don't know much about her situation, but presumably that wouldn't require her to be in the country. And even if that's not the case, using Tor and not linking your online vigilante identity to your real identity (e.g. by having your whistleblower twitter account linked to your personal phone) is a very basic precaution. I RE…
This flies completely contrary to precautionary measures and utilizing knowledge/education as a barrier to attack. The sooner society gets away from the "that's 'victim-blaming'" mentality and embraces education for all, the sooner everyone is better of for it. It's not saying, "yeah, they had this coming, this is their fault" but rather, "let's analyze the situation and provide mitigation for the future"
It's somewhat amazing that it was a seemingly unrelated kidnapping that lead to her discovery given that she seemed to be tweeting from her own phone, probably publishing from her own (unsecured?) computer etc. and the reach that the cartel are purported to have in law enforcement / military in those areas. I sincerely hope for America's sake that there's no substance to the claims that the CIA are working with these…
Unfortunately, nobody in this world has the combination of power, opportunity, and desire to take the CIA down for its crimes. They are the closest thing to a god that has ever existed; and organization that is profoundly beyond the grasp of society at large. They smite as they see fit, and there is nothing that can be done about it. Even if the American democratic system were functioning as designed/desired, the CIA would have ample opportunity to burn all of their records (as the Stasi unsuccessfully attempted). Black budgets (see:their involvement in the drugs trade) is one of their many insurance policies against accountability.
This is why we need not only password locks and full encryption but panic passwords and hidden logins on every piece of electronics we own. That no mobile OS offers these yet is pathetic. When twitter and facebook don't let you connect anonymously from tor, this is what the result is. If you have a major website that is used by dissidents and journalists in countries such as Mexico or Iran and you don't have a plain…
Yeah, that would have saved her against Mexican drug cartels and a $50.000 dollars reward.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
And what about all the customers of this cartel who give them the money to pay people enough to do things like this?
All the more reason to encourage domestic production of drugs in regulated (ie, legal and not cartel-run) markets. Blaming the customers is ineffective, because there's no way to end the demand for drugs entirely - we have decades of prohibitions that prove that[0]. Whether or not you or I would like them to boycott these products on principle en masse is a moot point, because it's just not feasible. [0] If we can't…
If you're going to whistleblow on your local government online (be that a legitimate government, or a violent drug cartel), the only reasonably safe way to do it is from outside the country AND using Tor. It amazes me that people don't take these basic precautions. Mexican cartels are known to have infiltrated ISPs, where they were able to tie IP addresses to identities. Using encryption is the only way. EDIT: may I…
Unless, you know, the "outside country" is one participating in those surveillance schemes, like 5-eyes, and is in bed with your local goverment and not beyond sending a tip or two (or even supporting its own thugs acting on the ground in your country).
More or less like it has been throughtout the 20th century in Latin America.