NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
1–10 of 67 posts
Re: NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
#2I guess the first issue of LJ I have on the bookshelf just doubled in value..
Re: NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
#3"the agency is targeting anyone who is interested in online privacy" - not so surprising, is it. I wonder what other similar criteria there are for being considered an "extremist"? No Facebook or other social networking accounts? Uses Linux? Makes certain types of comments online that support privacy (like this one)? ... It's really unsettling.
On the other hand, now that this is out, I think the NSA will suddenly have a ton more "extremists" to look at.
Re: NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
#4The NSA's problem is that new threats are a form of innovation, but that it's hard to predict innovation, and harder to target surveillance towards people planning a dangerous activity if nobody has seen that activity before. New ideas are a threat.
So perhaps their method is to define Normal, and then monitor everybody Abnormal, on the basis that dangerous innovation is more likely to come from the Abnormal.
Enthusiasm for Linux isn't as abnormal as it used to be, but it definitely puts you in the "dangerous 1%".
Re: NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
#5The depressing part for me is that I've started to consider what I search for on a daily basis and how that might look...essentially they are starting to make me paranoid.
Over the last few months I've googled
Numerous Weapon Systems (I have a fascination with WW1, WWII and Cold War history - stuff like Black Arrow etc).
Insurgencies during the British Empire
Electronics (want to get back into and saw a fun project to make on reddit the other day) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=movVFYWheGM
Linux stuff (settings, security, the usual stuff a developer/system administrator would look at).
Programming stuff (relating to security, encryption etc)
NSA related material (following the story closely).
Setting up a VPN (so I can access Netflix US because Netflix UK is basically crap).
The US constitution and some case law.
NSA Report: "User noir_lord has an interest in privacy, weapons, insurgencies and excellent technical skills, user noir_lord should be monitored"
Where in reality I'm a 34 year old web developer from the North of England who enjoys history, techy stuff and playing with my cats.
Re: NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
#6The depressing part for me is that I've started to consider what I search for on a daily basis and how that might look...essentially they are starting to make me paranoid. Over the last few months I've googled Numerous Weapon Systems (I have a fascination with WW1, WWII and Cold War history - stuff like Black Arrow etc). Insurgencies during the British Empire Electronics (want to get back into and saw a fun project t…
Well you're in the same club as most of us.
Reminds me of: http://youtu.be/-PSeAfSKQe4
Re: NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
#7The depressing part for me is that I've started to consider what I search for on a daily basis and how that might look...essentially they are starting to make me paranoid. Over the last few months I've googled Numerous Weapon Systems (I have a fascination with WW1, WWII and Cold War history - stuff like Black Arrow etc). Insurgencies during the British Empire Electronics (want to get back into and saw a fun project t…
Well, a good side of it - the more false positives they have, the worse for them.
Re: NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
#8The NSA's problem is that new threats are a form of innovation, but that it's hard to predict innovation, and harder to target surveillance towards people planning a dangerous activity if nobody has seen that activity before. New ideas are a threat. So perhaps their method is to define Normal, and then monitor everybody Abnormal, on the basis that dangerous innovation is more likely to come from the Abnormal. Enthusi…
You made sense until the "...definitely puts you in..." part
Re: NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
#9The depressing part for me is that I've started to consider what I search for on a daily basis and how that might look...essentially they are starting to make me paranoid. Over the last few months I've googled Numerous Weapon Systems (I have a fascination with WW1, WWII and Cold War history - stuff like Black Arrow etc). Insurgencies during the British Empire Electronics (want to get back into and saw a fun project t…
Well you're in the same club as most of us. Reminds me of: http://youtu.be/-PSeAfSKQe4
That video is amazing, I've always liked Pink Floyd's "The Wall" so I'm a bit ashamed I've never seen the full video version.
The imagery is chill inducingly powerful.
Re: NSA classifies Linux Journal readers as extremists
#10The depressing part for me is that I've started to consider what I search for on a daily basis and how that might look...essentially they are starting to make me paranoid. Over the last few months I've googled Numerous Weapon Systems (I have a fascination with WW1, WWII and Cold War history - stuff like Black Arrow etc). Insurgencies during the British Empire Electronics (want to get back into and saw a fun project t…
Well, a good side of it - the more false positives they have, the worse for them.
If you assume their goal is to do what they claim it is.
If not then false positives are largely irrelevant.