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A Back Door to Encryption Won't Stop Terrorists

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Re: A Back Door to Encryption Won't Stop Terrorists

#11

Post by pera »

stcredzero wrote: post #6
pera wrote: post #4

> but debates about whether the technology should have a "back door" for intelligence services are heating up again What "debates"? there is absolutely nothing they can do to enforce terrorists to use backdoored encryption, any debate is just a waste of time, money, and maybe even lives. What are they thinking??

> there is absolutely nothing they can do to enforce terrorists to use backdoored encryption, I suppose they could deceive the public and put something in without telling us. That would be a real improvement! Oh wait,...Snowden... The more I hear about what Diane Feinstein proposes in areas outside her expertise, the more I wish someone would defeat her in an election. She keep proposing stupid stuff that sounds good…

The NIST curve (for instance) was not exposed by Snowden, he just confirmed what everybody already knew.

I can't believe the CIA is this stupid, it's not possible, they want something else from all this anti-cryptography talking.

Re: A Back Door to Encryption Won't Stop Terrorists

#12

Post by swiley »

ck2 wrote: post #3

There's no evidence the plotters of the Paris terrorist attacks used encrypted communications First sentence is already wrong. They recovered smartphones that had encrypted messaging apps. Still no excuse for government backdoors which will be stolen by all kinds of entities within months of their creation and allow the wrong people to spy on law enforcement itself. Government had a 10 year headstart before all this,…

My phone has at least two encrypted messaging apps on it that I've been meaning to learn how to use. Everyone I know uses Kik though and has 0 desire to switch. So we really don't know that they where actually using them if that's all they really found.

Re: A Back Door to Encryption Won't Stop Terrorists

#14

Post by mangeletti »

pera wrote: post #4

> but debates about whether the technology should have a "back door" for intelligence services are heating up again What "debates"? there is absolutely nothing they can do to enforce terrorists to use backdoored encryption, any debate is just a waste of time, money, and maybe even lives. What are they thinking??

Exactly. This is the same as gun control. If a technology exists, you cannot tell people to not use it; otherwise, all you've done is put law-abiding citizens at a competitive disadvantage while arming the bad guys. To argue otherwise is absolute ignorance.

Re: A Back Door to Encryption Won't Stop Terrorists

#15

Post by coldtea »

How about this: we assume terrorists can fucking talk covertly whenever they like (since there are myriads of channels and codes that they can use) and that mass surveillance is not the way to catch them plotting their next act.

And from then on, ONLY use surveillance on specific targets under investigation.

And while at it, maybe even have a limit on the number of targets each agency can investigate, so they chose them wisely.

Re: A Back Door to Encryption Won't Stop Terrorists

#16

Post by coldtea »

aero142 wrote: post #13
conwaytwitty wrote: post #5

When X is illegal, only the criminals will have X. Replace X with basically anything.

"When nuclear bombs are illegal, only the criminals will have nuclear bombs." I think your grand unifying theory needs more nuance.

I hope we don't depend on the unavailability of nuclear bombs to the bad guys on them being "illegal".

Re: A Back Door to Encryption Won't Stop Terrorists

#17

Post by lholden »

russnewcomer wrote: post #8

Encryption backdoors are a lightning-rod topic on HN, but instead of repeating all the common-talking points, I'd suggest the following: Think through something like this, outside of your expertise, that you think the powers-that-be should just do. Maybe it's something with your local municipality's approach to road resurfacing, maybe it's the quarterback on your favorite football team, maybe it's your local zoning b…

The best backdoor to encryption has always been social. Talk the right way to the right people... and it doesn't matter what type of security you have.

Isn't that the entire purpose of agencies like the CIA?

It just bothers me when privacy is treated as a negative thing, for the greater good or not. Encryption is a tool to create privacy. The ability to create privacy should be a point of pride as not everyone has that luxury. It should be a human right.

This is the primary reason why I feel things like CISA/CISPA/etc take society in the wrong direction. It doesn't matter if the intentions are good or bad when everyone loses.

Re: A Back Door to Encryption Won't Stop Terrorists

#20

Post by danieltillett »

russnewcomer wrote: post #8

Encryption backdoors are a lightning-rod topic on HN, but instead of repeating all the common-talking points, I'd suggest the following: Think through something like this, outside of your expertise, that you think the powers-that-be should just do. Maybe it's something with your local municipality's approach to road resurfacing, maybe it's the quarterback on your favorite football team, maybe it's your local zoning b…

You are making a rather large logic leap in assuming what politicians and intelligence services want. It is extremely unlikely to be only "keeping people safe".
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