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Encrypt your Google chats and make the NSA sad

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Re: Encrypt your Google chats and make the NSA sad

#111

Post by nano111 »

cupcake-unicorn wrote: post #23

Why doesn't Google up the security in its own apps? The government may "force" them to provide access, but can it "force" them to remove safeguards like encrypting email/chats/etc? Even if they just gave us the option to check a box, and it wasn't on by default. The problem I'm seeing with all these solutions is that they're very specific to two users, they both need to have everything set up. Well, great, the NSA wi…

can't force them not to encrypt emails but it can force them to give out the keys

Re: Encrypt your Google chats and make the NSA sad

#112

Post by nano111 »

cupcake-unicorn wrote: post #23

Why doesn't Google up the security in its own apps? The government may "force" them to provide access, but can it "force" them to remove safeguards like encrypting email/chats/etc? Even if they just gave us the option to check a box, and it wasn't on by default. The problem I'm seeing with all these solutions is that they're very specific to two users, they both need to have everything set up. Well, great, the NSA wi…

can't force them not to encrypt emails but it can force them to give out the keys

Re: Encrypt your Google chats and make the NSA sad

#113

Post by [deleted] »

cupcake-unicorn wrote: post #23

Why doesn't Google up the security in its own apps? The government may "force" them to provide access, but can it "force" them to remove safeguards like encrypting email/chats/etc? Even if they just gave us the option to check a box, and it wasn't on by default. The problem I'm seeing with all these solutions is that they're very specific to two users, they both need to have everything set up. Well, great, the NSA wi…

[deleted]

Re: Encrypt your Google chats and make the NSA sad

#114

Post by [deleted] »

cupcake-unicorn wrote: post #23

Why doesn't Google up the security in its own apps? The government may "force" them to provide access, but can it "force" them to remove safeguards like encrypting email/chats/etc? Even if they just gave us the option to check a box, and it wasn't on by default. The problem I'm seeing with all these solutions is that they're very specific to two users, they both need to have everything set up. Well, great, the NSA wi…

[deleted]

Re: Encrypt your Google chats and make the NSA sad

#115

Post by downandout »

XorNot wrote: post #84
downandout wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We can plant bugs in machines. I've long thought that NSA and CIA would be buyers of access to botnets with backdoor access to people's machines in the US and abroad. You can buy surreptitious installs of your own malware from other malware providers very cheaply - usually under $1. $300 million and you have the whole US covered. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if there is a budget for this, with agents actively inte…

Or you know, he's referring to actually physically bugging the machine with a hardware keylogger. Which, for someone you're interested in, is way more reliable then simply hoping they're still using unpatched Windows.

That seems like a lot of work and far more targeted than would be consistent with their recently revealed MO (although I am certain they do this in limited instances where "necessary"). These programs seem to have a primary aim of maximum efficiency and mass surveillance. Deploying hardware doesn't seem to fit that description.

Re: Encrypt your Google chats and make the NSA sad

#116

Post by [deleted] »

cupcake-unicorn wrote: post #23

Why doesn't Google up the security in its own apps? The government may "force" them to provide access, but can it "force" them to remove safeguards like encrypting email/chats/etc? Even if they just gave us the option to check a box, and it wasn't on by default. The problem I'm seeing with all these solutions is that they're very specific to two users, they both need to have everything set up. Well, great, the NSA wi…

[deleted]

Re: Encrypt your Google chats and make the NSA sad

#118

Post by [deleted] »

205guy wrote: post #83
freshhawk wrote: post #8

This would definitely be the level of security that falls under this statement from Snowden: Q: Is it possible to put security in place to protect against state surveillance? A: "You are not even aware of what is possible. The extent of their capabilities is horrifying. We can plant bugs in machines. Once you go on the network, I can identify your machine. You will never be safe whatever protections you put in place.…

Further thinking along this line: most people in the world today are dependent on their phones and internet for information and communication. A lot of people suspected total listening capabilities and now we mostly know that's the case. But what if the NSA had total interference capabilities, as Snowden's quote implies? I suspect it does. I've been finding HN to be a hub for all the facets, ideas, and fallout from t…

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