If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA? • Hacker News Board

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#21

Post by gridmaths » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:22 AM UTC

adventured wrote: post #10

And so it begins, the assault on Snowden, his character, his qualifications, etc.

Indeed.. and this guy will be crucified, for basically doing the right thing.

Such is the projection of American military power that his credit card and bank account will already be locked down, on grounds that he is a 'terrorist', regardless of which country he flees to.

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#22

Post by georgemcbay » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:22 AM UTC

Not a big fan of the reasons we are supposedly not supposed to trust Snowden specifically, but the question remains a powerful one in the sense that if you can't ensure that the data and systems you're using for something this powerful can remain secure from the actions of any single person, then you have a huge problem.

I've worked at companies where the secrets behind our app signing key are held to a higher standard than being entrusted to the care of any single entity. Even ignoring how you feel about whether the PRISM system is good or bad, shouldn't we expect the NSA to have better security policies, given the huge scope of abuse these systems could allow?

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#23

Post by BCM43 » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:23 AM UTC

codex wrote: post #6

Having access to a PowerPoint about a system ("metadata") is not exactly the same as having access to the data itself.

Listen to the interview with him, he says he had access to the data.

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#24

Post by saosebastiao » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:25 AM UTC

jongraehl wrote: post #15

The author is full of stupid snark. Clearly Snowden is an exceptional individual; learning that he used to be a janitor, or whatever, shouldn't cause us to throw away all the evidence we have about him and double-take "they promoted a janitor ?". Perhaps the quality of his work matched his obviously high character, regardless of his initial lack of formal credential. This is IT we're talking about - classes are a jok…

This was the revulsion I felt as I read this as well. I used to be a truck driver. I am no longer a truck driver. Absolutely nothing about where I was says anything about who I am, how qualified I am to be who I am, nor where I am going. Lets not forget a previous owner of Slate, MSN...founded by the richest college dropout in the world.

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#25

Post by gkoberger » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:28 AM UTC

I don't think Slate is trying to crucify Edward Snowden. I think it was more "If a high school dropout with basic computer skills can win this contract, imagine what a talented hacker with malicious intentions could do", and just happened to attack Snowden a bit too much.

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#26

Post by lawnchair_larry » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:30 AM UTC

dnautics wrote: post #5

EXACTLY. Not just this guy, but a contracting firm (BAH) in general? How did they get that bid?

There's a reason that over 900,000 security clearances are processed every year. The "defense" contracting industry is booming.

FYI, CISPA is specifically for an NSA program intended to expand collection and give immunity to everyone. The lobbying for it as well as the politicans who proposed it, are heavily funded by these defense contractors.

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#27

Post by malandrew » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:32 AM UTC

I expect this from some news sources such as CNN, but not from Slate and definitely not from Farhad Manjoo.

Why can't we celebrate him for having the moral character to have done the right thing instead of assault his character.

A college dropout that did the right thing by whistleblowing is 1000x better to have in this World than an MIT, Stanford or Harvard graduate who is working at the NSA or CIA being enabling or at least complicit in programs.

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#28

Post by gridmaths » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:32 AM UTC

dnautics wrote: post #5

EXACTLY. Not just this guy, but a contracting firm (BAH) in general? How did they get that bid?

Follow the Money.

This is a big part of the problem, the massive .mil budgets go to commercial contractors, who in turn support party candidates by donation. Its an incestuous positive feedback loop.

see Lessigs video talk on "LesterLand".

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#29

Post by krakensden » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:47 AM UTC

jongraehl wrote: post #15

The author is full of stupid snark. Clearly Snowden is an exceptional individual; learning that he used to be a janitor, or whatever, shouldn't cause us to throw away all the evidence we have about him and double-take "they promoted a janitor ?". Perhaps the quality of his work matched his obviously high character, regardless of his initial lack of formal credential. This is IT we're talking about - classes are a jok…

Note the author- essentially everything he writes is like this.

Re: If the NSA Trusted Edward Snowden With Our Data, Why Should We Trust the NSA?

#30

Post by ritchiea » Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:50 AM UTC

All of the comments taking umbrage that the article isn't celebrating Snowden's character are missing the point. While it is entirely possible that he was qualified or even overqualified for the position he had at Booz Allen Hamilton, nothing in his resume suggests that which raises the question who else has access to sensitive data and secrets? The answer could be that Snowden was an exceptional individual and that's how he got to where he was, but it could also be that the government is terrible at hiring and granting security clearance and there are a lot of terrible individuals with access to secrets & sensitive data and Snowden just happened to be a standout.