NSA classifies Linux Journal readers, Tor and Tails Linux users as "extremists"

[Guest]

"In carrying out its mission, NSA collects only what it is authorized by law to collect for valid foreign intelligence purposes".

And the trick, as people are starting to learn, is to craft progressively inclusive definitions of extremism.

...and the IRS is so concerned about the environment they recycle hard drives and re-use backup tapes.

 

[TheLastPanda]

I really REALLY want to get searches for tor/Tails trending. Brb, gotta open 20-30 tabs

 

[sdms96825]

I wonder when they will start ordering drone strikes on persons who are Tor users? These guys have simply lost their collective minds.

 

[23rdoc]

Look closely America. This administration is changing the relationship it has had with Americans and not for the better. This administration is snooping on you and if you do anything about it you are and enemy of the state. If you disagree you get audited, a visit from the ATF, from HHS, and from a myriad of any compliance or enforcement agencies at the governments disposal. How you liking hope and change now?

 

[Guest]

"Who are all these cowardly losers who are so paranoid of terrorists that they want to spy on every single man, woman, and child because they might be a terrorist."

it's your government..

 

[Guest]

Never mind keeping a log of all the phone numbers you call, and recording all your conversations, text messages and emails. Your phone's GPS can be used to track your every movement, and it can be remotely activated to be used as a listening device to record your personal conversations. Got a webcam on your PC of laptop? We're watching you. Yeah, you, stroking it while watching Japanese animation, we see you, and may we just say, "Gross!" Even better, got a new HDTV? Yep, we're watching you from different angles now. Sure, leave your phone at home while you go out on the town. Be sure to smile for all the cameras watching you and tracking you. But don't worry, "it's for your own safety."

Sure, we're a LONG way from those distopian futures.

 

[Guest]

They ONLY did that, because they are made that they have been labeled Douches by
the General public!!! What THEY need to realize, is that EXCUSES do NOT
work, when you are talking about violating the rights of the Citizens!!!
Nice try, but YOUR FIRED!!!

 

[Joeldt]

SO people who want to go to the old type of internet where the government can't snoop on them and they're extremists? I think the people spying on every Americans and passively collecting their data in case they need it in the name of security is pretty extreme. If the government doesn't want me using it then I am totally going to use. Shut the NSA down they don't stop terrorists they just snoop on their neighbors and have overstepped their bounds constitutionally. Gonna look at the weirdest crap on my chrome just because using it makes me a person of interest.

 

[Darth Shiv]

I dunno Guys... I mean, it is the NSA. They have an extremely important job to do. I'd rather they play unfair and find terrorists and criminals than respect everyone's "right to privacy". They don't publicly share or arrest people for most of the petty criminal things they found "illegally." Who else is going to protect us from Terrorists trying to blow **** up, spread disease or other. People trying to encrypt stuff online is kind of a joke anways rite? We have some people on the opposite end of the spectrum sharing their entire lives on facebook without a care in the world.. What is it that alot of these people are so desperate to hide with their encryption anyways? So many 'hackers' and sickos are just up to no good, using these tools for nefarious purposes. I know most of the world would rather stick their heads in the sand and let their neighbors continue to do whatever so long as it doesn't affect them.
All this Snowden controversy is such bullsqueeze anyways... all these shady mis-informed e-freaks trying to Martyr some douchenoggler that leaked information that puts our entire country at risk and makes us look bad, BOOO. Im sure we've all read enough books to fear a totalitarian state which watches our every move but we are a far cry from that right now. Screw the illusion of privacy, if everything and everyone was more transparent we could cut down on alot of crime and focus on more pressing threats.
So yeah, just had to play devils advocate, even though im a pretty private person myself, sry if that offends any of these "extremists", maybe some of those creepers/crazos should spend less time moulding tin foil hats and cleaning guns and hating on people who actually work to make us safe.

Everything you are saying shows how naive you are on the implications of what the NSA has done. What they have done is weaken encryption FOR EVERYBODY. That means the Chinese, Russians, American hackers ALL can do the same things the NSA can do. The damage is immense and while the NSA might not be doing a lot maliciously, a LOT of b other parties certainly can.

Do you honestly believe the NSA is the only party that abused the heartbleed bug?

Snowden has shown the net infrastructure has a lot of termites caused by the NSA. He IS a hero and once you get over your blind patriotism you may see them for what they are and have done.

 

[Guest]

You used some verbiage that makes me think you aren't even American... literal colloquialisms that shine your true origin. The NSA should have never been funded. When it was, it was funded without a vote (anti-democracy) and gave YOUR information to everyone. It is said that "If you have nothing to hide, why do you care?" Why don't you look back at Germany and the Gestapo to see, historically, why this is a big deal. Please do not be willfully ignorant to the abuse of power that is happening, right now. Learn some history, read a book or two, and you will see why people are "up in arms."

 

[DelJo63]

Hmm; We went through this in the '50s - - see McCarthyism

 

[DelJo63]

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Benjamin Franklin for the Pennsylvania Assembly - - 1755

 

[spectrenad]

What if, the NSA "leaks" were a way to get people to use "privacy" programs with backdoors? :O xD

 

[Guest]

All in accordance with legal oversight and in accordance with the law and due process..

Spying on OPEC and Petrobas is about Preventing Terrorism
Spying on Internet Users via there Own Web-Cam whilst they're naked on Yahoo isnt Pedophillia
Spying on Merkel is about National Security interest's unfortunately those are classified and refuse
to tell you the informed public including the party spied on what those actually are..

Nothing to see here, carrying on!

 

[Guest]

Amazing, considering most of the tech minds that created the NSA's computing capabilities probably read Linux Journal and, if they have any sense, they use privacy software too.

 

[Guest]

Well, in regards to encryption, it should be noted that in order to use any kind of encryption, that encryption algorithm has to be submitted to the NSA and approved for use by the NSA otherwise using it is a federal crime. That means that all the encryption services that are in use today already have the keys registered with the NSA. You really cannot hide anything on the internet. If you want to live without being watched, you need to stop using internet. Oh, probably should give up the cell phone too...

 

[Guest]

Hasn't the NSA been doing this far longer than the Obama Administration? I'm not an Obama apologist...just trying to understand history.

 

[DelJo63]

That means that all the encryption services that are in use today already have the keys registered with the NSA.

Not so. The MEANS to generate keys (ie the math) is registered, not the keys themselves. EG: PGP encryption takes any passphrase and generates a new pair of public and private keys.

It is also true, that PGP can be cracked given sufficient time and raw CPU compute power.

 

[Guest]

Sorta funny, nobody mentioned anything about Lunix or Irix, next they'll try to figure out who still knows LDOS/TRSDOS.

 

[Nobina]

Many people here say that it's ok as long as they are preventing another 9/11 or similar. I think it's just a really good way to fool people into thinking they are doing the right thing. All they do is related to spying their own citizens and since they are breaking the law it makes things even more shady. Terrorist organizations are not that stupid to communicate over the internet when they are planning another 9/11. I'd say they are just doing this to gain power and control over citizens. Ofcourse, I can be wrong but I doubt it.

Now NSA thinks I'm an extremist, oh my god I'm so terrified, I couldn't give less **** about what those fascists think of me.

 

[rberger]

First they came for the Whistleblowers, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Whistleblower.
Then they came for the Cryptographers, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Cryptographer.
Then they came for the Linux Users, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Linux Users.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

 

[treetops]

I have nothing to hide I don't care one bit how much they search my data. Unless your a treasonous swine or your hacking, you have nothing to worry about.

Every major first world country out there spies on everyone that they can, we just had a snitch. He has not even gave out everything he knows, hes milking the publicity. Slowly releasing info every 6 months or so.

 

[treetops]

No its not. I'd rather die in a terrorist attack than live like a caged animal with no freedom.

How are you living like a caged animal? The NSA has not arrested a single person that was not planning some kind of "terrorist" attack. I can't believe how naive people can be, you had to have snowden tell you the government was spying on you? really you couldn't figure that out on your own.


You know what is really annoying when they passed the patriot act and other intrusive bills no one cared. No one ever cares until it affects them personally.

It's not hard to figure out why some linux users are on a special list, if anything you should be flattered. They regard your capabilities in a higher category.

 

[davislane1]

The NSA has not arrested a single person that was not planning some kind of "terrorist" attack.

Are you as naive as you believe the people you're calling out to be, or just ignorant? The NSA, along with other organizations like the DHS, have adopted evolving definitions of the term "terrorism." Left to develop according to the historical pattern of every major Western empire in history, the definition of a terrorist and the perception of those in power of what constitutes a "terroristic plot" will expand indefinitely until people are locked up for the most absurd of alleged crimes.

If you can't see the danger of a demonstrably corrupt government using a demonstrably arbitrary term to justify its actions, you've been had harder than a 7/11 Counter Administrator driving a $500 Ferrari at Le Mans in the Caribbean on a ranch in Utah.

You know what is really annoying when they passed the patriot act and other intrusive bills no one cared. No one ever cares until it affects them personally.

What's more annoying is when they continue to expand their intrusion and people use the same damn argument that was used to justify the previous intrusions to justify the continuing overreach while simultaneously expressing their displeasure at those who previously used the argument to justify the preceding overreach. As far as irony goes, it seems with your post that we've graduated from vaporizing insects to slightly scorching the hair on the genitals of gorillas. If you NSA apologists keep trying to support your position with arguments as poorly constructed as this, I fear PETA would be wholly justified in launching a massive DDoS attack on Techspot to prevent further cruelty to animals.

 

[Guest]

The government is supposed to protect it's people. However, this government had information regarding the suspects in the 911 attacks and failed to act until afterwards. And every since that time, every action and decisions have been made out of fear syndrome and the erosion of constitutional rights. Why even have a constitution when you have a government that does whatever it wants anyway; government makes it up as they go along and creates it's own playbook or rules and procedures.

 

[MaverickZwov]

Better then letting another 911 happen.

Do you mean government bombing their own citizen?