<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA"]]>

<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/54.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/08/researchers-say-tor-targeted-malware-phoned-home-to-nsa/

Malware planted on the servers of Freedom Hosting—the "hidden service" hosting provider on the Tor anonymized network brought down late last week—may have de-anonymized visitors to the sites running on that service. This issue could send identifying information about site visitors to an Internet Protocol address that was hard-coded into the script the malware injected into browsers. And it appears the IP address in question belongs to the National Security Agency (NSA).

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919522.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919522.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919532.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919532.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Frazzled wrote:
Can you covert what you just said to English for the non-nerd?

Your spying on people again, And got caught, again

Automatically Appended Next Post:
National security agency hack firefox
http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/08/attackers-wield-firefox-exploit-to-uncloak-anonymous-tor-users/

Risk Assessment / Security & Hacktivism
Attackers wield Firefox exploit to uncloak anonymous Tor users
Publicly available exploit threatens all Tor users unless they take action now.

by Dan Goodin - Aug 5 2013, 6:02pm GMTST

Attackers exploited a recently patched vulnerability in the Firefox browser to uncloak users of the Tor anonymity service, and the attack code is now publicly circulating online. While the exploit was most likely designed to identify people alleged to have frequented a child porn forum recently targeted by the FBI, anonymity advocates say the code could be used against almost any Tor user.

A piece of malicious JavaScript was found embedded in webpages delivered by Freedom Hosting, a provider of "hidden services" that are available only to people surfing anonymously through Tor. The attack code exploited a memory-management vulnerability, forcing Firefox to send a unique identifier to a third-party server using a public IP address that can be linked back to the person's ISP. The exploit contained several hallmarks of professional malware development, including "heap spraying" techniques to bypass Windows security protections and the loading of executable code that prompted compromised machines to send the identifying information to a server located in Virginia, according to an analysis by researcher Vlad Tsrklevich.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919542.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919542.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919614.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919614.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Ouze wrote:
I've had my doubts that TOR was ever really anonymous anyway... and, frankly, serious concerns that such a network is actually in the best interests of our society.

Yeah... TOR or other sites like that...

Anonymonity ain't their strong suits.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919620.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919620.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Ouze wrote:
I've had my doubts that TOR was ever really anonymous anyway... and, frankly, serious concerns that such a network is actually in the best interests of our society.

Lets make it clear there is no anonymity on the internet unless you use a third party computer. ISP can always be traced, by someone its just that the tools to do so are not widely distributed and agencies able to do so might not share enough data to complete the path.
But essentially if you are on the net you can be found, however if the keyboard you type on isnt directly linked to you and its environment is not directly monitored your anonymity can be recovered, but that isn't anonymity of the internet, it's an unlabeled physical location.

This has been true for a long while, the only difference is that now after recent exposes we can reasonable claim this to be true without running into dismissive blanket claims if tinfoil hat paranoia.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919640.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919640.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Frazzled wrote:
Can you covert what you just said to English for the non-nerd?

There's software that's been developed to give you anonymity. It's the closest thing to true anonymity you can currently get. Effectively everyone running it appears to be using the internet connections of everyone else on it currently, so you can't determine who is doing what from where. The NSA has compromised one of the providers for such software, allowing them to find out what was done through that provider.

In one way, this is a good thing, as it was a vector for child porn, and was done as part of a child porn investigation.
On the other hand, that's all you have to say to make this a good thing.

More interesting still, this is what it took to find people through Tor.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919689.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919689.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA this.

While I am glad that he might go to jail, I have to wonder - what is the probable cause? Because I have to imagine any evidence that was gathered by surreptitiously by injected malware by an agency with no purview for domestic law enforcement is going to be classic fruit of the poison tree. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919759.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919759.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Ouze wrote:
Because I have to imagine any evidence that was gathered by surreptitiously by injected malware by an agency with no purview for domestic law enforcement is going to be classic fruit of the poison tree.

Well, there's this: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/544310.page

For what it's worth, I was personally assured by Kan himself that its use is legitimate.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919767.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919767.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA need a reason to knock on this door". ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919852.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919852.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
But why does the NSA get caught. If some little tyke can do it, and get away scott free.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919864.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919864.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919870.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919870.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Ouze wrote:
I don't understand your post. Are you saying it should be OK for the NSA to break electronic surveillence statutes because other criminals also do so, or what?

No I am saying, are they incompetent ? ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919895.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919895.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919936.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919936.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919970.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5919970.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
After all, it would be weird for the government to not be spying on people.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921010.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921010.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
The ends justify the means here, honestly. I don't care what country leads the charge.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921129.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921129.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Monster Rain wrote:
Tor and networks like it should not exist.

If you aren't guilty than you don't need privacy?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921173.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921173.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
selling back gates to his OS to the feds

at one time EVERY company in the world ran Microsoft, most still do]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921198.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921198.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921362.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921362.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

I get that this piece of malware was used in a "righteous" manner (taking down kiddie porn), and I think that many people would be OK with it, if it's use was literally kept to those sorts of instances, however we all know the US government cannot keeps it's grubby mitts away from things it shouldnt be touching.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921597.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5921597.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Just a question, for those unwilling/unable to find much... What are these "tor" networks?

I get that this piece of malware was used in a "righteous" manner (taking down kiddie porn), and I think that many people would be OK with it, if it's use was literally kept to those sorts of instances, however we all know the US government cannot keeps it's grubby mitts away from things it shouldnt be touching.

There is pretty much no legitimate reason whatsoever that anyone would need an IP mask.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922140.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922140.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
Whats the legitimate reason for anyone to NOT have an IP mask?*

*Frazzled doesn't have one. Frazzled still working on latest in rotary phone technology.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922251.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922251.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Kanluwen wrote:
There is pretty much no legitimate reason whatsoever that anyone would need an IP mask.

Maybe not in the US.

I can think of a number of countries where saying things that you and I take for granted can lead to prison time or execution where a reasonably secure form of anonymity would be highly desirable.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922263.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922263.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Kanluwen wrote:

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Just a question, for those unwilling/unable to find much... What are these "tor" networks?

I get that this piece of malware was used in a "righteous" manner (taking down kiddie porn), and I think that many people would be OK with it, if it's use was literally kept to those sorts of instances, however we all know the US government cannot keeps it's grubby mitts away from things it shouldnt be touching.

There is pretty much no legitimate reason whatsoever that anyone would need an IP mask.

Or, more likely, that's not how the world actually works: http://mashable.com/2011/04/01/tor-free-software-award/

In Iran, political dissent before, during and after the 2009 election caused a firestorm on Twitter and Facebook; as a result, the government began censoring many apps and sites. The Tor Project allowed users to bypass the blocks and access the web apps they needed to continue to organize.

And in Egypt and other countries in North Africa and the Middle East, a couple months of steady political unrest has been punctuated by periods of site-specific blocks and even total Internet blackouts. Once again, Tor was instrumental for continuing to allow many users to access the web, where they communicated internally and externally and rallied for change.

Not all laws are good. Not all rulers are just.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922271.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922271.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

daedalus wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:
Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Just a question, for those unwilling/unable to find much... What are these "tor" networks?

I get that this piece of malware was used in a "righteous" manner (taking down kiddie porn), and I think that many people would be OK with it, if it's use was literally kept to those sorts of instances, however we all know the US government cannot keeps it's grubby mitts away from things it shouldnt be touching.

There is pretty much no legitimate reason whatsoever that anyone would need an IP mask.

Or, more likely, that's not how the world actually works: http://mashable.com/2011/04/01/tor-free-software-award/

In Iran, political dissent before, during and after the 2009 election caused a firestorm on Twitter and Facebook; as a result, the government began censoring many apps and sites. The Tor Project allowed users to bypass the blocks and access the web apps they needed to continue to organize.

And in Egypt and other countries in North Africa and the Middle East, a couple months of steady political unrest has been punctuated by periods of site-specific blocks and even total Internet blackouts. Once again, Tor was instrumental for continuing to allow many users to access the web, where they communicated internally and externally and rallied for change.

Not all laws are good. Not all rulers are just.

How many posters on Dakka are from Iran or Egypt?

When one of them speaks up, I'll change my statement. As it stands my statement applies to individuals posting on Dakka, not the world at large.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922302.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922302.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
And as Americans are so fond of their guns - why do they need to have them when gun crimes aren't as bad as some 3rd world war zone? Why doesn't the government take them all off them since they obviously don't need them since they are prefectly safe and have no reason to have them.

Protections exist under law, regardless of how much that protection is required on a day to day basis. If it is legal to mask your IP/etc, you should be free to do so even if all you are doing is browsing Dakka. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922357.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922357.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
It is the reasoning as to why you would need to do so in a country where you are not, in fact, being oppressed or taken away for voicing your opinions.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922387.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922387.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Kanluwen wrote:

How many posters on Dakka are from Iran or Egypt?

When one of them speaks up, I'll change my statement. As it stands my statement applies to individuals posting on Dakka, not the world at large.

Shifting goalposts. Always, the shifting goalposts.

Here's one: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/user/profile/57245.page

0 posts though.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922406.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922406.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

SilverMK2 wrote:
So, hacking is OK if it is the government doing it?

Nope, not without a warrant. Unless its a feren devil site of course. Then its fine, especially if I get cash for it. Or at least a nice cake.

And as Americans are so fond of their guns - why do they need to have them when gun crimes aren't as bad as some 3rd world war zone? Why doesn't the government take them all off them since they obviously don't need them since they are prefectly safe and have no reason to have them.

WO WO WO Klingon back the freaight train up. kanluwen might agree with you on this but thats wrong too.

Protections exist under law, regardless of how much that protection is required on a day to day basis. If it is legal to mask your IP/etc, you should be free to do so even if all you are doing is browsing Dakka.

Welcome to the Libertarian Party. Your ACLU card is in the mail.
Now that I think about it, I don't know if I ever did get a membership card from the ACLU. Mmm..

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Kanluwen wrote:
The legalities of masking your IP, etc is not what is being questioned here.

It is the reasoning as to why you would need to do so in a country where you are not, in fact, being oppressed or taken away for voicing your opinions.

Why do they need a reason? ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922409.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922409.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922442.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922442.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Kanluwen wrote:
The legalities of masking your IP, etc is not what is being questioned here.

It is the reasoning as to why you would need to do so in a country where you are not, in fact, being oppressed or taken away for voicing your opinions.

This is the fundamental impasse that people like you can never understand. There's just no reconciling it. You're just not the kind of person who would understand. Too lawful neutral.

The reasoning is along these lines: Just because one is being lawful does not mean that one wishes to be under the microscope at all times. What I do legally today may not be legal tomorrow. Alternatively, what I do today, though legal, might if made public cost me a job opportunity, relationships, or whatever in the future.

And you have to know, corporations and governments get compromised all the time. Credit card numbers, social security numbers, passwords, internal information, all of that stuff gets leaked on a very frequent basis. Would you be comfortable with the public knowing your browsing history? I wouldn't, and I don't think that's a bad thing.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922466.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922466.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Kanluwen wrote:
If you are utilizing an IP anonymizer I can pretty much guarantee you are not using it to browse Dakka.

And?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

daedalus wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:
The legalities of masking your IP, etc is not what is being questioned here.

It is the reasoning as to why you would need to do so in a country where you are not, in fact, being oppressed or taken away for voicing your opinions.

This is the fundamental impasse that people like you can never understand. There's just no reconciling it. You're just not the kind of person who would understand. Too lawful neutral.

The reasoning is along these lines: Just because one is being lawful does not mean that one wishes to be under the microscope at all times. What I do legally today may not be legal tomorrow. Alternatively, what I do today, though legal, might if made public cost me a job opportunity, relationships, or whatever in the future.

And you have to know, corporations and governments get compromised all the time. Credit card numbers, social security numbers, passwords, internal information, all of that stuff gets leaked on a very frequent basis. Would you be comfortable with the public knowing your browsing history? I wouldn't, and I don't think that's a bad thing.

Agreed.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922526.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922526.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

daedalus wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:
The legalities of masking your IP, etc is not what is being questioned here.

It is the reasoning as to why you would need to do so in a country where you are not, in fact, being oppressed or taken away for voicing your opinions.

Speaking as someone who has had their credit card number stolen, I can tell you that an IP anonymizer would have done nothing to alter that.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922619.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922619.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Kanluwen wrote:

Speaking as someone who has had their credit card number stolen, I can tell you that an IP anonymizer would have done nothing to alter that.

...right. I'm not trying to say "IP anonymity will stop credit card theft." I'm trying to say "If you can steal credit card numbers from a server, you can steal browsing history from a server too."

IP anonymity does do a good job toward making the browsing history nonexistent or at least certainly incomplete.
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922659.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922659.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

daedalus wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:

Speaking as someone who has had their credit card number stolen, I can tell you that an IP anonymizer would have done nothing to alter that.

Talk about shifting goalposts, eh?

IP anonymity through third party services will do a great job at that...until those third party services are compromised.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922667.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922667.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922684.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922684.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Kanluwen wrote:

Talk about shifting goalposts, eh?

IP anonymity through third party services will do a great job at that...until those third party services are compromised.

Security and subterfuge have always been arms races. We've known that since WW2, maybe longer.

The concept behind Tor is sound, but when you have so many infected clients, it becomes less effective. Part of the problem is that the technology that the Internet was built on was never designed with privacy or security in mind.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922737.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922737.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA so conflicted over it though, but this is the side of the fence I'm going to slip off of.

I think we should have very robust roadblocks to the state being able to surveil it's citizens. I think the burden of proof to get a wiretapping warrant should be very high, and my posting history on Dakka will bear out that I'm never in favor of warrantless searches.

But I also think as a functional society, the state needs to be able to, after justifying it to the judicial branch, surveil it's citizens to the extent that the populace desires, as applied via their political power (voting for elected officials). I'm not in favor of communications that the state can never intercept, ever, regardless of how justified it is.

I get the oppressed peoples argument, I do. It's a compelling argument, but for me at least, I think not compelling enough. Of course I'm a citizen of the United States, so I'm enormously biased to think that the justice system in my country will usually work, and that freedom will usually prevail.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922785.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5922785.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Frazzled wrote:

SilverMK2 wrote:
And as Americans are so fond of their guns - why do they need to have them when gun crimes aren't as bad as some 3rd world war zone? Why doesn't the government take them all off them since they obviously don't need them since they are prefectly safe and have no reason to have them.

WO WO WO Klingon back the freaight train up. kanluwen might agree with you on this but thats wrong too.

That was my point, don't worry

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923033.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923033.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923071.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923071.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

daedalus wrote:

IP anonymity does do a good job toward making the browsing history nonexistent or at least certainly incomplete.

Except that, unless you are browsing in proxy, through a server, your browsing history exists solely on your own machine... Which is where things like malware and spyware come in.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923178.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923178.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Ensis Ferrae wrote:

daedalus wrote:

IP anonymity does do a good job toward making the browsing history nonexistent or at least certainly incomplete.

Except that, unless you are browsing in proxy, through a server, your browsing history exists solely on your own machine...

Well, not quite. You can do real-time TCP packet disassembly and parse for http requests at any hop between you and your destination.

This is from my local linux workstation, but there's no reason why I couldn't have lifted this from any hop along the route.

Spoiler:

Even knows what browser I'm on.

Which is where things like malware and spyware come in.

When you can't compromise the home router or the local ISP, yes.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923304.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923304.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA MA BRAINZ!!!

Quick find me some kids I can yell at to get off my lawn!

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923371.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923371.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Frazzled wrote:
TECHIE TALK HURTIN MA BRAINZ!!!

Quick find me some kids I can yell at to get off my lawn!

*whembly hands Frazzled a bowl of queso and a bag o' chips*

There, there now... what were you saying?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923442.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923442.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA mmm....queso....]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923758.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5923758.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Ouze wrote:
But I also think as a functional society, the state needs to be able to, after justifying it to the judicial branch, surveil it's citizens to the extent that the populace desires, as applied via their political power (voting for elected officials). I'm not in favor of communications that the state can never intercept, ever, regardless of how justified it is.

Except this is just wishful thinking. The technology will always exist to have communication that is impossible to intercept (at least without waiting more than the expected lifespan of everyone involved to brute force the encryption) and there's nothing you can do about it. Making that technology illegal doesn't stop people from using it in the process of committing the kind of crimes that justify the state breaking into their communications. After all, if you're a terrorist planning to murder hundreds or thousands of people do you really care about the possibility of getting a few years added to your billion-year prison sentence for using illegal privacy technology?

All this kind of attitude really does is prevent the average person from having any privacy online. And TBH, given our government's contempt for the law once the magic words "terrorism" or "drugs" are mentioned I'd be quite happy if every single person in the US said

you to the government and locked away their entire online activity where the government could never get to it.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924047.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924047.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

All this kind of attitude really does is prevent the average person from having any privacy online.

The fallacy of this is that you don't really have any privacy online other than the privacy you imagine. You probably have a bunch of tracking cookies on your computer right now. Anyone data-mining the internet can find where you've gone and what you've done, and you're ISP knows every website you visit anyway.

Internet privacy is a myth.

Just last week someone linked a Wikipedia editor to child pron in three different countries with nothing more than an IP address. Nothing that any of us does on the internet is a secret against someone with the time to dig.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924194.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924194.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

LordofHats wrote:
You probably have a bunch of tracking cookies on your computer right now. Anyone data-mining the internet can find where you've gone and what you've done

Cookies do not work this way. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924485.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924485.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Ouze wrote:

LordofHats wrote:
You probably have a bunch of tracking cookies on your computer right now. Anyone data-mining the internet can find where you've gone and what you've done

Cookies do not work this way.

This...

Most likely, the only way someone can "data mine" your browsing activities is that they capture the transactions real-time. (ala, what PRISM does). Then retroactively map it out.

But, a software/malware on your computer "reporting" back to some central mothership is a LOT harder to do...

You'll notice that your internet provider themselves do NOT cache your browsing activity... they'll say that they're protecting your privacy, but the real reason is that they don't want to be hammered with subpena from the government or lawsuits.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924505.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924505.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA redirects you to the NSA page haha
itanimulli.com

CONSPIRACY!!
]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924517.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5924517.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

LordofHats wrote:
The fallacy of this is that you don't really have any privacy online other than the privacy you imagine. You probably have a bunch of tracking cookies on your computer right now. Anyone data-mining the internet can find where you've gone and what you've done, and you're ISP knows every website you visit anyway.

Sure, but that's because the average internet user doesn't make any effort to maintain their privacy. Which is helped by the idea that you only use privacy-maintaining tools if you have something (illegal) to hide, and that we should just trust the government with all of that data because only terrorists are afraid of the police. I would be quite happy if things changed so that, say, the next version of internet explorer automatically put everything through a TOR-like system, encrypted all of your email, wiped all of your cookies as soon as you leave the site, etc, and gave a giant

you to the government's ridiculous spying efforts.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5925342.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5925342.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Kanluwen wrote:
If you are utilizing an IP anonymizer I can pretty much guarantee you are not using it to browse Dakka.

Maybe you should be. Maybe it will save you from being the next Justin Carter, locked up in jail for months because some puritan busybody decides to make your life hell and the police are too stupid to recognise sarcasm even when explicitly labeled as such.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5926214.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5926214.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
If you were standing on the street yelling that you'd probably have legal issues as well. It's both sickening and amusing that he's being used as some sort of online free-speech martyr these days. It seems the fact that the internet isn't quite the vast, anonymous playground for maladjusted jerk-offs anymore isn't sitting well for some people.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5926732.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5926732.page GMT Re:Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
You can't yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater, but it would probably be ok to yell it at a park(legally anyway) as that will most likely not result in injury.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5926889.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5926889.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Monster Rain wrote:
Or you could not, you know, say the kinds of things he did around a bunch of strangers.

If you were standing on the street yelling that you'd probably have legal issues as well. It's both sickening and amusing that he's being used as some sort of online free-speech martyr these days. It seems the fact that the internet isn't quite the vast, anonymous playground for maladjusted jerk-offs anymore isn't sitting well for some people.

If your actions were even implicitly marked as fiction - such as if you were standing on a stage with other performers - it would be morally and legally wrong for the police to imprison you for making terroristic threats. Maybe they'd do it anyway, but that's because the US government has spent the last decade abusing 9/11 to act like petty little dictators.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928840.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928840.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA
What does that have to do with Justin Carter, exactly?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928864.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928864.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Monster Rain wrote:
Given the context in which I made that statment I have to ask:

What does that have to do with Justin Carter, exactly?

The same principle applies to both: you cannot legitimately be accused of making a terroristic threat if the context demonstrates to all but the most moronic viewer that you are merely playing a role. It's like saying Alan Rickman should be arrested for the things he said on set while filming Die Hard.

Justin Carter's post was explicitly labeled as a joke. If you're too stupid to recognise a joke even after they flat out tell you "This is a joke", you're too stupid to hold a worthwhile opinion, and you're too stupid to be a police officer.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928928.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928928.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928952.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928952.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Monster Rain wrote:
I guess in rebuttal I would say something along the lines of "If you are too stupid to see the difference between acting in a movie and trolling on Facebook you're too stupid to hold an opinion on the subject".

Of course there's a difference, but the facebook post was still obviously not a serious threat. Throwing him in jail for "terrorism" is just unbelievably stupid and/or malicious.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928959.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928959.page GMT Researchers say Tor-targeted malware phoned home to NSA

Carter was not arrested for trolling on Facebook, he was arrested for making a terroristic threat. Sarcasm explicitly labeled as a joke is not a terroristic threat, even on Facebook.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928965.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/544545/5928965.page GMT