DANGER LIST

Privacy.org: "The Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration Agency (TSA) disclosed that it amassed a secret database of air travelers who arrived at airports without a drivers license or passport. The database also includes information on the traveler's companions."

The collection of names into an official List is always cause for concern. While many people feel these things are created without much purpose, this is almost always not the case: the purpose is to remember who was where, and under what conditions. So they can decide what to do with you... later.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS PROPERTY

Again, from Slashdot:

It seems that authorities in Massachusetts have raided a home chemistry lab, apparently without a warrant, and made off with all of its contents. Here's the local article from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

Reactions to things like this tend to range from amusement to outrage. There is a reason for events like this -- always remember: the Government can take anything away from you at any time.

(And we also wonder if those guys from the Hacker Crackdown ever got their stuff back.)

NETWORK WATCHING YOU

A company called BBN Technologies has received a $4,400,000 contract to build advanced network monitoring technology for the military. At least, that's what they're saying now.

The contract is probably legit, and the claim that the technology will be used to counter cyber-attacks against the U.S. military may be true, but keep in mind: as badly as different government agencies are at working together, technology is like a genie in a bottle. Advanced network monitoring tech is no doubt in use at other agencies currently tasked with surveillancing U.S. citizens, but whenever improvements come along, they are usually greedily adopted.

From Slashdot.

ONE MORE THING

One more thing about the TSA laptop search program. Critics keep suggesting that it's not very well thought out, since anyone who wants to sent dangerous information into the United States could just use the Internet to do so. But, as the motto around here says: Never attribute to stupidity what can be blamed on malice.

It is important to the authorities that they be perceived as stupid and ineffective by the mass population. That way, they can do what they like but still hide their sinister motives behind a smokescreen of idiocy. If we assume a basic level of competence at the TSA's decisionmaking level, then we can make some educated guesses about the laptop seizure program:

Case 1: If the stated goal of the laptop program is true, the senders and receivers of dangerous information either can not or will not use the Internet to send certain types of information. The only reason for that is that they are afraid the information will be captured. Which means that there is a high likelihood that your traffic is being captured.

Case 2: The stated goal is a smokescreen. They are looking for something else. But what? Something that isn't likely to be transferred over the Internet (or by FedEx, for that matter). Something that people are likely to carry, but is not available in any government database. It could be that they simply want to have a look around, just to see what kind of stuff people keep on their hard drives, and arresting any low-hanging fruits (stumbled-upon illicit pornography, for example).

We just can't be sure: What are they looking for?

Another question: What are they leaving behind?

BELATED PARANOIA

The fact that the TSA can seize any American citizen's laptop for any reason, indefinitely, could have repercussions for all Internet data transactions that enter or leave the country as well. So says Steven M. Bellovin.

Could have? This surveillance is already happening.

Internet traffic is aggregated at hundreds of different choke points as it makes its way from your computer to the remote servers you're trying to access. If China can filter all of the Internet traffic that enters their country, then you must concede that it is at least possible for another country to monitor their own.

The U.S.A. does not necessarily filter its net traffic. The strategy, as ever, is to give people enough rope to hang themselves. This is what they are doing, and probably have been doing for years. Without a doubt, every page you've looked at and every email you've sent or received, is archived in some giant data store somewhere.

Or do you think it's a coincidence that storage, and search technology are two of the fastest growing segments of the IT sector?

OH DEAR

We've tried to warn you.

You didn't listen.

So, we've come back. To protect your precious freedom by scaring the stuffing out of you.

Good luck, America.