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NSA taps in to user data of Facebook, Apple, Google and others

MrJim

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For our security....:o

NSA taps in to user data of Facebook, Apple, Google and others, secret files reveal | World news | The Guardian

Some of the world's largest internet brands are claimed to be part of the information-sharing program since its introduction in 2007. Microsoft – which is currently running an advertising campaign with the slogan "Your privacy is our priority" – was the first, with collection beginning in December 2007.

It was followed by Yahoo in 2008; Google, Facebook and PalTalk in 2009; YouTube in 2010; Skype and AOL in 2011; and finally Apple, which joined the program in 2012. The program is continuing to expand, with other providers due to come online.
 

NiobiumTragedy

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It makes me wonder exactly how much of this "secure computing" is actually just a placebo. For instance, Tor browser, which is supposedly one of the most secure browsers you can use for protecting your browsing habits, was developed by the US Navy.

The people you want to keep tabs on will most always be the ones who try to hide what they are doing. What better way than to give a false sense of security that "this browser will hide everything" when it actually could be sending data directly to the source. Has anyone ever actually seen the code or tested the browser to make sure it functions as they say it does or are people taking their word for it?
 
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Mazzaroth

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HTG Explains: Is Tor Really Anonymous and Secure?

Also, there's no reason to deem citizens that believe the government should not be allowed to breech their privacy as "suspicious peoples". That kind of mentality is all too reminiscent of Bush's ignorant "... you're either with us or you're with the terrorists" statement. You are correct, however, that such people will inescapably be the ones that the Watchers target. However, I sincerely and wholeheartedly believe that the independent networks developing this kind of software (whether initially inspired from military projects or not) are highly underestimated.

Just because a little kid doesn't know how to use a fork doesn't mean the fork is an invalid tool. Unfortunately if you're looking for better "Faraday technologies" for lack of a better term it will be quite the journey to find them.

In Ocarina of time, Link couldn't enter the forest temple until he aquired the longshot. :D
 
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TangoSprite

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I'm glad I don't subscribe to any of those. And I haven't even heard of Prism before now.

Pretty soon the combination of paranoia and real concern for real security issues will cause more and more people to disconnect from the net all together.
Of course, we're still able to be tracked with our cell phones, many of our credit and even debit cards, and certainly the TomTom and GPS, like OnStar, that's in our cars. Cable companies are even offering home security programs that will actually allow them to survey your home visually and by audio feed. And of course OnStar can listen in on your conversations and completely control your vehicle including locking you in when you have automatic locks.

Not to mention if we're technology free there are satellites that can access big brother camera's that are appearing more frequently across the globe, and find us using facial ID software.

Which is why many States are slowly writing new laws prohibiting facial expressions in photo ID's, like drivers license and State ID cards and Passports, because when a person smiles it throws off the facial plane markers and makes it harder for the software to identify someone.
This is why some people buy cotton tubes, like the wadding Dentists put between your cheek and gum after oral surgery, etc... and shift their jaw to one side, especially easy if you have TMJ, when they're getting official photos taken. That presets the planes markers so that when you remove those wads and realign your jaw the markers will strike differently when you're out and about.

Like they say it isn't paranoia when they pass laws to watch you and take you into custody without a warrant. It's legal reality! "Freedom!" Is past tense.
 
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paul1149

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Pretty soon the combination of paranoia and real concern for real security issues will cause more and more people to disconnect from the net all together.
I think one very significant consequence of all this, as a part of the general direction things have been going for some time, is that people are going to disconnect from each other. We've seen an astounding increase in coarseness in entertainment, politics and general conversation, and with it a corresponding increase in lawlessness and crime. Police around here won't even do a routine traffic stop now without armor, and this has always been considered the sleepy suburbs. Some very wrenching changes are coming on us quickly, and the church needs to be ready to shine its light amidst them.

The techno side of things is truly becoming ominous. I understand MS's new Kinnect, which requires being on at least once a day, can sense activity and even eye movements in a room. It's hard to separate fact from fiction entirely, but this is certainly the direction we're headed in, and something we're not far from.
 
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pgp_protector

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It makes me wonder exactly how much of this "secure computing" is actually just a placebo. For instance, Tor browser, which is supposedly one of the most secure browsers you can use for protecting your browsing habits, was developed by the US Navy.

The people you want to keep tabs on will most always be the ones who try to hide what they are doing. What better way than to give a false sense of security that "this browser will hide everything" when it actually could be sending data directly to the source. Has anyone ever actually seen the code or tested the browser to make sure it functions as they say it does or are people taking their word for it?

SourceForge Project with Source Code for your viewing.

TorBrowser with Onion Router | Free software downloads at SourceForge.net

Tor itself
https://www.torproject.org/download/download
Source Code Link
https://www.torproject.org/dist/tor-0.2.3.25.tar.gz

So Umm Yes quite a few people have seen & gone through the Source Code.
 
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EphesiaNZ

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EphesiaNZ

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It makes me wonder exactly how much of this "secure computing" is actually just a placebo.

The only thing that's secure about "Secure Computing" is the word "Secure" itself - nothing is secure. If you use TOR can you be certain that the nodes your information goes through are not secretly under control of a government agency?

Perhaps BBS's will become popular again :)
 
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Cachook

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The only people who are complaining about this are the ones with something to hide...

The trouble with this statement is sheer ignorance. Do you want the NSA knowing you are going to have lunch with a friend or have a Tuesday doctor's appointment at ten-thirty? What reason does the NSA have need of that information? Think for a second and realize this is not about "national security", but about monitoring Americans. Welcome to the Socialist States of Amerika.
 
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QueSi

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Cachook said:
The trouble with this statement is sheer ignorance. Do you want the NSA knowing you are going to have lunch with a friend or have a Tuesday doctor's appointment at ten-thirty? What reason does the NSA have need of that information? Think for a second and realize this is not about "national security", but about monitoring Americans. Welcome to the Socialist States of Amerika.

I don't care if the NSA knows about my appointments or plans. The NSA "needs" that information because they are not singling me out, nor you, nor anyone...but they look at everyone because anyone can be planning something potentially horrific. By the way, I held a Top Secret Security Clearance for 5 years and I have figured since I got out that they might be watching everything I've been doing and since I'm not planning anything that they would be interested in...I'm not worried about it. They can listen to all my phone calls, read all my emails, check all my updates, etc because I have nothing to hide from them. If reading everyone's emails, listening to everyone's phone calls and checking everyone's updates prevents even one death\ murder then its well worth it to me. So listen away NSA...I've got nothing to hide!
 
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