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Bush Wants an Unhackable Private Network

Slur points out an article at the New York Times which says that the "Bush administration is considering the creation of a secure new government communications network separate from the Internet that would be less vulnerable to attack and efforts to disrupt critical federal activities," writing "It seems to me money would be better spent getting the next-generation Internet going, for the government to fund more of the existing research and standards boards to create protocols that are invulnerable to the kinds of attacks the government seems to fear, namely massive DOS attacks. Or is there something else a 'net terrorist' could do to 'disrupt the vital flow of information'?" Isn't hard-to-disrupt communication the reason that DARPA got involved in this "Internet" business anyhow? Update: 11/19 22:48 GMT by T : This was mentioned before a little while ago when USA Today wrote about the same concept, but apparently a Digital Pearl Harbor is still being flogged.

12 of 365 comments (clear)

  1. Great opportunity by ez76 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps in the spirit of bipartisan cooperation, he could contract Al Gore to invent one?

  2. I want the opposite... by aozilla · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bush administration is considering the creation of a secure new government communications network separate from the Internet that would be less vulnerable to attack and efforts to disrupt critical federal activities.

    That's funny, I've always wanted the creation of an insecure anonymous non-government communications network separate (or on top of) the Internet that would be less vulnerable to efforts to regulate non-critical non-federal activities.

    --
    ok then your [sic] infringing on my copyright! Could you as [sic] me next time before STEALING my comments for your own?
  3. Re:Already exist by kin_korn_karn · · Score: 3, Funny

    and can interface with the TROJAN network.

    It's definitely much safer to input and output if you're interfacing with TROJAN :)

  4. Fear the Backhoe by The+Dev · · Score: 5, Funny

    If the current telco and internet infrastructure is any example, their efforts will do no good. A dozen terrorists with rented (or commandeered) backhoes in select locations could cause massive disruptions in the Internet (and therefore the economy). Miss Utility could even be an unwitting accomplice.

    Don't even start with "physical diversity blah blah blah". The fact that your physically diverse circuits aren't has been proven time and again by the mighty backhoe/flaming hazmat car/junior achiever.

    Of course some improvements to BGP wouldn't hurt either.

  5. Re:Grow up, Georgie by dougmc · · Score: 4, Funny
    Feel free to hack into my home network. It's IP range is 192.168.0.1 - 192.168.0.13.
    Already done. My login and password are so ubitquious that they work on these systems as well!

    Alas, they don't seem to have any mp3s or warez that I don't already have. Bummer.

  6. Al Gore by Tom7 · · Score: 3, Funny


    Somehow this whole discussion would be a lot funnier if it was Al Gore saying that he wanted his own private internet.

  7. newscast from the future by fearboy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Turning to other news tonight, new reports on the status of Unhack-a-Net, originally proposed by former President Bush, indicate the test servers were actually transmitting gps information to would-be hackers, indicating their course and heading.

    And in an ironic turn of events, an undisclosed number of people were arrested in nationwide raids following the most recent round of Unhack-a-Net testing, on charges of using illegal circumvention devices. Officials close to the case described the devices as 'Garmin eTrexes.' The official hinted at prosecution under the SSCA (Super-Secret Copyright Act), the details of which are still classified.

    One detainee was overheard saying, "But...we're beta testers! You know, Unhack-a-Net!"

    SSCA was signed into law in 2003, following the terrorist threats to the music and film industry. Those attacks came in the form of the thirteen year-old son of a record company exectuve, who crashed his father's Windows 2000 computer one night. Under the terms of the MASTA (Microsoft Antihacking, Security, and Terror Act), the child was sentenced to a prison term, but President Ashcroft felt greater protection was needed for America's vital interests.

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    every good .sig i have is stolen.
  8. Re:Sign Says "Hack Here" by Slipped_Disk · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can't resist:

    >The traffic between data centers is encrypted with
    >proprietary DoD software.

    mail president@securenet.gov -s "SuperSecret Stuff" `rot13 secrets`

    :)

    --
    /~mikeg
  9. Re:Already exist by tcc · · Score: 3, Funny

    >Bush may not know it, but these already exist in the form of SIPRNET, and INTELNET.
    >SIPRNET
    >SECRET INTERNET PROTOCOL ROUTER NETWORK

    Ok It's a secret, Shhhhh! only you and 2,000,000 more readers now knows about it :)

    --
    --- Metamoderating abusive downgraders since my 300th post.
  10. Re:Sign Says "Hack Here" by eudas · · Score: 2, Funny

    yeah, well, that's the idea...

    put all your eggs in one basket... and then WATCH THAT BASKET!!!

    eudas

    --
    Blessed is he who expects the worst, for he shall not be disappointed.
  11. Bush administration / Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Given the Bush administrations obvious love affair with Microsoft, I hope he makes his secure network entirely out of Windows machines.

  12. Re:Republicans Against Strong Federal Government? by Legion303 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Fortunately, we have other choices.

    Hahahahahahahahahahaha. That's rich. Oops, no pun intended.

    -Legion