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Jacob Appelbaum on How OSS Improves Cryptography

Posted by timothy on from the dangerous-most-dangerous dept.

destinyland writes "Jacob Appelbaum, the Tor Project's main advocate, argues that Open Source software is necessary 'to both verify and improve' available cryptography. (Adding 'We also need that to ensure that everyone has a reasonable baseline — which is part of the cypherpunk ethos.') In this new interview, he's critical of a general public silence over government encroachments on privacy, but points to the current impact of the Tor network now as something that 'runs, is open and is supported by a large community spread across all walks of life.' And he ultimately identifies Tor as 'part of an ecosystem of software that helps people regain and reclaim their autonomy,' saying the distributed anonymous network 'helps to enable people to have agency of all kinds; it helps others to help each other and it helps you to help yourself.'"

5 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. Till... by Synerg1y · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They make running or using a proxy illegal. They have the power to do that you know. Doing that technologically though, is a whole different beast.

    1. Re:Till... by postbigbang · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Tor might be an alternative, but the best way to deal with the issue is to attack the privacy problem, head on. The post claims that there is no general public outcry, and that claim is wrong. There's lots of outcry. There's no one bribing politicians-- and that's why every thing you do is tracked, and that tracking is for sale.

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    2. Re:Till... by elucido · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Tor might be an alternative, but the best way to deal with the issue is to attack the privacy problem, head on. The post claims that there is no general public outcry, and that claim is wrong. There's lots of outcry. There's no one bribing politicians-- and that's why every thing you do is tracked, and that tracking is for sale.

      Privacy is dead forever. Technological trends will render privacy dead no matter what laws you pass. Technology determines privacy not the law.

    3. Re:Till... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Privacy is only dead if you give it up right now. It's not dead yet. There are still people holding on to whatever bits of privacy are left (and there are some). You don't have to bring devices home with microphones in them or cameras. You can still get by without a cell phone. If you can't chances are you can simply turn it off when your not using it. It isn't a perfect solution although I work with someone who does exactly this. One of my employees isn't reachable while on the road. He does have a cell phone. It is always off unless he needs to make a call. His wife calls him at work when she needs to reach him. You can use Tor to get privacy online in areas that you may not wish to be known for looking or things you may not want others to know you partake in or otherwise believe/speak.

      In the real world privacy is largely dead. It is sad that the law doesn't prohibit hidden recording devices in public places. Where cameras might be absolutely necessary (high security instillations) there should be notices posted everywhere that one might be within the range of the camera.

  2. encroachments on privacy by Skapare · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In this new interview, he's critical of a general public silence over government encroachments on privacy

    That is an important issue. But what I see is an even greater silence over corporate encroachment on privacy. Left alone, I think corporations could cause even greater damage (in part because of it's huge influence on government). So this is where I focus my efforts. Things like big banks sharing out financial details ... just for profit.

    --
    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars