Keeping Your Data Private From the NSA (And Everyone Else)

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Keeping Your Data Private From the NSA (And Everyone Else)

Posted by Unknown on Wednesday June 12, 2013 @04:50AM from the secret-nsa-quantum-computer-knows-all dept.

Nerval's Lobster writes "If those newspaper reports are accurate, the NSA's surveillance programs are enormous and sophisticated, and rely on the latest in analytics software. In the face of that, is there any way to keep your communications truly private? Or should you resign yourself to saying or typing, 'Hi, NSA!' every time you make a phone call or send an email? Fortunately there are ways to gain a measure of security: HTTPS, Tor, SCP, SFTP, and the vendors who build software on top of those protocols. But those host-proof solutions offer security in exchange for some measure of inconvenience. If you lose your access credentials, you're likely toast: few highly secure services include a 'Forgot Your Password?' link, which can be easily engineered to reset a password and username without the account owner's knowledge. And while 'big' providers like Google provide some degree of encryption, they may give up user data in response to a court order. Also, all the privacy software in the world also can't prevent the NSA (or other entities) from capturing metadata and other information. What do you think is the best way to keep your data locked down? Or do you think it's all a lost cause?"

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I hide my data in big wheels of cheese by For+a+Free+Internet · 2013-06-12 04:51 · Score: 4, Funny

It stinks, but I can see if anyone's been intruding. So far it is totally secure.

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1. Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese by Beavertank · 2013-06-12 04:59 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Until someone develops a data weevil to burrow into all cheese-based encryption systems and retrieve the hidden data.
2. Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese by Anonymous Coward · 2013-06-12 05:05 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Actually, we're on to you. I work for the NSA in the cheese department. We have secret methods of turning milk into "18-month cave-aged gouda" within 23 minutes.
3. Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese by Qzukk · 2013-06-12 05:10 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Your Swiss cheese security is full of holes!
  
  --
  If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
4. Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese by CannonballHead · 2013-06-12 05:53 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  That would be pure weevil. Weevil incarnate.
5. Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese by JustOK · 2013-06-12 09:14 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Most companies would use something that's just gouda enough
  
  --
  rewriting history since 2109
Game the system ... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-06-12 05:01 · Score: 5, Funny

Just game the system. I've started typing random shit in gmail before I do anything ... let 'em see lots of false positives.
You know, I'm glad nobody KILLED OBAMA. Durka durka, mohammed jihad. Monsanto sucks. Bush was a simpleton. Death to American cheese.
Gotta go, someone's at the door ...
1. Re:Game the system ... by mapsjanhere · 2013-06-12 05:56 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Close. Just copy nsa.gov on every email you send. It's just courtesy, not a DDoS, and not our fault if their servers can't handle it.
  
  --
  I'm aging rapidly, I bought a new game and had no idea if my machine was good for it.
Re: Can't have it all. by JockTroll · 2013-06-12 05:01 · Score: 4, Funny

I DO want it all. I want it all. I want it all. I want it all. And I want it NOW!

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Geeks are so full of shit that "beating the crap out of them" takes a whole new meaning.
Easy by Sparticus789 · 2013-06-12 05:08 · Score: 5, Funny

Live in a cabin in the mountains that is over 100 miles from the nearest cell phone tower. Also ensure that you have top cover so satellite surveillance cannot see your house. Add enough insulating material (dirt would be easiest) above your cabin so that there is little/no thermal footprint. And never leave your new found cabin, since cars and feet all leave tracks.

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sudo make me a sandwich
1. Re:Easy by Black+Parrot · 2013-06-12 05:24 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Live in a cabin in the mountains that is over 100 miles from the nearest cell phone tower. Also ensure that you have top cover so satellite surveillance cannot see your house. Add enough insulating material (dirt would be easiest) above your cabin so that there is little/no thermal footprint. And never leave your new found cabin, since cars and feet all leave tracks.
  I cover my footprints with aluminum foil, so the satellites and drones can't spot them.
  
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  Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Re: Can't have it all. by pixelpusher220 · 2013-06-12 05:08 · Score: 3, Funny

ok, but shipping takes a few days...

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People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
Re: Can't have it all. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-06-12 05:08 · Score: 5, Funny

Your an idiot.
/facepalm
Twitter by ThatsNotPudding · 2013-06-12 05:27 · Score: 3, Funny

I only use one time pads when tweeting.

...puts a crimp in the number of followers though.
Re:Can't have it all. by NatasRevol · 2013-06-12 05:30 · Score: 3, Funny

Everybody does something criminal. On the average of three felonies a day.
http://kottke.org/13/06/you-commit-three-felonies-a-day
Want some bread with your water?

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There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
Re: Can't have it all. by Darth+Snowshoe · 2013-06-12 05:48 · Score: 2, Funny

The parent should be modded up. It's factual, relevant, and worth remembering.
well spend by beefoot · 2013-06-12 06:06 · Score: 2, Funny

Let me get it straight -- you want to keep NSA away from your personal data? NSA spends billions of dollars to snoop your data while Chinese government spend billions of dollars sending people to space trying to mine the resources from outer space. Which is more stupid?