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Police Find Paris Attackers Coordinate Via Unencrypted SMS (techdirt.com)

schwit1 writes: In the wake of the tragic events in Paris last week encryption has continued to be a useful bogeyman for those with a voracious appetite for surveillance expansion. Like clockwork, numerous reports were quickly circulated suggesting that the terrorists used incredibly sophisticated encryption techniques, despite no evidence by investigators that this was the case. These reports varied in the amount of hallucination involved, the New York Times even having to pull one such report offline. Other claims the attackers had used encrypted Playstation 4 communications also wound up being bunk.

106 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Damned Lies And Politics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    On the subject of our respective governments' unbounded honesty, anyone knows what happened to James "Lied Under Oath" Clapper?

    1. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by Squiddie · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Of course they lie. This isn't about protecting you. Even after this revelation, watch them step up their attacks against crypto and privacy.

    2. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 5, Funny

      We couldn't intercept them without encryption, imagine if they had used any!

    3. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      So now we know for sure which are the propaganda mills in "mainstream" news. I read anti-encryption articles on at least CNN, MSN, Fox, and Infoworld. Are there any others worthy of mention in this context? They are now off my list of "reputable news" sources, though they may be useful for staying up on current events... take it with a grain of salt.

    4. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by sims+2 · · Score: 2

      /. had this a few days ago
      Belgian Home Affairs Minister: Terrorists Communicate Via PlayStation 4
      http://tech.slashdot.org/story...

      But yeah they were even pushing it during the democratic debates on the 14th.

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    5. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      The government provides your birth certificate and SSN so they already have them.

    6. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by Enigma2175 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So now we know for sure which are the propaganda mills in "mainstream" news. I read anti-encryption articles on at least CNN, MSN, Fox, and Infoworld. Are there any others worthy of mention in this context? They are now off my list of "reputable news" sources, though they may be useful for staying up on current events... take it with a grain of salt.

      The BBC: Paris attacks: Silicon Valley in crosshairs over encryption
      Some gems from the article:
      "And I do think this is a time for particularly Europe, as well as here in the United States, for us to take a look and see whether or not there have been some inadvertent or intentional gaps that have been created in the ability of intelligence and security services to protect the people that they are asked to serve."

      while attitudes towards creating government backdoors were "hostile", that atmosphere "could turn in the event of a terrorist attack or criminal event where strong encryption can be shown to have hindered law enforcement". Paris may just be that event.

      Also, some jackwagon New York prosecutor is calling for legislation mandating phone manufactures use weak encryption and provide backdoors for law enforcement:
      A New York prosecutor is calling for federal legislation to weaken smartphone encryption

      It's just ridiculous. Intelligence agencies and police have unprecedented data and location tracking on nearly every person in the world and it's STILL NOT ENOUGH for them. They will never be satisfied, even if every person in the world provided them a 24/7 video feed they would demand constant brainwave scans to "protect our children". It's time to say enough is enough and remove the people in favor of a surveillance state from a position of power, either by voting them out of office or voting the people who appointed them out of office.

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      Enigma

    7. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by gumbi+west · · Score: 2

      Clearly you never worked for the government in the US. The government is intentionally fire walled all over the place. Most people think that politicians are in charge of the day to day, but any former president (or Obama in recent comments) can tell you that they are not. Agencies are separate and communication--much less data sharing--across agencies is a huge pain in the ass. When it comes to states or counties communicating with the federal government there basically has to be a huge benefit to both sides and probably some money changing hands.

    8. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by davester666 · · Score: 2

      They used ROT312, you fool!

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    9. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by AK+Marc · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Sadly, Al Jazeera is one of the best sources of international news.

    10. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by stiebing.ja · · Score: 1

      Link from TFA to How the Baseless 'Terrorists Communicating Over Playstation 4' Rumor Got Started describing that there still is no evidence for this, also writing about some more ridiculous ideas of how some media thought they might have communicated, e.g. writing messages to each other by firing bullets on a wall in Call of Duty

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    11. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by Golddess · · Score: 1

      Not ROT312! That's 12 times as encrypted as ROT26!

      --
      "I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
    12. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      That is why s/he knows so much about it, s/he was describing themselves.

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      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    13. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      Bank account number
      Bank routing number

      You do realize that this information is located across the bottom of every check you write right? Mine is padded with four extra numbers as the account number isn't long enough, but it clearly appears on the bottom of all of my checks.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    14. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by RevDisk · · Score: 1

      Perhaps folks remembered that certain agencies not sharing information was a feature, not a bug. I'd honestly prefer the NSA to NOT share all of its domestic surveillance take with every agency under the sun.

    15. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by gumbi+west · · Score: 1

      There is good sharing and bad sharing. Most of this was instituted after Nixon left office and it was discovered that there was lots of bad sharing. Most of the bad stuff that we know of relates to his monitoring of MLK--I'd look there if you're interested. So, e.g. I doubt the FBI can call the IRS and get tax records without a subpoena. Now, I believe that they do have some common sense sharing rules (e.g. if you list an illegal source of income they send it for prosecution).

      In another FBI related one they asked Census for their records on a person of interest and Census said no. Then they asked if they could go to the house with Census badges on and collect the Census data from the person--the Census said no. Then they got a subpoena for the data and Census still said no (you have to give it to the Census workers, it's not easy to stand up to FBI agents with guns AND a subpoena, but they stuck it out and did just that). Census eventually won in court and their records are not shared. A lot of this is that the Census made some big mistakes during WW II and they basically learned their lessons--no privacy, no data. And it takes a long time to build your reputation back up.

    16. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by obscuro · · Score: 1

      Uuhm. In general you're right about Nixon leaving office driving a lot of new information on surveillance of citizens into the public eye but Nixon was elected in 1969 and MLK was assassinated in 1968. So, if Nixon was monitoring MLK I'd imagine it was for a oligochaetology study.

      J. Edgar Hoover monitored MLK and pretty much everybody else. Maybe that's who you were thinking of.

      --
      Every rule has more than one consequence.
    17. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by gumbi+west · · Score: 1

      Only if you assume Hoover moved unidirectionally in time. But, assuming that, point taken.

    18. Re: Damned Lies And Politics by beastofburdon · · Score: 1

      You mean people like "cold fjord" http://slashdot.org/~cold+fjor...
      The people who grovel before the jackboots do not deserve their freedom, but I will always try to make sure they have it.

  2. SMS by sims+2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    O RLY?

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    1. Re:SMS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      YA RLY

    2. Re:SMS by Paleolibertarian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Encryption isn't needed if nobody is watching.

    3. Re:SMS by JohnnyComeLately · · Score: 2

      Now that we xenophobically blocked Syrian refugees, now the Governors have announced they will keep Amierica safe by banning cell phones. "The terrorists used cell phones and this new technology they learned from Snowden (aka Moldemort) called SMS. We must not be threatened by this illegal usage of dangerous technology." Rumor has it they're going after books next and plan big book burnings and witch drownings. "I know at least one of those ISIS phuckers read a Harry Potter book," Texas governor was overheard saying.

    4. Re:SMS by rsborg · · Score: 1

      Encryption isn't needed if nobody is watching.

      Yeah, just like if you close your eyes no one can see you!

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    5. Re:SMS by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      Which book was it?

    6. Re:SMS by unixisc · · Score: 2

      Maybe we can allow in all the Syrian refugees and stuff them in your home, Mr President/Sanders

    7. Re:SMS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stoning

    8. Re: SMS by amalcolm · · Score: 1

      LOL

      --
      Time for bed, said Zebedee - boing
    9. Re:SMS by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Everyone knows that metadata is worse than the actual data in many cases, so obviously encryption alone isn't enough. It's better to use burner phones that can't be tied to individuals, and which are only used once or twice to coordinate the attack.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    10. Re:SMS by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      I am wondering how the terrorists sent unencrypted SMS as SMS is pretty heavily encrypted between the phone and tower, and while being transmitted over the network. Must be some pretty special phones to be able to send SMS without the built in encryption of cell networks.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    11. Re: SMS by JohnnyComeLately · · Score: 1

      At the layer 2 or Rf layer yes. However the news is never that technically educated or contextual. They're referring to layer 5, or application encryption.

    12. Re:SMS by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      I wish that ISIS would just get stoned.

  3. Justice by amightywind · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I'm glad the terrorists died a violent death. I am sorry Diesel the police dog was sacrificed for these muslim turds. May Diesel rest in peace.

    --
    an ill wind that blows no good
    1. Re:Justice by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      Which brings me to an interesting thought. If no one ages in "heaven" (or whatever they call it in Islam), perhaps those 72 virgins they get are all crying babies that they murdered.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  4. "Attackers Coordinate via Unencrypted SMS" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Where is this proof in the article?..

  5. Inch by inch tyranny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because terrorists use SMS we should monitor all SMS traffic. Because they use phones we should record all conversations. Because they use the Internet we should monitor all traffic. Because they drive cars, fly planes, and buy things at grocery stores.. we should monitor those too. In fact since terrorists use essentially everything non-terrorists use... then we should monitor everything. Put camera's in washroom stalls just in case the terrorists find a way to use them. Force people to wear microphones just in case they are terrorists. If you have done nothing wrong what do you have to worry about? Are you some kind of terrorist sympathizer? Let me mark down your objections on my suspect review and no fly list.

    Only monitoring everything will free us from the threat of tyranny once and for all. Complete and total control of everything by government officials is true freedom.

    1. Re:Inch by inch tyranny by sims+2 · · Score: 1

      Rather odd them trying to stake a claim of the number 1984.

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    2. Re:Inch by inch tyranny by sims+2 · · Score: 1

      What like If you buy too much sudafed? http://lawstreetmedia.com/blog...

      Or Hydroponics gear?
      http://www.nydailynews.com/new...

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    3. Re:Inch by inch tyranny by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      Put camera's in washroom stalls just in case the terrorists find a way to use them.

      So if I pee in public, not only am I a sex offender, now I'm a potential terrorist?

    4. Re:Inch by inch tyranny by Jeremi · · Score: 1

      Reductio ad absurdum noted. Now on to the harder part -- how can we most effectively prevent acts of terrorism without doing all of the above?

      --


      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
    5. Re:Inch by inch tyranny by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      Won't they have to sue Van Halen first?

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    6. Re:Inch by inch tyranny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That depends on how big your weapon of mass disruption is.

  6. Common pattern by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Remember when Saddam had some complex masterplan for building chemical and nuclear weapons? And Al Qaeda were criminal masterminds? Now it is ISIL (The Tiny Penises) that have sophisticated methods that only our authorities can figure out if you give them unlimited powers.
    I feel that this terror threat is vastly over-stated. Saddam was not a really threat (a little but not that much). Al Qaeda weren't really a threat (sure they killed people, but hardly enough to roll over your way of life for), and now The Tiny Pensis are a threat (no they aren't).

    To put it in perspective, the Police in the US have killed more civilians this year than The Tiny Penises have in France.

    Terrorists are shitty humans, but it's not enough to give up for freedom and privacy for.

    1. Re:Common pattern by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      And both have killed more than the Swiss Guard have in the Vatican. So? You are comparing apples and merde.

    2. Re:Common pattern by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      To put it in perspective, the Police in the US have killed more civilians this year than The Tiny Penises have in France.

      That's a pretty low bar, considering that deaths in the US as a result of terrorism amortizes to a yearly figure around that of deaths by vending machine.

    3. Re:Common pattern by sims+2 · · Score: 1

      Come on they have had warnings on them not to tilt or shake them for years. Are they just trying for a darwin?

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    4. Re:Common pattern by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And ISIL has killed more people in Syria and Iraq than the police in the US have. Or are you saying that only first world, western lives count?

      ISIS is a bunch of fucking assholes who have taken a select number of passages out of a holy book and twisted them to fit their means. They rape, murder, steal, and a number of other horrible crimes. And they are creating greater racism around the world.

      We won't beat them by giving up our freedoms. We aren't going to beat them by dropping bombs on them. It's going to take a long, hard battle on the ground. But what is really going to defeat them in the long run is people getting along. Having temples attacked, blaming all Muslims, or calling for the refugees not to be admitted is just feeding the anger that causes people who join ISIS. They already feel apart from society and when we do those things we drive them further away. We need to embrace everyone and create an inclusive society or there will be other groups after ISIS.

    5. Re:Common pattern by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      > And ISIL has killed more people in Syria and Iraq than the police in the US have. Or are you saying that only first world, western lives count?

      When domestic surveillance is being justified by domestic deaths then domestic lives are already the topic of discussion.

    6. Re:Common pattern by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 1

      Or, it's really the idea chemical weapons require some complex master plan is vastly over-stated. One doesn't need a full lab to make WWI level chemicals, just a few ingredients many have in their house already.

    7. Re:Common pattern by s.petry · · Score: 1

      Since we never found anything like this, it must be the same place they hid all the WMDs and those pesky mobile chemical weapons factories. Rumsfeld did say that those "secret" entrances were large enough for big trucks, so it makes perfect sense.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    8. Re:Common pattern by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Saddam was not a really threat (a little but not that much)

      Saddam was a huge threat. He almost developed nukes until his reactors were bombed. He had chemical weapons. He had the fourth largest military on the planet, engaged in a lot of skirmishes with Iran and engaged in a war of conquest against a defenceless neighbor.

      Now all that shook out in the mit-to-late 80's, early 90's...

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    9. Re:Common pattern by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 4, Interesting

      And ISIL has killed more people in Syria and Iraq than the police in the US have. Or are you saying that only first world, western lives count? .

      In domestic policy matters, yes.

    10. Re:Common pattern by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Nazi Germany was a threat in 1938, should we also invade them now?
      I shall clarify for the pedants. Saddam was not really a threat to us when we made the decision to invade his country.

    11. Re:Common pattern by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

      It's interesting to note that most of the terrorists identified in these latest atrocities had convictions for various abominable crimes (Murder, Armed Robbery etc) prior to being radicalized.

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    12. Re:Common pattern by cyberchondriac · · Score: 1

      Well, he also invaded Kuwait, with designs on Saudi Arabia, but interestingly, no one mentions that anymore. He wanted a stranglehold on ME oil production.

      --

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    13. Re:Common pattern by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      Not particularly surprising. Anyone who has actually studied recidivism knows that when people do time in prison, it requires a lot of effort on the part of the government to reintegrate them into society, and if that doesn't happen properly, they are much more likely to commit further crimes because they feel that they have no other means to get the things they want. We also have known for a long time that people who feel isolated from society are more likely to get drawn into a terrorist organization. Put these two together, and it should be pretty obvious that the people in western society who are most likely to become terrorists are former convicts.

      This is one of the reasons that people on the left have been begging and screaming for many years, demanding better reintegration programs for former convicts that guarantee them a stable job and help them feel accepted back into society. Those reintegration programs are the weak point in western society, and it seems as though the powers that be like it that way, preferring that people go back to a life of crime so that they can keep them locked up. The terrorists are taking advantage of that, and anyone who didn't see it coming hasn't been paying attention. We have to get recidivism rates down to zero, because ensuring everyone feels accepted is the best tool at our disposal for fighting terrorism.

      --

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    14. Re:Common pattern by cyberchondriac · · Score: 1

      So the Euro thing is the sole reason for the invasion of Iraq, is what you're saying?
      Well, how well was the "containment" and no-fly zone thing in the '90s really working? There was the UN sanctions scandal, not to mention that the sanctions themselves led to an incredible amount of anti-US hostility and backlash, claiming the US blocked food and medicine from Iraqis, but which was Saddam's doing, as he was busy building those lush palaces. It was during the '90s that Al Qeada became fully formed (technically it began in 1988), Osama Bin Laden was enraged that Americans were on Saudi soil -the land of Mecca- and his Muhjadeen had been rejected by the King to fight off Iraq. OBL was then exiled from SA and vowed revenge; the rest is modern islamo-terrorist history.
      We might've been better off going into Iraq in the first place and getting the hell out of Saudi Arabia. Both choices are lose/lose though.

      --

      Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
    15. Re:Common pattern by NewYork · · Score: 1

      Muslims didn't kill 65 million people in World_War_I;
      Muslims didn't kill 85 million people in World_War_II;

      The Arabic countries led by the Muslims were the most advanced scientists/engineers in the world, until they let the religious CRAZIES take over.

    16. Re:Common pattern by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

      It would appear many of them are actually being radicalized in prison :|

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    17. Re:Common pattern by RespekMyAthorati · · Score: 1

      And that was at the behest of the fucking Saudi royal family.

  7. Re:Prison by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    A FPMITAP one.

  8. In further investigations by cas2000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    police have found that the terrorists breathed air, drank water, and wore clothes in order to carry out their attacks. Police and security agencies have united in calling for these things to be banned immediately.

    1. Re:In further investigations by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      There is a TV programme called Question Time on the BBC this evening at about 10:30, where a panel of politicians and other minor celebrities answer questions put by the audience. Let's see how many politicians use the Paris attacks as an excuse to bring in the Snooper's Charter, and if anyone even mentions that encryption wasn't used.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  9. Where's the article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Police Find Paris Attackers Coordinate Via Unencrypted SMS". And where's the article to support that headline?!

    1. Re:Where's the article by sims+2 · · Score: 4, Informative
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  10. Call of Duty in game chat by Neo-Rio-101 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It really wouldn't be hard to use the in game functions of any military themed shooter game to set up an an attack.

    Essentially, in game people are already talking about shooting people and targets, that even unencrypted it would be painfully difficult to filter through all the chats - supposing you had access to them - to figure out which players were talking about playing the game, and who would be planning something in real life.

    Quite scary

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    1. Re:Call of Duty in game chat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Quite scary

      In what way? Terrorists will always have access to encrypted communications that are difficult to crack. If the terrorists can meet beforehand, then they can use impossible to crack communications. They already use encryption. They already use steganography, and messages within computer games would just be an example of this.

    2. Re:Call of Duty in game chat by vux984 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Quite scary

      Not really. It's far scarier to consider life in a panopticon where two people couldn't say something privately to eachother without the goverment listening to the conversation.

    3. Re:Call of Duty in game chat by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      >

      Quite scary

      Only if you are a complete moron. How is it any more scary than any other communication that is not being traced?

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
    4. Re:Call of Duty in game chat by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      eh. just use skype or whatever. people are already using it to replace teamspeak etc.

      however, the point is, the feds & etc are running a campaign to demonize encryption when it is just most likely that they were using something like whatsapp only for international messaging.

      and you know why? because international sms's COST A FUCKING LOT OF MONEY.

      there's already too much to filter through even if they could read everything. case in point, the mastermind they were already well aware who he was but they did not know where, how or with whom he was communicating and it being encrypted or not was irrelevant.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  11. Well, if it weren't for snowden... by VValdo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The logic of authoritarians:

    Thanks to Snowden's revelations, terrorists started using unbreakable encryption!!!!!!!

    Right. Except they didn't.

    That was pre-Snowden. Terrorists didn't know about encryption before that.

    Right again. Except they did.

    So, you see-- Snowden has "blood on his hands" for making terrorists aware of encryption, which they knew about for decades, so they could use it, which they didn't. And thank goodness for that, because if they had used encryption, the attacks might have been successful, which they were.

    Got it.

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    This is my SIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    1. Re:Well, if it weren't for snowden... by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Snowden is simply today's Emmanuel Goldstein.

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      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    2. Re:Well, if it weren't for snowden... by cfalcon · · Score: 1

      Well said.

      Masterwork Wordsmith +5, IMO :P

    3. Re:Well, if it weren't for snowden... by Dr_Barnowl · · Score: 1

      Yeah, they killed the last one, Osama Bin Goldstein, after they realized his ailing health meant that he wouldn't be around to fill the role for much longer.

  12. Wait, who again? by geekmux · · Score: 1

    "...Attackers Coordinate Via Unencrypted SMS"

    You mean the media? Yes, they often attack using SMS as their weapon of choice when blindly and viciously terrorizing truth or due diligence.

    If you're talking about the Paris terrorists, well yeah, I guess they could be stupid enough to do that...or just be attention whores like the media...

  13. Re:They're using it to scare the public by PopeRatzo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    To support the military industrial complex.

    Wish the stupid ass people would realize all printed material is government fed propoganda, also called psychological warfare.

    I realize you're going to get modded into invisibility. But before that happens, I want to say that I believe there's a lot more to the whole ISIS/Daesh story than meets the eye.

    I'm old enough to remember when people thought MK-Ultra was just some conspiracy theorists dark fantasy. I mean, how could our government be using hallucinogenics to experiment on people for the purposes of mind control? When it turned out to be true, the story changed to, "Oh that. That was a long time ago, right?" When it turns out that some rather notable mass murderers turned out to have been subjects of MK-Ultra, the story changed back to, "Oh, that's just a conspiracy theory."

    When something in the news happens and all you can say is, "What the fuck?!", sometimes you should ask yourself, what indeed, the fuck is going on.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  14. Re:They're using it to scare the public by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You should talk to a professional about your delusions. That's extremely paranoid, even for Slashdot.

    Maybe he's not the deluded one.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  15. Hurry by angelbar · · Score: 1

    Lets make mandatory to encrypt all communications, so only the terrorists will use non-encrypted messages and indentify them fast. what? wait, let me think that one moment more.

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    -no sig today-
  16. When you're planning on blowing yourself up... by DigitalSorceress · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It seems to me that when you're planning to blow yourself up anyway - you're probably not that worried about getting caught after the fact, and there's so much traffic going around that open communications especially if using a simple codewords for obvious trigger phrases (so say "flowers' instead of "bombs" etc...) and very likely the best the intelligence folks will do is read your comms after you've succeeded and have gone to meet your 72 Virgins....

    --

    The Digital Sorceress
  17. Encryption! by dohzer · · Score: 1

    We need to encrypt everything. Leaving SMS encrypted leaves us open to terrorist attacks.
    And we need licencing for SMS use too!

  18. Re:They're using it to scare the public by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

    Right. So where is the "surreptitious administration of drugs (especially LSD), hypnosis, sensory deprivation, isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as various forms of torture"?

    I mean really, I haven't seen LSD in ages.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  19. Security through obscurity by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 2

    The best method of encryption is no encryption at all, using word or phrase replacement.

    All the spy measures in the world are pretty useless against people who understand that.

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  20. They won't see the next thing coming. by seoras · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This war on encryption and personal privacy can't be won by the ordinary man against governments.
    It's inevitable. They will get their way.
    I take personal comfort in seeing a repeating cycle in history where they can only legislate once the genie is out of the bottle, and they are slow to react.
    A basic lack of understanding of technology, by those in power, and technology's ability to evolve outside of their constraints means that they are really just sowing the seeds for the next big thing after the internet - it's replacement.
    Peer to peer communications, not network based would be my guess.
    How? I dunno, but when forced into a corner we always find a way out.

    1. Re:They won't see the next thing coming. by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      The ordinary man can have access to good crypto software. There's always going to be people who know what they're doing publishing it as Free/Open Source software. (It can be difficult to figure out who knows what they're doing and who doesn't, of course.)

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  21. Re:News is just opinions anymore by EmeraldBot · · Score: 2

    At one time news was factual and verified. But these days anyone can post whatever they want and have very little to back it. Hoping I guess they guessed correctly. If indeed we now know the terrorists only used non encrypted SMS imagine how they now know how to use the proper encrypted tools from now on. Thanks to our wonderful news media pointing it out. The really bad part is that all we ever do is react to a disaster that already happened. We don't learn from the 9-11's of the world. We don't police our boarders we don't profile for fear of offending someone. Islam is NOT a peaceful religion, don't let anyone tell you it is. Much of the Middle East problems stem from religion. The Islamic belief is no exceptions beyond total devotion to Islam. All else is evil and must be eliminated. Even the moderates in the Muslim world simply look the other way unless they are specifically attacked. Deep down, they are required to believe what they are taught. This now has spread to the West and if Christians are to survive we must stop it now or become silenced.

    News never has been and never will be factial and verified. Have you ever read Revolutionary War articles? Have you seen was Julius Caeser wrote back to Rome? Media has always had a political aspect to it, that's nothing new. Back in your day, there were a fair few terrorists who did all this too, might I point out. And lastly, if that is the kind of government you wish, may I suggest Russia? I think your political philosophy matches much more with theirs than the United States'. Good day to you, sir.

    --
    "Set a man a fire, he'll be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man afire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
  22. Re:They're using it to scare the public by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

    Right. So where is the "surreptitious administration of drugs (especially LSD), hypnosis, sensory deprivation, isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as various forms of torture".

    Sounds like a modern day Frat party.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  23. Re:They're using it to scare the public by careysub · · Score: 1

    ... When it turns out that some rather notable mass murderers turned out to have been subjects of MK-Ultra, the story changed back to, "Oh, that's just a conspiracy theory."...

    That sounds intriguing. Who were the murderers involved?

    --
    Starships were meant to fly, Hands up and touch the sky - Nicky Minaj
  24. Re:They're using it to scare the public by PopeRatzo · · Score: 3, Informative

    That sounds intriguing. Who were the murderers involved?

    James "Whitey" Bulger and Unabomber Ted Kaczynski are the two most famous. There is also evidence that Sirhan Sirhan and Charles Manson were subjects. And the doofus who shot John Lennon. A lot of information came out in the Church Committee hearings, but by then the CIA had already destroyed a lot of the records. Fortunately, enough documentation and testimony of participants and "researchers" survived to give a very good idea of MK-Ultra, how it worked and what they were using it for.

    I went for years thinking that the whole thing was just a myth. The evidence is pretty clear, though. The program was real and went on for decades.

    There's also a very interesting back story about how many of the original researchers died in suspicious circumstances in the year following the Church Committee hearings.

    It's one of those "open secrets" like the fact that the Reagan Administration paid and allowed drug cartels to flood the inner cities with crack cocaine to fund anti-Communist death squads in Central and South America. You ask most people and they're like, "Nah, that can't be true." But true it is. And not Alex Jones True, but real life true.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  25. Remember "The Wire"? by swb · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When the drug dealer started sending MMS images of clocks?

    It seems entirely reasonable that you could plan just about anything with plain text SMS. It wouldn't be hard to talk about whatever it was in plain language substituting normal activities like going shopping or whatever.

    An innocuous code would be impossible to decode if you didn't suspect the people in question. You'd never filter out the 373738483847 other texts that were about mundane activities.

  26. In other news by robiso22 · · Score: 1

    In other news, terrorists have a bunch of new ideas on how to communicate

  27. Banhammer by fph+il+quozientatore · · Score: 1

    Ban SMS! Terorristz use them!!!1!

    --
    My first program:

    Hell Segmentation fault

    1. Re:Banhammer by Dr_Barnowl · · Score: 1

      Hah, can't see that happening, the phone networks still make an absolute fortune off them.

  28. Re: Prison by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 4, Insightful

    effective alternatives to mass survailence and bulk data collection

    Courage. The outcomes are far superior.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  29. Give me a reason why by Dorianny · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They need to explain why the massive global surveillance failed to stop the attacks and the reasons they came up with is Snowden and encryption. This is despite their own reports that showed their massive surveillance to not be effective against terrorism even before Snowden and widespread encryption. Big-Data is great for statistical analysis, if is not very useful for spear-fishing.

  30. Yes indeed only west coutnry count by aepervius · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Or are you saying that only first world, western lives count?"
     
    I am sorry, but when determining the territorial security of country (laws, police intervention) only what happen in that country should count. Citing that some terrorist in some country somewhere should make us drop our law , trample our constitution, and roll over the ground wailing, is stupid. Were you there to claim the genocidial Rwanda event should lead to some police change in the US/France/Whichever ? No ? then ISIL is no different.

    --
    C. Sagan : A demon haunted world:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345409469/
    visit randi.org
  31. Re:They're using it to scare the public by terbo · · Score: 1

    >> You ask most people and they're like, "Nah, that can't be true." But true it is. And not Alex Jones True, but real life true.

    Well, the regularity of atrocities has approached overwhelming proportions - videodrome. ... 1984 wasn't a warning, it was the elites' plan for utopia.

    --
    If you're interested in facts I'll tell you what they are and I'll give you sources - Chomsky on The Big Idea
  32. I live in France... by Liquid+Len · · Score: 2

    ... and let me tell you that after last Friday, we are now experiencing a period in which the government can decide and impose whatever it damn pleases : massive surveillance, restricted freedom, you name it.... At this stage, I believe people are willing to accept anything in the name of (presumed) safety. At some point, this period will come to an end but until then, I except the law to change a lot, and essentially nobody is going to raise a finger about it....
    Reminds me of the time when I was living in the US, right after 09/11. Sad, really.

    1. Re:I live in France... by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 1

      Hopefully France won't go full retard and implement their own version of the PATRIOT ACT. Learn form my country's mistakes.

      --
      Time to offend someone
  33. Re: Prison by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 1

    Freedom, similar level of security, less government waste, following the constitution.

    The government has previously admitted that its mass surveillance efforts haven't cracked a case or helped to catch a terrorist so doing nothing would have been just as effective.

    --
    Time to offend someone
  34. Re: Prison by Shortguy881 · · Score: 1

    effective alternatives

    For this to even be a question, you first have to show mass surveillance as effective. Good luck with that.

    --
    Brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.
  35. Politicians are stupid by kheldan · · Score: 1

    why 15 17 7h47 57up1d p0l171c14n5 c4n'7 und3r574nd 7h47 m4k1n6 3ncryp710n 1ll364l, 0r 3v3n ru1n1n6 17'5 u53fuln355 1n 4 fund4m3n74l w4y by r3qu1r1n6 4 'b4ckd00r' 1n70 17 0r h4v1n6 7h3 k3y5 570r3d 50m3wh3r3 7h3y c4n 637 47 7h3m, w0n'7 m4k3 0n3 fuck1n6 b17 0f d1ff3r3nc3? 7h3 w4y 7h15 c0mm3n7 15 '3nc0d3d' 15 4 pr1m3 3x4mpl3 0f 7h47: 17'5 ju57 l337-5p34k, wh1ch h45 b33n 4r0und f0r 4635 n0w, 4nd c4n m0rph m0r3 0r l355 47-w1ll 70 637 4r0und w0rdf1l73r5 0r 4ny0n3'5 b451c und3r574nd1n6. 45 4n 3x4mpl3 0f wh47 73rr0r1575 4nd 07h3r cr1m1n4l5 m16h7 d0 70 3v4d3 d373c710n 17'5 pr377y bl474n7 4nd b451c, bu7 1 7h1nk 17 1llu57r4735 my p01n7 f41rly w3ll: ju57 l1k3 k1d5 wh0 w4n73d 70 637 4r0und w0rdf1l73r5 0n f0rum 51735 4nd 1n 64m3 ch475, r4d1c4l 3x7r3m1575 w1ll ju57 0bfu5c473 7h31r m3554635 1n w4y5 7h47 4r3n'7 r34d1ly d373c74bl3. h3ll, p30pl3 h4v3 b33n c0mmun1c471n6 1n c0d3 0f 0n3 50r7 0r 4n07h3r f0r c3n7ur135, wh47 m4k35 7h3m 7h1nk 7h47 fuck1n6 up 3ncryp710n, wh1ch hur75 3v3ry0n3, 15 601n6 70 m4k3 4 60d5-b3-d4mn3d b17 0f d1ff3r3nc3? 1d1075.

    ..and if you can't manage to decode that in a few minutes or less, then you might have a bright future as a politician.

    --
    Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
  36. Terrorists are Criminals by DarthVain · · Score: 1

    Like criminals they are MOSTLY stupid and uneducated. Both groups for the most part lack many of the basic resources required to improve upon their actions, be it infrastructure, money, contacts, technology, etc...

    That is why you hear of stories of bank robbers taking cabs home and the like.

    That is not to say that smarter craftier ones don't exist, only that the dumb ones far outnumber them. I have no doubt, the easiest way to catch the smart ones, are not by trying to unravel their master plan, but rather by simply catching the dumb ones that are associated with them. I would bet the Terrorist HR department takes pretty much anyone that shows up.

    So yeah, don't bother messing around with encryption, it simply isn't worth the time and effort (regardless of the other larger civil implications).

    Not to start up the whole Refugee debate, but this is also something I thought about in this context. First countries should accept them, because in doing so is thwarting terrorist efforts. Preventing people from fleeing them, seems counter productive. Secondly, and perhaps just as importantly,of those that are educated and helping the terrorist cause, I would bet a significant portion of them are not fanatics but rather coerced into roles because of threats to their families should they not cooperate. Should those families be safely relocated, that leverage is removed, perhaps prompting desertion, and making it harder for HR to enlist really useful people, having to depend on more dummies, who make more mistakes, which make them less effective and more easily caught, etc...

  37. It's not tyrany, it's totalitarianism by qaz123 · · Score: 1

    Totalitarianism is a concept in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever possible.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  38. Good Morning Ya'll by ememisya · · Score: 1

    Hi! Good morning, welcome to real life where sith happens despite the government knowing everything about you. Can we go back to some of those outdated constitutional protections now? Maybe? Okay, I'll just wait and be optimistic either way, hoping to read more good news on here :)

  39. And yet they could not stop it by HalAtWork · · Score: 1

    So how is encryption a problem when they can't even stop crimes when it's not being used?

  40. Con-man versus Fool by NewYork · · Score: 1

    Religion was born when the first con-man met the first fool;
    BAN all http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R...