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Putin Gives Federal Security Agents Two Weeks To Produce 'Encryption Keys' For The Internet (gawker.com)
An anonymous reader writes: The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, has ordered the Federal Security Service (FSB) to produce "encryption keys" to decrypt all data on the internet, and the FSB has two weeks to do it, Meduza reports. The head of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, is responsible for accomplishing such a task. "The new 'anti-terrorist' laws require all 'organizers of information distribution' that add 'additional coding' to transmitted electronic messages to provide the FSB with any information necessary to decrypt those messages," reports Meduza. "It's still unclear what information exactly online resources are expected to turn over, given that all data on the internet is encoded, one way or another, and in many instances encryption keys for encrypted information simply don't exist." Some of the details of the executive order include requiring telecom providers and "organizers of information distribution" to store copies of the content of all information they transmit for six months and store the metadata for three years so the Kremlin can access it whenever they want. In order for that to happen, ISPs would need to build new data centers capable of holding all that information and buy imported equipment, all without state subsidies, where they risk going bankrupt. To actually operate the data centers, the Russian government would need to upgrade Russia's outdated electrical grid and cables, which could cost between $30 and $77 billion. What about the "encryption keys?" In addition to storing all the transmitted information, "organizers of information distribution" have to turn over "any information necessary to decrypt those messages." Therefore, "additional coding" will need to be added to all electronic messages to act as instructions for the FSB to "decode" them. Many services and websites don't have "keys" or are fundamentally unsharable, like banks and financial institutions. Nearly all electronic information needs to be "encoded" in some way. Bortnikov has two weeks and the clock starts now. Good luck!
and you can't do that one, simple thing.
I think Putin knows full well that this task is not achievable, but wants to use it to shove someone out of their job in disgrace. I guess we'll find out who that is soon enough.
How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
Contents of Official FSB Decryption kit:
Wrench
One way train ticket to Siberia
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
Empty, dead, pointless parody of law.
I might feel better about that if my own government and those of many of our Western allies weren't trying to do essentially the same thing, also with a perfectly straight face.
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
for (i=0; i0xffffffffffffffff; i++)
printf("%16x\n",i);
printf("ffffffffffffffff");
or something along those lines. That'll produce all 128bit keys. Just don't ask me to match each key with each piece of data...
Many reasons:
-Trying to oust Bortnikov, for when he inevitably fails Putin has a reason to toss him or large parts of the FSB out.
-Justification for giving them (FSB) more funding or more powers to accomplish these goals (as a result of inability to accomplish goals with current resources).
-It could also be to create a large effort in the FSB with the rationale that the FSB will have no choice to resort to heavy handed tactics, which will them be targeted at institutions and/or ISP's that through "random coincidence" have slighted Putin somehow.
But yes, Putin is very smart--and also very shrewd.
Maybe because if Putin is assassinated, it only empowers someone even worse to stroll up and say "see, this is why we need to be even stronger and more secure". Maybe. I'm not an expert.
Possibilities in order of likelihood
1) This reporting is wildly inaccurate, and misses key details, like for example only part of the implantation must be completed in two weeks or similar.
2) Putin is doing this for political cover, he has intelligence there is going to be another terror attack in Russia or one of its surrogates. The intel is not good enough to prevent it, but he wants to look like he is 'doing something'. The argument will be if only people had got out of his way an let him do this sooner the tragedy would have been avoided. It both bolsters his strongman persona and gives an excuse to expanding executive power.
3) Putin is created a legal excuse to punish people who are otherwise political enemies, noncompliance with this new law will provide a legal cover an a veneer of legitimacy.
4) Putin is perfectly aware this is impossible but it will produce a flurry of activity from people who will be trying desperately to save the careers by at least appearing to comply in good faith, in hopes others will take the blame for the obvious eventual failure. Putin plans to utilize all this activity as a distraction to enable some other covert objective to be completed.
5) Putin has totally left the reservation.
Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
and in many instances encryption keys for encrypted information simply don't exist
Ahh keyless encryption: for when you really don't care to ever get the data back.
Many keys are ephemeral. Once the information has been received and acknowledged, both parties discard their keys. If you intercept one of these messages, no one will ever have a way of decrypting it. The only way to get the information is to double back and beat it out of one of them.
Why does gawker keep publishing unsubstantiated bullshit, and why do people believe it? There are no references, no substantiation of any of this. How would Gawker know what the orders of Putin are? Christ. Stop republishing Gawkers crap.
Maybe if all ISPs in Russia are required to do this, it will be done.
I'm thinking that this will really reduce foreign investment in Russia. And business & the economy will take a direct hit over the next several years.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
A solid economy is certainly not Putin's first concern. Perhaps the contrary: despots do not thrive in problem-free states.
If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
ISPs fail to have this system in place within 14days. Putin "takes over" all internet providers, claiming full share ownership of them.
See - Russian Oil, coal, gas, solar, farms, manufacturing, Processor Manufacturer (MCST) etc. All now 100% owned by Putin.
Russia isn't evil. Russians aren't evil. Putin most certainly is. He's like a Russian Donald Trump.
Trump is America's answer to Putin. America cannot be outdone by Russia, so Trump is our strategy to out-Putin Putin.
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
There were a lot of assassination attempts at him. Fortunately none of the succeeded. Just imagine what could have happened if a capable military strategist had that army, that technology and that industrial capacity at his disposal. We're talking about an army that could wage a war against Russia + USA for roughly 4 years, and an industry that could supply that war under stress of bombing for the same period. The very last thing you'd want in the mix is someone actually able to handle that power.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
We'll have the best stupid leaders! The Best! You'll never believe how stupid our leaders will be. You'll ask if we can get leaders any stupider and I'll say No because we'll have the stupidest leaders ever!
My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.