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Furby is a national security risk
Chase writes "Nation Public Radio reported this morning that the National Security Agency has deemed Furby's as a risk. The reason is each furby contains a microphone that records sound bytes from its environment and will play them back at any time. The NSA is concerned that a furby might over hear a classified conversation while in the building and then repeat it at a later time once it was removed from the building. As a response to the risk, the NSA has banned furbys from NSA buildings. "
Update: 01/13 09:55 by B :
Here's a CNN Story
and a BBC Story
for good measure.
It's been stated a few times already, but if you knew how secure a lot of these types of buildings are, you would understand.
It's not like they're going to be searching you for Furbies when you try to go to work. They don't let you bring ANYTHING in that could conceivably house or be modified (intentionally or unintentionally) to bring data or information out.
You walk in with your clothes (and MAYBE a briefcase if you have papers, but if this were allowed I wouldn't be surprised if they searched/X-rayed it before letting you in). Everything else is in the building (likely in a safe). I've even been told (treat this as 4th-hand) that even the PC's have removable hard drives, and everyone's hard drive is stored in its own little safe when you leave for the day.
They aren't making special policy for Furbies, they're just saying, "Yes, Furbies fall under the same 'banned items' rules to which everything else you're prohibited from bringing in applies."
...what you can and can't take into NSA's buildings... The Furby thing seems totally understandable to me! Most stuff -- if you take it in, well... you can't take it out...!