Keeping Your Data Private From the NSA (And Everyone Else) 622
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?"
I hide my data in big wheels of cheese (Score:4, Funny)
It stinks, but I can see if anyone's been intruding. So far it is totally secure.
Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese (Score:5, Funny)
Game the system ... (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 ...
Re: Can't have it all. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese (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.
Easy (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.
Re: Can't have it all. (Score:4, Funny)
Re: Can't have it all. (Score:5, Funny)
Your an idiot.
/facepalm
Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese (Score:5, Funny)
Your Swiss cheese security is full of holes!
Re:Easy (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.
Twitter (Score:4, Funny)
...puts a crimp in the number of followers though.
Re:Can't have it all. (Score:4, Funny)
Everybody does something criminal. On the average of three felonies a day.
http://kottke.org/13/06/you-commit-three-felonies-a-day [kottke.org]
Want some bread with your water?
Re: Can't have it all. (Score:3, Funny)
The parent should be modded up. It's factual, relevant, and worth remembering.
Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Game the system ... (Score:5, Funny)
well spend (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I hide my data in big wheels of cheese (Score:5, Funny)
Most companies would use something that's just gouda enough