This is the big story in tech today:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-infiltrates-links-to-yahoo-google-data-centers-worldwide-snowden-documents-say/2013/10/30/e51d661e-4166-11e3-8b74-d89d714ca4dd_story.html
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I'm just going to post my thoughts on this. Standard disclaimer: They are my own thoughts, and not those of my employer.
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Fuck these guys.
I've spent the last ten years of my life trying to keep Google's users safe and secure from the many diverse threats Google faces.
I've seen armies of machines DOS-ing Google. I've seen worms DOS'ing Google to find vulnerabilities in other people's software. I've seen criminal gangs figure out malware. I've seen spyware masquerading as toolbars so thick it breaks computers because it interferes with the other spyware.
I've even seen oppressive governments use state sponsored hacking to target dissidents.
But even though we suspected this was happening, it still makes me terribly sad. It makes me sad because I believe in America.
Not in that flag-waving bullshit we've-got-our-big-trucks-and-bigger-tanks sort of way, but in the way that you can looked a good friend who has a lot of flaws, but every time you meet him, you think, "That guy still has some good ideas going on".
But after spending all that time helping in my tiny way to protect Google -- one of the greatest things to arise from the internet -- seeing this, well, it's just a little like coming home from War with Sauron, destroying the One Ring, only to discover the NSA is on the front porch of the Shire chopping down the Party Tree and outsourcing all the hobbit farmers with half-orcs and whips.
The US has to be better than this; but I guess in the interim, that security job is looking a lot more like a Sisyphus thing than ever.
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Also of note, this article from September may call some recent technical decisions into relief:
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-09-06/business/41831756_1_encryption-data-centers-intelligence-agencies
#nsa #surveillancestate
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-infiltrates-links-to-yahoo-google-data-centers-worldwide-snowden-documents-say/2013/10/30/e51d661e-4166-11e3-8b74-d89d714ca4dd_story.html
*
I'm just going to post my thoughts on this. Standard disclaimer: They are my own thoughts, and not those of my employer.
*
Fuck these guys.
I've spent the last ten years of my life trying to keep Google's users safe and secure from the many diverse threats Google faces.
I've seen armies of machines DOS-ing Google. I've seen worms DOS'ing Google to find vulnerabilities in other people's software. I've seen criminal gangs figure out malware. I've seen spyware masquerading as toolbars so thick it breaks computers because it interferes with the other spyware.
I've even seen oppressive governments use state sponsored hacking to target dissidents.
But even though we suspected this was happening, it still makes me terribly sad. It makes me sad because I believe in America.
Not in that flag-waving bullshit we've-got-our-big-trucks-and-bigger-tanks sort of way, but in the way that you can looked a good friend who has a lot of flaws, but every time you meet him, you think, "That guy still has some good ideas going on".
But after spending all that time helping in my tiny way to protect Google -- one of the greatest things to arise from the internet -- seeing this, well, it's just a little like coming home from War with Sauron, destroying the One Ring, only to discover the NSA is on the front porch of the Shire chopping down the Party Tree and outsourcing all the hobbit farmers with half-orcs and whips.
The US has to be better than this; but I guess in the interim, that security job is looking a lot more like a Sisyphus thing than ever.
*
Also of note, this article from September may call some recent technical decisions into relief:
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-09-06/business/41831756_1_encryption-data-centers-intelligence-agencies
#nsa #surveillancestate
View 169 previous comments
The hardware maker I most respect and have been buying from for decades has quit doing business on account of this government:
http://www.weedwrench.com/weedwrench/Nov 17, 2013
Hi, I would appreciate an other opinion in a case on something we all working on IT should be ware of (politics, police and intelligence committing crimes). Please do have a look at Facebook under 'Finland Unrevealed'. Should be seen outside Finland (blocked), if not then use proxy. Sincerely, Åke Tyvi Ps. These people 'fuck up' differently!Dec 4, 2013
O K I will try to sum it up for you.
There is a point here everyone seem to be missing. Google's private fiber network is a trunk. Think of the CPU power required to sift that huge data WAVE. Only a big group like Google or a government could pull it off. I might be wrong but if You tap a major Google or yahoo trunk fiber don't you have to replicate to some degree the data handling ability of that network even to read the recording of the taped data what like 500 TB a min. or more?
So either Google already knew all its data was getting sucked up and did not bother with the traffic overhead encryption would cause on the "private network".
Or Google expected the Governments to follow laws and not search All data with out a warrant from the secret fisa court LOL.
I bet Google all ready knew the data was taped and this is all just PR
To Bad dude this is just PR Google is in bed with NSA and NSA = Full access to 90% of all fiber traffic world wide.
So what hobbit novel does my view reflect I wonder.Dec 10, 2013
Thank you for your dedication!Sep 2, 2014- I like Americans I know many of them but in the end America is a complicated country with positives and negatives. I love my American friends but they don't realize the reason America has a target on its back is a large number of Americans are arrogant and self-centered and think they're better than others. being raised in a society with freedom and empowerment it's easy to overlook the advantages you have despite what ever condition you may be living in.
no government is perfect, no country is perfect and no person is perfect.
The American Declaration of Independence represents a country founded on the ideas that if something is not working you can make it work.
You can complain about them monitoring you but they're just trying to do what they think is best as your elected officials to maintain a standard of living the American civilians have been accustomed too.
Google is an idea that was founded in created and developed and exists in cyberspace and in peoples minds. just an international organize station and there may be tons of hard-working people who have dedicated their lives to it, but if it disappeared from the face of this planet no one would truly miss it. in the end it would be replaced.
America is a country that exists in a physical reality and has people living in it. safety of America is more important than the safety of Google.
if the American government was paying your paycheck and you were dedicated to them you would be on the other side.
i'm not trying to knock the hard work you say you've done in the last 10 years. maybe you should look back at the history of mankind and the different levels of freedom we have had at different periods, or look at some of the other countries that exist in present-day society.
because if you feel your freedoms are being infrindged upon and that you are being treated fairly?!
we live in very modern times, The power of the people can move mountains if they come together in an organized and intelligent manner, rather than an unruly mob or mass of individuals.
Where are our Martin Luther's and Pope John Paul's?
where is the next generation of leaders who will provide society with the morales and guidance that is required to overcome and endure the challenges of tomorrow?
I believe that there is good inside of every person but sometimes people forget themselves due to their experiences and outlook.
we can always re-educate ourselves and learn more about the world around us and other people and try to have a better understanding of the reality we live in.
I hope that anyone who reads the initial posting of the gentleman at Google and my posting considers the following.
there are many hard-working individuals at Google who have done their best to provide excellence to all of its users.
but in the end all of us no matter what color of skin religion or country that you come from, just want to be safe.
and if anyone thinks the NSA is somehow trying to profit or endanger anyone by listening into conversations.. honestly why would you feel that way unless you actually had something to hide?
in the end I appreciate Google despite the fact that I curse your name every day for some of the search results i get.. The mapping you have done of our planet and other things have been amazing.
in the end you have satellites the NSA has satellites.
you have websites the NSA has websites.
you have money and power the NSA has money and power.
Google and its affiliates have videos which feature adult situations such as anything and everything from weapons training to make your own Hammocks or other devices.
again no matter where you live if you can't realize why the NSA would want to want to monitor that kind of activity you're naïve.
truth is the American government is pretty upfront about certain things and they probably wouldn't try to get away with that without being honest about it.
I understand where you're coming from and the points you're trying to make but in the end I think that you should just try to do your job and maybe cooperate with them or ignore them.
If you've been working for Google for 10 years and have the freedom to rant on the Internet about how you feel your freedoms are being "infringed" upon.. you're obviously doing okay.
maybe you should try to look at the world in a more positive way because everything has a negative and positive side. if you can't see a positive to something it's because you're not looking at something creatively enough.
happy new year good luck in your job and I hope everyone stays safe.Jan 9, 2015 - "Fuck these guys. "
+1Jan 18, 2015
