The NSA has the power currently to record everything they can. And according to the leaked notes, they pretty much are. That means everything you put on the internet is suspect of being spied upon. Google's traffic was being replicated between their own COLOs over their own dark fiber... So they thought they were safe. The leak in the security there was, apparently, the repeaters on said dark fiber. Thus, Google (and now apparently Yahoo as well) is now encrypting everything, even between their own servers. Not an easy task. Is open source better? It makes it possible to prove that the program itself is secure. That doesn't make it better, just more transparent. There are (likely) many superior closed source and just as secure applications, it just can't be proved in the same fashion. I use a Roku at home. And a Pogo Plug. And a ReadyNAS. And an XBox. And a "smart" JVC tv. Do I trust these guys to be behaving on my network, not secretly attempting to glean banking information and sending them to nefarious do-no-gooders? Yes, I do. But that's mostly because I don't have the energy to be that parinoid. I trust the wisdom of the crowds, and that people with interests in these matters will find the flaws in the system (like the LG TVs). I use good practices (Passwords and encryption on what I feel is valuable) and, otherwise, don't sweat the small stuff.
--Matt RossEphrata School District Jon D , 11/20/2013 1:06 PM: Wow, this is good to know. Even though I don't break the law, I know the RIAA and MPIAA are sue happy and don't seem to care if they're suing the right person or not. I would rather avoid being in anyone's database. +1 for XBMC. I think 2014 is going to be the year of open source. The only thing safe post 1983. . On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 2:06 PM, Kurt Buff <[email protected]> wrote: On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 10:25 AM, Ben Scott <[email protected]> wrote: > On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 1:11 PM, Kurt Buff <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> You assume I have *any* of those technologies. >>>> I do not - and intend never to have them, for this very reason, and >>>> others. >>> >>> A privacy paranoid posting from a Gmail address. How ironic. ;-) >> >> Not ironic. In this case, a cost/benefit analysis. > > On this list, in the past, more than once, you've taken and held an > absolute position in the face of several "cost/benefit" > counter-arguments, and dismissed such arguments outright. > > So... more irony. :-) > >> Lies, and poor customer service - that's the crux of the matter. > > Oh, I agree, completely. > > But it's not like GOOG scores any better. No, GOOG scores much better. Kurt
