Re: Shutting the Internet Down.

From: zeb haradon (zebharadon@hotmail.com)
Date: Sun Jul 16 2000 - 23:41:59 MDT


>From: Paul Hughes <paul@planetp.cc>
>Reply-To: extropians@extropy.org
>To: Transhuman Mailing List <transhuman@logrus.org>, Extropians
>Mailing List <extropians@extropy.com>
>Subject: Shutting the Internet Down.
>Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 21:04:19 -0700
>
>I just read this article by Robert X. Cringley:
>
>Original Article: http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20000713.html
>

...

>
>So why the box?
>
>The probable reason is because cops like to be in control. They
>LIKE boxes, like delivering them in unmarked cars, like the satisfying
>click of the RJ-45 connector as it slides home.

They also like naming it something like "Carnivore" - you'd think they have
some PR people to come up with something more Orwellian, like "Protector" or
"Freedom box".

...

>
>But I have my own theory about Carnivore. From a network
>architecture standpoint, the best location for Carnivore is right after
>the ISP's router. This puts Carnivore in the path of every packet
>entering or leaving the ISP. It's also a major reason why ISPs might
>not want to install Carnivore boxes -- it's the network's point of
>greatest vulnerability. In this position, Carnivore can act as a
>listening and recording device, OR IT CAN ACT AS A SWITCH. If
>we ever hear a proposal from the FBI in which it plans to install
>Carnivores at all 6000 ISPs in the U.S., we'll be giving the
>government the power to do something it can't do right now.
>
> Shut the Internet down.
>

I had not considered this. Can you think of any counter measures to take -
either hardware or software solutions - if this was actually proposed?

---------------------------------------------------
Zeb Haradon (zebharadon@hotmail.com)
My personal webpage:
http://www.inconnect.com/~zharadon/ubunix
A movie I'm directing:
http://www.elevatormovie.com

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