[p2p-research] Drone hacking

[Eugen Leitl]

On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 02:10:19PM -0800, J. Andrew Rogers wrote:

> The mistake here is in thinking that decentralized networks disfavor
> "concentrated power" organizations. In practice the exact opposite is
> true. You can exploit and leverage decentralized networks in ways that
> are far more subtle and difficult to detect than centralized ones --
> they have their own weaknesses. Against a very technically advanced
> adversary with excellent mathematics and computer science, the barrier
> to effectiveness to the wannabe asymmetrical warrior is *far* higher
> than in more traditional asymmetrical warfare scenarios.

I hate me-toos, but this point can't be emphasized enough.
Sophistication and resources favor large centralized institutions.

As an example, imagine matching the capabilities of an intelligence
organisation such as NSA with a large number of volunteers. 
Clearly, this doesn't nearly work.
 
> The "advantage" for someone at a systemic disadvantage is purely
> transitory, it has only been true in practice because of the
> traditional lack of sophistication on the part of the organizations
> they were fighting against. Obviously the barrier to entry is higher
> for the "concentrated power" organization as well, as it requires very
> specific kinds of technological competence that they may have not had
> any prior need to develop.
> 
> 
> When the main tools of war become vast supercomputers and very
> advanced theoretical mathematics, it won't favor the scrappy "freedom
> fighter". It is much easier to buy an AK47 or build an IED than to
> create a competitive (and survivable) analytical supercomputing
> infrastructure that can play this particular game of chess.

-- 
Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org
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