On-Topic Edward Snowden: NSA Whistleblower Revealed, Interview

[palbert]

The South China Morning Post's (SCMP) evaluation of the material given it confirms US hacking of Hong Kong and mainland China, said to be with a 75% success rate for the attempts made.

New details about the data can be revealed by the Post after further analysis of information Snowden divulged during an exclusive interview on Wednesday in which the former CIA computer analyst exposed extensive hacking by the US in Hong Kong and the mainland.
....
The detailed records - which cannot be independently verified - show specific dates and the IP addresses of computers in Hong Kong and on the mainland hacked by the National Security Agency over a four-year period.

They also include information indicating whether an attack on a computer was ongoing or had been completed, along with an amount of additional operational information.

SCMP says a factor for the US is what Snowden might reveal in any court proceedings.

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...ified-us-data-shows-hong-kong-hacking-targets

"Intellesting," as Charlie Chan would say. Sure puts the cat among the pigeons so far as China is concerned.

 

[JayHawk]

He's the head guy, the supposed leader, the big fish ... but so far he's the "dumb one" who's not talking.

This version of spying is bigger, grander, more expansive than anything Bush had in mind.

Isn't it time to let Obama take a little responsibility?

No I just tire of the chant... I know your party and you yourself personally are desperate for a scandal to take root. But looking like salivating dogs constantly does not imbue a sense of confidence in your outrageous schemes.

AGAIN you miss the point. If you had legal standing and the backing of BOTH parties for a item would you come out and say... I am responsible for this cocka-maimy conspiracy theory cooked up in the crack dens of the right wing. Nope you wouldn't. Neither will he.

 

[JayHawk]

But no, I'm actually not doing anything. Not usign the companies won't help Snowden a bit. Not using the companies will not support the guy or his cause at all. It's not the companies who were doing something wrong.

And the government didn't either. We as citizens supported and re-elected the congress that made the patriot act and nothing has been done that is illegal. The vast outrage and hero worship seems to be coming mostly from overseas. Journalist, talk show host, and comedians are making good money covering it indepth but in the end they will find nothing was done illegally.

Guess what? Most Americans don't give a shit. All of that tracking data you refer to is already collected by companies. If it can help security services stop a credible threat then most people have no issue.

 

[Jack Springer]

He's the President. I'm not. You're not.

He has responsibilities.

 

[JayHawk]

Responsible to admit something because Jacky wants him to....lol! Dont be ridiculous.

Address the topic. How can he admit doing wrong to something that is not wrong to most Americans and is legal by our laws?

Perhaps later today he should admit to riding in the front of the bus... the civil rights act made that legal or rather illegal to not allow him to ride up front because of a variety of conditions including color of skin. But there are racist and they think he should be treated differently... should he admit guilt to satisfy them?

 

[frankfrank]

Note that this data is from the requests that these companies are permitted to disclose. The NYT and others have reported on the fact that requests are made with the stipulation that the companies cannot reveal even that a request was made.

Sounds a lot like the way that National Security Letters work...

By the way, you really might want to look up what the CCC does/is. I'm a member since 2001.

And I only thought that it was a perfect bowling score (300), lol.

 

[Jack Springer]

Gotta say it's strange having an avowed hacker as a moderator.

 

[Kulindahr]

And the government didn't either. We as citizens supported and re-elected the congress that made the patriot act and nothing has been done that is illegal. The vast outrage and hero worship seems to be coming mostly from overseas. Journalist, talk show host, and comedians are making good money covering it indepth but in the end they will find nothing was done illegally.

Guess what? Most Americans don't give a shit. All of that tracking data you refer to is already collected by companies. If it can help security services stop a credible threat then most people have no issue.

If you can't distinguish between "wrong" and "illegal", you have no business making moral choices.

 

[Kulindahr]

Responsible to admit something because Jacky wants him to....lol! Dont be ridiculous.

Address the topic. How can he admit doing wrong to something that is not wrong to most Americans and is legal by our laws?

Perhaps later today he should admit to riding in the front of the bus... the civil rights act made that legal or rather illegal to not allow him to ride up front because of a variety of conditions including color of skin. But there are racist and they think he should be treated differently... should he admit guilt to satisfy them?

Most Americans agree that if what Snowden says is happening is really happening, it's wrong. They only agree it's okay if what they're asked about is what the surveillance state apologists claim is going on.

 

[Telstra]

Very good argument for Edward Snowden as a hero !!!

 

[opinterph]

Gotta say it's strange having an avowed hacker as a moderator.

In a previous job, one of my responsibilities included the overall management of a computer network. At one point in time, I hired a consulting firm to try and hack into that system. The results were quite informative and helpful.

 

[kallipolis]

Most Americans agree that if what Snowden says is happening is really happening, it's wrong. They only agree it's okay if what they're asked about is what the surveillance state apologists claim is going on.

Nicely phrased and appropriate when noting that there are posters here who would sell their liberties because the government says it is protecting them......nothing new under the sun.

 

[evanrick]

I just watched the Lawrence O'Donnell interview with Ed Snowdens friend Mavanee Anderson.

At the end of the interview O'Donnell asks what is the difference between her, a friends (or any young informed regular Americans) view of the 'architecture of oppression' vs what Snowden saw and Andersons. Anderson said she wouldn't have leaked information the way Snowden did but shared the same reasons to be concerned with a spy state, warrantless wiretaps, executive overreach etc.

What this tells me is that Snowden, Anderson and activists believe is that they do not trust government 'as-is', that their distrust stems from the curtailing of liberty by congress and the president, and that the 'protections' in place do the opposite of enhance our freedom.

Liberals would argue these protections enhance our liberty because the powers have not been abused yet, and Obama like Bush said that we must sacrifice liberty to save ourselves.

Maybe so, maybe Snowden could have been a better force for change if he stayed within the intelligence 'community' as he did work for a private corporation.

Maybe he did more damage to the libertarian cause by outing himself as the leaker?

Only time will tell, but this is a sneak peek into the next generations cause, that it will be about the right to liberty every American has, that every person should have vs what government wants.

But it seems for now the libertarian instinct has rendered judgement over the domestic spying, and that is a reason to be grateful that someone stood up for something, even if we don't agree with them.

Who has the most to lose if the intelligence networks are allowed to operate in secret? We all do.

If we are to be a more peaceful world we must trust each other, not enshrine distrust in law with the Patriot Act.

Snowden did the right thing by highlighting the potential short circuiting of democracy by a secret agency.

No entity should have that power.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/49263362#52187381

 

[rareboy]

Gotta say it's strange having an avowed hacker as a moderator.

Why strange?

Does this somehow offend your delicate sensibilities or somehow affect the person's work as a moderator?

Or does it weird you out to know that they could be tracking your every keystroke?

C'mon. Share with us.

 

[Corny]

Jack: today's media's definition of a hacker doesn't match the original meaning. Someone labeling himself as a hacker, doesn't mean that he did/does anything illegal (that's what we call a cracker).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker_(term)#Hacker_definition_controversy

 

[Kulindahr]

Very good argument for Edward Snowden as a hero !!!

Excellent interview -- thanks for the link.

 

[Sausy]

Now there are a number of people who are basically selling the idea that Snowden is either a Chinese agent or double agent.... and in the world of international spying, there are no clean hands...but even if the truth was that Snowden is not on the up and up, if he hadn't come out like this just when before it would have been too late would the alarm be sounded on the level of surveillance exponentially getting pervasive? I do tend for now to believe his enemies would do everything in their power to make him a pariah, to destroy his credibility before the world. It's also possible he does have less honorable motives, but even that being the case.... the whole prospect of an out of control surveillance state, even if we take at face value the good intentions of those who have developed it, who maintain it... can they control the actions of those in the future who may have less noble intentions to prevent horrible abuses? To make sure we don't have all powerful Big Brother looking at us anytime, anywhere, to enforce submission?

If the messenger has an agenda of his own, which has NOT been proved except in a circumstantial manner.... is the message not worth a deep, open debate in our society? To protect us by potentially destroying what our purported Western values speak to? When it started under the Bush Administration, I was very dubious, I had strong disagreements with which how much more intrusive government was going to get in acting to promote our security in a post 9-11 world. The possibilities have grown even more mind boggling, and I just can't see where it's worth the tradeoff. Whom can be believed, or does it matter...do we have any say in choosing what kind of a society we want the next generations to grow up in?

 

[Telstra]

According to this video,
the US hacked into Hong kong and chinese internet much more than the other way around.

 

[JayHawk]

Odd that Snowden is now using his knowledge to gain further warm and fuzzy feelings from the Chinese. Or maybe not.

Telstra, did you really think we weren't looking into their networks? The reason we publicly announce it when we find them is to let them know they are caught and to embarrass them publicly. So tell me, what does it mean to you that Chinese papers and leadership haven't made the same claims? Work through it I will wait.

This targeting the journalist is not kosher by any means. If he made such a threat that he thoroughly denies concerning working operatives then he would be a spy but it appears unfounded.

Tick Tock tick Tock... just a little more time until Snowden is a full on turned spy. Oh wait he already is spilling everything he knows about the American NSA. Guess that throws the "I'm a hero" bullshit out the window... how about the I wills ave you from your evil government and yet he goes to a government like China to help them..... Weird huh?

 

[Telstra]

Odd that Snowden is now using his knowledge to gain further warm and fuzzy feelings from the Chinese. Or maybe not.

Telstra, did you really think we weren't looking into their networks? The reason we publicly announce it when we find them is to let them know they are caught and to embarrass them publicly. So tell me, what does it mean to you that Chinese papers and leadership haven't made the same claims? Work through it I will wait.

This targeting the journalist is not kosher by any means. If he made such a threat that he thoroughly denies concerning working operatives then he would be a spy but it appears unfounded.

Tick Tock tick Tock... just a little more time until Snowden is a full on turned spy. Oh wait he already is spilling everything he knows about the American NSA. Guess that throws the "I'm a hero" bullshit out the window... how about the I wills ave you from your evil government and yet he goes to a government like China to help them..... Weird huh?

Thats weird.
If you steal something you keep quiet but if i steal something you shout thief thief out loud to let others know