Wiretap Law May Create 'Backdoors' For Hackers, Experts Warn

[RKP5637]

Knowledgeable individuals will probably be ignored by politicians ... often ... Maybe the current PTB might be different ...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/wiretap-law-hackers_n_3238032.html?ir=Technology&utm_campaign=050813&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alert-technology&utm_content=Title

As the Obama administration considers supporting a proposal to help law enforcement eavesdrop on Internet communications, experts warn the measure could have an unintended consequence: creating digital "backdoors" for cybercriminals to exploit.

The FBI has been pushing for legislation that would force companies like Google and Facebook to create ways for law enforcement to conduct court-approved surveillance on their networks. The Obama administration is "on the verge of backing" a measure that would fine Silicon Valley companies that refuse to build wiretapping capabilities into their systems, according to The New York Times.

But security experts and at least one lawmaker say it could make the Internet less safe by requiring tech companies to essentially design a security flaw into their products.

"The government should be doing everything in its power to increase the security of our communications networks, not riddling them with interception backdoors that will likely be exploited by criminals and foreign governments," Chris Soghoian, a policy analyst for the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. "History has shown time and time again that interception backdoors are fundamentally at odds with good cybersecurity."

[bemildred]

1. "Never wise up a chump."

Dumb asses are being hacked and robbed blind, and they worry about their ability to spy on other people at will.

The fact is that it is very difficult and time consuming to make network software un-hackable, and TPTB ought to at least address that thoroughly first, for all of us, the banks included, before worrying about making convenient holes in the wall to peek through.

[RKP5637]

2. There is an element I'm really fed up with, that

"we the people" are enemies of the state, or about to be. Meanwhile, those intent on harm are not going to be broadcasting APB's on the internet. I'm really fed up with Big Brother. Yet another WTF.

[bemildred]

4. This goes back to the cryptography argument 20 years ago.

When the spooks and LEOs were trying to make sure the public did not have encryption, and then did not have industrial encryption, and then had back doors, all of which were obviously futile efforts and demonstrate the completely WRONG attitude for a so-called free and democratic country and a future where everybody will be wired and cameraed and online 24/7. TPTB cannot control the flow of information like they used to, but they are still desperately trying, all those mega-databases full of twitter and bubblegummer chat.

[RC]

3. How's that 4th Amendment working out for us?

"...ways for law enforcement to conduct court-approved surveillance on their networks."

There are so many loop holes in the 4th Amendment now, it looks like a worn out window screen. This is nothing more than another hole for the insects to get in.