Well let's see how long this lasts.

I urge everyone to have a look at this article and the site. Even if you aren't doing anything wrong.

by Paul McNamara
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Helping to keep government's prying eyes at bay
By Paul McNamara on Tue, 03/03/09 - 1:00pm.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/39157

(embedded links in the original story at the link above. -Lynann)


The Electronic Frontier Foundation today has taken the wraps off a new Web site designed to help you keep the government from taking the wraps off your personal communications and stored data.

And here's a prediction: Someone's going to call it a threat to national security before the day is out. ... Phooey.

From the Surveillance Self-Defense site:

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has created this Surveillance Self-Defense site to educate the American public about the law and technology of government surveillance in the United States, providing the information and tools necessary to evaluate the threat of surveillance and take appropriate steps to defend against it.

Surveillance Self-Defense (SSD) exists to answer two main questions: What can the government legally do to spy on your computer data and communications? And what can you legally do to protect yourself against such spying?

Now if you're thinking that you have no need for such information because you're not doing anything wrong, well, you're right in the sense that this site is not meant for those whose faith in their benevolent government remains unshaken. It's more for those who lived the past eight years, in particular, with their eyes wide open.

From the press release announcing SSD:

"Despite a long and troubling history in this country of the government abusing its surveillance powers, most Americans know very little about how the law protects them or about how they can take steps to protect themselves against government surveillance," said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston. "The Surveillance Self-Defense project offers citizens a legal and technical toolkit with tips on how to defend themselves in case the government attempts to search, seize, subpoena or spy on their most private data."

More from the site:

After an introductory discussion of how you should think about making security decisions - it's all about risk management - we'll be answering those two questions for three types of data:

First, we're going to talk about the threat to the data stored on your computer posed by searches and seizures by law enforcement, as well as subpoenas demanding your records.

There a section called "What can the government do?" gets into: the Fourth Amendment; reasonable expectations of privacy; search warrants; "sneak and peek" search warrants; warrantless searches; search incident to lawful arrest; and subpoenas.

As for what you can do to protect yourself, topics include: develop a data retention and destruction policy; master the basics of data protection; learn how to use passwords properly; encrypt your data; and protect yourself against malware.

Second, we're going to talk about the threat to your data on the wire - that is, your data as it's being transmitted - posed by wiretapping and other real-time surveillance of your telephone and Internet communications by law enforcement.

Third, we're going to describe the information about you that is stored by third parties like your phone company and your Internet service provider, and how law enforcement officials can get it.

There are also sections about the government's recent claims to expanded surveillance authority, as well as one about "defensive technologies" that may cause a stir in some circles.

The site is well organized, easily navigable, and written so as not to scare off the non-techies. There's a legal disclaimer noting that "this guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice."

Curiously missing is any sort or discussion forum, although there is a form for asking questions.

I've always liked that the EFF is an action-oriented advocacy group, witness the organization's highly successful Patent Busting Project. This effort fits in with its mission quite nicely and is worth a look ... even if you have nothing to hide.

watch out, winx is going to say that this is just a conspiracy.

it's true!!! anything you don't understand, you put it down by calling it a conspiracy then you don't have to learn anything about it.

That is not true.

I understand plenty. I understand that if somebody doesn't agree with you, you get a temper tantrum and don't quit bothering people.

yep, you're right, that's all i'm about. you caught me. i'm just a shallow, spotlight hogging ego maniac. can't stand it if someone doesn't agree with me. i think i'm going to take your statement and call it a conspiracy just because i can.

yes, and it happens quiet a lot on here. and from the looks of it in this thread

well, you're coming into this at a point where you can't see what her and fanta has been putting me through. you're just seeing me fighting back.

Not like we've ever seen this:

"yep, you're right, that's all i'm about. you caught me. i'm just a shallow, spotlight hogging ego maniac. can't stand it if someone doesn't agree with me."

Relax...don't feel alone it's not like there isn't a lot of that on this site on a regular basis.

it's times like this that I kinda miss Linddy lol I would love to see her opinion on this stuff.

Nice to see you, Foliel.

lynann, have you ever watched the movies on youtube by this lady named catherine albrecht?

[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Maj1I6kH0[/link]

if you watch this video, it's got a few parts to it, but it is well worth watching. they show how everything is going to be tracked with the RFID chip. she is doing the same thing as the EFF to get this info out there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Maj1I6kH0

oops, i don't know how to make the links yet.

I don't care too much about putting a link here.

If someone cannot cut & paste then...

Well...

Hey there Foliel! Good to see you.

i watched a little of the first video and stopped because she is talking how its possible, not how its going to be

but shes right about the store member ships. kroger tracks and records everything i by from them and every month they send me a book of coupons of stuff i actually buy wich saves me A LOT of money each week

good, then keep shopping with them. i'm sure YOU'LL never see anything like what katherine is talking about happening.

what she thinks COULD happen

sir, i noticed that you stopped on the first video and didn't continue. if you would have been so brave as to continue she would have shown you some things that are happening as you and i sit here on our lazy butts and type on this forum. but that's your prerogative, i've learned that if someone doesn't want to believe it, they won't. no problems.

Rush has thrown down the gauntlet...and...has challenged Obama to a debate...on his show...any and every issue under the sun...Rush said he'll even supply the $100.00 a lb beef that Obama has every weds at his cocktail parties... ....Rush will provide all transportation, and lodging...so there will be NO taxpayers money involved...no teleprompters...no written notes...they'll debate Gitmo...taxes...reganomics vs socialism...government vs the private sector...anything and everything !!...Rush said...only Obama and him...face to face...ummmmmmmm...something tell's me that Barry's not interested...

it doesn't matter whether they would debate or not. when you have two guys that have been telling lies about everything trying to debate, it cancels out the validity of the debate.