NSA to help Google fight cyberattacks

[davidh]

Google to enlist NSA to help it ward off cyberattacks

By Ellen Nakashima
Thursday, February 4, 2010

The world's largest Internet search company and the world's most powerful electronic surveillance organization are teaming up in the name of cybersecurity.

Under an agreement that is still being finalized, the National Security Agency would help Google analyze a major corporate espionage attack that the firm said originated in China and targeted its computer networks, according to cybersecurity experts familiar with the matter. The objective is to better defend Google -- and its users -- from future attack.

Google and the NSA declined to comment on the partnership. But sources with knowledge of the arrangement, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the alliance is being designed to allow the two organizations to share critical information without violating Google's policies or laws that protect the privacy of Americans' online communications. The sources said the deal does not mean the NSA will be viewing users' searches or e-mail accounts or that Google will be sharing proprietary data. ... ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020304057.html..

[dgermann]

DH--

Thanks for these posts.

When big brother and big sister get together, we can certainly feel more secure, yes?

[davidh]

DH--

Thanks for these posts.

When big brother and big sister get together, we can certainly feel more secure, yes?
I was a Spec 4 working for NSA in 1964 during the Gulf of Tonkin crisis, etc.
We used to joke with each other that the whole operation was just a front for the real thing. While there IS/ARE agency/agencies more secret than CIA or NSA, they (CIA, NSA) are nevertheless REAL and not just fronts. So from my POV the Gulf of Tonkin incident was 100% real.

While I was at NSA, the guy who was the leader of the project to break the Japanese code machine in WWII (NOT the UK / Alan Turing project to break the Nazi ENIGMA) got a cash reward of $100,000 from the gov't. That invention was probably worth hundreds of billions in today's money.

The people that I worked with at NSA, both military and civilian were GOOD PEOPLE. Nothing is perfect. Democracy and civil rights will ALWAYS be under threat both from our own selves and from avowed enemies.

Life is hard. You can't help rubbing people the wrong way when there are so many valid and yet conflicting interests in the world, not to mention the bogus motives.

The perception for example that political correctness was a main reason why the Ft. Hood shooter was not exposed earlier is probably very true. The phenomenon is probably much more widespread, e.g. I have heard that field agents in FBI are often restrained by PC of the higher echelons.

Just to give a small example, I heard Wafa Sultan on web video tell how she congratulated a convenience store worker Muslim man on getting his USA certificate of naturalization and he said "I put it on the bottom of my shoe".
Meaning he despised our law (Constitution) and society.

I think the policies that "give a free pass" to everybody who hates us with a passion leave something to be desired. (e.g. reading Miranda rights to foreign spies, agents, combatants, etc.)

People who threaten to wipe countries off the map and who wish to bring the end of the world and the Mahdi Imam, I submit, are more dangerous than fundamentalist Christians who believe Jesus is coming soon, most of whom don't build up stock piles of rockets, bombs, automatic weapons in their garage or cellar.

BTW, I think Google is mostly ok. Of course anything or anybody who gets real big will indulge in hubris sooner or later.

[dgermann]

David--

both military and civilian were GOOD PEOPLE. Nothing is perfect.

This makes sense to me--people in government service are probably there from altruism.

I think the policies that "give a free pass" to everybody who hates us with a passion leave something to be desired. (e.g. reading Miranda rights to foreign spies, agents, combatants, etc.)

David, I am not sure I understand what your meaning is here.

[davidh]

David--



This makes sense to me--people in government service are probably there from altruism.



David, I am not sure I understand what your meaning is here.
Altruism? Probably, to feed their family :) Charity begins at home.

I don't know what is the motivation of AG Holder & Pres. Obama to try admitted 9/11 enemy agents / combatants in civilian courts. Perhaps they naively believe those Islamists who despise freedom of speech and civil liberties will somehow magically be converted by American liberality?

http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorGraham.Blog.