State and private security surveillance of protests

[Paul Mobbs]

On Monday, September 26, 2011 09:07:18 am Felix wrote:
>> Very good 'File on 4' programme now available on-line, "investigat[ing] the
>> use of computer hacking by the police and security agencies and asks -- is
>> it legal?"
> 
> How can we stop them?

The fundamental problem here is that people accept the computer technologies 
they use as immutable -- beyond our ability to influence -- when in fact you 
need to use systems that provide security and reliability in order to support 
your work.

The thing that allows the state/spooks to do this are the inherent 
insecurities of the Windows operating system, and many of the proprietary 
applications that it uses. Not only does this create the security flaws that 
allow access, but Microsoft has long been rumoured to collaborate with 
security services and state security to provide means of access and 
circumventing security.

The other problem is the gadgetisation of communications. Be it mobile phones, 
blackberries or wireless networks, all these devices are fundamentally 
insecure because the data they create in their ordinary operation -- even 
without external intervention -- creates a more effective system of 
surveillance than what the state was able to enact 15 or 20 years ago.

The simple answer -- stop using proprietary software and switch to Linux. E.g. 
Linux doesn't have the security/virus problems of Windows because it's 
inherently more secure because of its design.

For further details see:
http://www.fraw.org.uk/f.html?j1
http://www.fraw.org.uk/f.html?j2
http://www.fraw.org.uk/f.html?browseralert
http://www.fraw.org.uk/f.html?q1

There's also some old information on security for activists at:
http://www.fraw.org.uk/mei/archive/index.shtml#irt
http://www.fraw.org.uk/mei/archive/index.shtml#pws


P.

-- 

.

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(Edward Burrough, 1659 - from 'Quaker Faith and Practice')

Paul's book, "Energy Beyond Oil", is out now!
For details see http://www.fraw.org.uk/mei/ebo/

Read my 'essay' weblog, "Ecolonomics", at:
http://www.fraw.org.uk/mei/ecolonomics/

Paul Mobbs, Mobbs' Environmental Investigations
3 Grosvenor Road, Banbury OX16 5HN, England
tel./fax (+44/0)1295 261864
email - mobbsey at gn.apc.org
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