Bush Administration Plans To Install Black Box Sensors On Private-Sector Computer Networks
Bush Administration Plans To Install Black Box Sensors On Private-Sector Computer Networks
[Our guest blogger, Peter Swire, is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and served as the Clinton Administration's Chief Counselor for Privacy.]
The Bush administration wants to place more black boxes on private-sector computer networks. We’ve already learned a lot about the NSA wiretap program and its Narus STA 6400 splitter — that’s the black box that AT&T whistleblower Mark Klein reported the NSA placed at a major node for voice and Internet communications (inside this secret room).
The president’s budget wants to go much further. It moves beyond telcos and allocates $6 billion for a secretive system that is designed to protect government and private computer systems from attack. According to the Wall Street Journal, the White House proposal “would likely require the government to install sensors on private, company networks.”
This proposal repeats the mistakes of the Federal Intrusion Detection Network, which proposed similar monitoring of private computer systems when it was proposed in 1999. That aspect of FIDNet was quickly withdrawn, for at least three good reasons:
1. Private companies are understandably reluctant to permit the government to attach unknown hardware or software to their corporate systems. The risks of security breach and operational problems are too high, especially given the long history of computer security failures by the federal agencies themselves.
2. Direct federal intervention in private computer systems raises innumerable legal and policy issues about privacy, the Fourth Amendment, and the scope of government surveillance.
3. The new proposal ignores the sensible principles for cybersecurity that were adopted in the wake of the FIDNet fiasco and built into the Federal Computer Incident Response Center. Quite simply, the federal government should adopt best security practices that apply to private systems.
Under the better approach, the federal government should adopt state-of-the-art intrusion detection software and other measures for its own systems to combat intrusions into federal systems. The federal government should not, however, try to install its equipment into private systems.
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time to impeach these LUNATICS!!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pmPoint 7 of the 14 Points of Fascism:
Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite.
WAKE UP AMERICA! SMELL THE FASCISM!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:10 pmWhat about all that crap about leaving the free market unrestrained to do whatever is needed on their own? Why doesn’t that apply to security also? Now we know the totality of the Bush/Cheney doctrine:
Corporations’ rights to a free market always trump citizens’ rights.
Citizens’ rights to know what the government is doing are always trumped by executive privilege.
Government’s rights of intrusion trump corporate and citizens’ rights
February 5th, 2008 at 12:15 pmWhen the liarship fails to prevent terrorist attacks, look for the liarship to take it out on average americans.
BTW shrub, FAT CHANCE, just like your $3T budget.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:15 pmSo government computers won’t be hacked, but will this help them with their email archiving problem? 10 million lost email is worse than one hacking attempt.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:17 pmThe president’s budget wants to go much further. It moves beyond telcos and allocates $6 billion for a secretive system that is designed to protect government and private computer systems from attack.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:22 pmSince when is it the business of the US government/this garbage administration/our retarded simian president what type of security software private companies use and/or install a secretive system that can only be accessed by individuals that only work for the government/this crappy administration ?
you know… this new world order stuff is becoming more and more feasible… and that scares the living s**t out of me
February 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pmthere was a troll in here the other day that made the laughable claim that under Bush, our freedoms have increased!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:27 pmBush speak for “We are going to illegally spy on every american forever”.
1984
Buck Fush
February 5th, 2008 at 12:27 pmOh yeah. I want an government that cannot even manage to save their damn emails attaching devices to my computer network.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:28 pmIt is long, long past the time to begin criminal investigations into the missing emails, NSA – telco complicity, and even 9/11.
You mean to tell me that we’re unable to find those guilty of failing their Constitutional duties relating to these matters?
I guess even selling out a scape-goat at this point would risk collapsing the entire house of cards, as they’ve chosen to stonewall any attempt to find the truth.
Too bad the founding fathers couldn’t engineer our Democracy to better prevent the rise of the power-elite (i.e. corporate influence).
February 5th, 2008 at 12:28 pmThis of course would include the government installing taps on the RNC and the DNC networks?
At least in the case of the RNC, that might help with the “lost e-mail” problem.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:30 pmthere was a troll in here the other day that made the laughable claim that under Bush, our freedoms have increased!
Comment by ucsbclassics53 — February 5, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
February 5th, 2008 at 12:30 pmIt was that “OBigfoot” idiot…………
Bush Administration Plans To Install Black Box Sensors On Private-Sector Computer Networks
February 5th, 2008 at 12:32 pmThey should do something sensible (for once) ; place a tracking chip into Cheney’s stupid ass , to find out where he disappears off to , and whom he’s having more secret meetings with………..
Another step in the Fascist coup d’etat.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:33 pmLook at his budget.
‘08 is the ‘hurry up & get’rdone’ window for Bushlickers. They want to do as much damage to America’s compassion & benevolence as possible.
The Bush Curve:
-Deplete all resources, income & entitlements for the poor & lower middle class.
-Expand funding for DoJ & private contractors. Not because of threat, but in case they ‘need to use them’.
-Keep driving corporate profits up, specifically oil, pharma & insurance.
-Increase Unitary Executive privileges in ’stealth mode’.
-Borrow money from foreign entities to the point of bankrupting America.
If you chart this on a line graph, you’ll see early ‘08 as the ‘Bush Curve’ begins to decline. Decline will be rapid, but will we let him get away with stealing America? That’s up to you.
VOTE TONIGHT!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:35 pmOrwell had it right, he was only off by the timing/year.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:35 pmIf electronic surveillance is so necessary for a secure America, I want every member of the Bush administration to have all of their electronic devices tapped and all information broadcast over a public website for immediate review by anyone. I want to know what they are planning to do at all times.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:35 pmI keep wondering: Will BushCo’s departure in 2009 in any way affect the ability of the U.S. government a) to pursue a full investigation of the points DieNowForPeace raised; and b) using any evidence uncovered against them?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:36 pmAnd Larry Craig said he will oppose and will filibuster any bill that will put chips in airports bathrooms..
Reason : Family values
February 5th, 2008 at 12:40 pmi cant see the WP link. does anyone else have a link that says that BUSHCO wants to put government security devices in private networks? i would think this action will finally tip the scales, but then again i have thought that so many times…..
February 5th, 2008 at 12:44 pmComment by MCMetal — February 5, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
you’d think he would be against the government’s intrusion into the private-sector…
February 5th, 2008 at 12:48 pmAt what point will we wake up and realize that this is not a political struggle. It is a fight for the United States that must be waged by every means possible. The Republican and corporate elited seek nothing less than to turn this nation into a feudal state. There is already one set of laws for corporations (bankruptcy to eschew union contracts and pension obligations) and another for common people who fall into debt (indentured servitude under the revised bankruptcy law.) The right to petition the government and to demonstrate have been effectively dismissed. (How many ever see the demands of real people roped off and hidden in “free speech” zones.) We have seen the end of habeas corpus and the end of fourth amendment protections. We can no longer see this as politics. It is time to apprehend, try and punish those who have violated the constitution and law. If we fail to do it throught the courts and congress, are we not then compelled to reconsider our loyalty to this government and take appropriate action as others should have against a Hitler or Mussilini?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:49 pmComment by MCMetal — February 5, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
you’d think he would be against the government’s intrusion into the private-sector…
Comment by ucsbclassics53 — February 5, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
February 5th, 2008 at 12:51 pmThe only thing they are “for or against” are exactly what they are told ; by either the wrong-wingnut talking heads/hate mongers , and/or the horseshit GOP and the imbeciles in it……………
I’m pretty sure that the company I work for would require a court order to allow something like that…
February 5th, 2008 at 12:56 pmJust when I think they have done the unimaginable…
they strike a new low.
Can we please Impeach NOW?!?!?!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:59 pmHas anyone else noticed the dive the Dow is currently taking?
Off over 250 points the last time I checked. Life in Bushworld…..
February 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pmSorry, I know that was off-topic!
February 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pmToo bad the founding fathers couldn’t engineer our Democracy to better prevent the rise of the power-elite (i.e. corporate influence).
Comment by DieNowForPeace — February 5, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
Our founding fathers were the power-elite. Their version of democracy was only open to white men who owned land.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:04 pmNo, it was on topic, GL2814.
This is exactly what Bushlickers are trying to do. Bankrupt America, walk off with the cash, & then make the case we need martial law.
Scary? Hell, yes!
True? What else can explain it?
Fixable? Yes, but VOTE TONIGHT!
February 5th, 2008 at 1:05 pmThis is simply more of the spy on America plan that these idiots are trying to impose on our freedoms. The sad part is the idiots that are willing to go along with anything Bush says, regardless of how much it damaged democracy. I voted for Bill Clinton twice, but I wasn’t willing to follow him to any lengths he might have tried. There isn’t one man in the world that I’d follow that much. But most if not all Republicans are narrow minded idiots who love authority figures. If Hilter was alive today, they’d be following him. He claimed that killing the Jews would make Germany safer, and they followed him into defeat.
No idea is worth volunteerily giving up freedom over. If so, why did we fight for freedom to begin with? Why did we spend trillions of dollars fighting the Soviet Union? Was it to end up in a system just like communism? That is exactly what this fasist regime is trying to do to our Country under the name of fighting terror. It’s simply a part of the Karl Rove power grab designed to install a permanent Republican dictatorship in America. If fools continue to put (Republican) party idealogy ahead of America, then we are truly doomed. Remember during WWII they were Nazis first and Germans and human beings last. That is how they justified killing 6 millions people.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:09 pmOn the economy …
A leaked report on the U.S. service sector sent stocks tumbling this morning, as worries grew about a slowing economy and the threat of a recession.
The Institute for Supply Management’s nonmanufacturing index fell to a reading of 41.9 in January — a huge drop from the 54.4 reading in December. The reading was the lowest since October 2001; economists were expecting a reading of 53.
Readings below 50 indicate contraction in the industry. The service sector makes up about 90% of the U.S. economy.
And the DOW is currently down 286 …
February 5th, 2008 at 1:16 pmUn-fricken-believable, and none of the Democratic leaders are doing anything.
Someone needs to body-slam Pelosi through a table, since its not being used for anything else.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:37 pmComment by RUCerious — February 5, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Recession is here. Hopefully it won’t become a Depression.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:42 pmThe president’s budget wants to go much further. It moves beyond telcos and allocates $6 billion for a secretive system that is designed to protect government and private computer systems from attack. According to the Wall Street Journal, the White House proposal “would likely require the government to install sensors on private, company networks.â€
Why do I keep thinking”key escrow” and “Clipper chip”?
Yes, they’ll put in boxes to alert you to a cyber-attack … and more too! Now watch my hand….
Cheers,
February 5th, 2008 at 1:51 pmWTF. He doesn’t have enough money to fully fund the programs we need like the FDA other government agencies, but he has 6 BILLION dollars he wants to spend on this program? Besides, it is nothing more than a thinly veiled way of spying on all our corproations in addition to all the citizens in this country. This presidency is a run-away train wreck.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pmThey will have to pry my porn list from my cold dead laptop……..
February 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pmSpy In Chief attempting to destroy the last shred of democracy on his way out. Or is he really going out? This doesn’t sound like a president planning to exit stage left any time soon. With Medicaid and Medicare about to implode, the little man behind the curtain wants more spy devices. If we don’t impeach this maniac, then we have no one to blame but ourselves for permitting his maniacal spree.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pmWill this nightmare ever end? November is much too far away (or Jan. ‘09 to be more precise). Something has to be done NOW. I thought that’s why we voted a Democratic majority into Congress, but they refuse to wake up.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:59 pmre: He doesn’t have enough money to fully fund the programs we need…
You seemed to have forgotten he’s had his eyes on the Social Security fund for quite some time. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear him announce the liquidation of the fund is necessary to keep the country from sliding into a recession As Spock in said Wrath of Kahn…”the good of the many outweighs the good of the few”… many being the country as a whole the few being the baby-boomers.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:00 pmIt’s not going to happen. Bush is just trying to intimidate the blogosphere. I guess these bloggers were more influential than the right-wing thought. It was their blind spot and still is. Anything the neo-cons want to know is right there in blogosphere print anyway, so where’s the secrecy? Again, Free speech win out and Bush is leaving office so so it’s just sour grapes. This will end up in court at the very least.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pmThe Bush Nightmare is just beginning I fear. We, the Gullible, are falling for the facade of another election and new president. This is probably not the fascist neocon’s plan for this country (PNAC). Call me a naysayer but I don’t believe there will be a presidential election. The people are being lulled into believing that soon we will be free from the shackles of Bush Fascism but is that really the plan?? After all, these con artists have much at stake here. These thugs have big plans in store for us well in advance of November 08. Think epitome of evil. Think diabolical nightmare – and then we may be getting warmer. This country cannot endure another 12 months of this maniac running things. If congress doesn’t bring impeachment soon, there may be nothing left worth saving. Bush has ruined the economy of this country and set us on a course of self-destruction.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:05 pmI have two thoughts on this. First, when does Bush/Cheney start to wind down? Aren’t they leaving in 11 months? Next, when do we get to question the rethug candidates on their intentions for these issues?
February 5th, 2008 at 2:07 pmAbout the only freedom left under our constitution is the right to free speech so if they are able to destroy this by using some flimsy excuse for doing so, it will all be accomplished: The coup on our democracy by Crime Cabal Bush.
I’m waiting to see one of the candidates come out against this invasion of our privacy and right to free speech. The one who does gets my vote.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:09 pm#43 That’s what I find very peculiar about all of this. Bush is not making any attempt to wind down which gives me pause for reflection on his true intentions here. I think he knows he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. That’s what’s most disconcerting about his actions these days. They might be a tipoff of things to come. Martial law. No election. Bush in power indefinitely.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:11 pmThis is definitely not the mindset or actions of a lameduck president soon to be replaced.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:12 pmI am surprised that so many people blame Bu$h for the problems facing the nation today. Sad fact is, he normally wouldn’t get away with what he has if Congress had done their job and keep a tight rein on him, as the Constitution says they should.
Unfortunately, the repugs have been running things until the Democrats took over in the last election. However, they have just barely a majority so the repugs are able to run roughshod over everything they try to do to pull us out of this deadly tail-sin we’re in.
Sadly, by the time the Democrats are able to get the oversight mechanisms fixed on specific targets, Bu$h will be gone. But what I’m really concerned is just what mechanisms he has started that no one knows about but a few selected people that will keep on churning unnoticed because they are so well hidden. It may take decades to uncover the depth of secrecy that occurred under his watch with repug approval.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:14 pmDon’t worry – they’ll forget to pay the bill
February 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pmYeah that’s what they want. Lets see em’ try and get it…
February 5th, 2008 at 3:20 pmIf I were a democratic candidate , I would YELL to the American our privacy and civil liberties are under attack by the White House , specifically mentioning FISA , and corporations collaborating with the government , violating our rights .
SAY something Democratics , say something Obama & Clinton .
I’m getting goddamn tired of these people hiding and not addressing, our liberties being attacked …before it’s too late .
February 5th, 2008 at 4:01 pmIf I were Democratic candidate, I would simply state that we have not stopped Bush from doing anything he wanted. If you liked the result, vote for a Republican and get what you deserve. If not, vote for a Democrat.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:22 pmI do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.
This is the oath which is sworn by these people upon entering office.
I’ve heard too many congressmen and senators say things like: ‘We do have a moral obligation to impeach, but it’s not politically feasable. It’s off the table.’
They do in fact seem to have a legal obligation. More importantly, it’s a sacred charge to do whatever is needed to not just slow, but reverse any such attacks and purge those who would commit to them. Anything less seems to my eyes as nothing short of complicity in treasonous acts. No matter which party they hail from.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:46 amConcerning 53, the Clinton Administration did support a Clipper Chip. I opposed that as a private citizen before entering the Administration in early 1999. We fixed that with the announcement in September 1999, which authorized strong encryption: http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1999/09/990916-crypto-wh1.htm
When FIDNet became public as a preliminary proposal in 1999, Sandy Berger went out the same day to announce that the privacy office would be involved in a top-to-bottom review. We fixed that as well, as described in the post.
This Administration, by contrast, hasn’t fixed its own mistakes, and hasn’t voluntarily had any officials in the White House to work on privacy and civil liberties issues.
No big, sprawling Administration will be perfect on every issue. But putting people in place to work on important issues helps, as does fixing your own mistakes.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:10 pmUnfortunately, the repugs have been running things until the Democrats took over in the last election. However, they have just barely a majority so the repugs are able to run roughshod over everything they try to do to pull us out of this deadly tail-sin we’re in.
Sadly, by the time the Democrats are able to get the oversight mechanisms fixed on specific targets, Bu$h will be gone. But what I’m really concerned is just what mechanisms he has started that no one knows about acer as07b72 battery,acer batbcl11 battery but a few selected people that will keep on churning unnoticed because they are so well hidden. It may take decades to uncover the depth of secrecy that occurred under his watch with repug approval.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:10 am