General Discussion

alc

(1,151 posts)

15. Is the metadata more secure?

Mon Jul 15, 2013, 12:01 PM

Jul 2013

I'd guess metadata is not much more secure. Certainly not completely secure - I'm in IT and have worked on government-level secure networks.

The most dangerous leaks aren't the ones we hear about. There's metadata (and probably "real data&quot on congressmen, candidates, donors, and other people Rove would be be very interested in hearing about.

How many leakers didn't/won't go to the press? If Snowden is treated bad, how many potential whistle blowers in the future may decide to use the information "for the better of the country" rather than expose it.

I imagine many people at DU would have been willing to "misuse" Romney metadata they had access to if it was necessary to help Obama win. And no doubt people on the other side would do the same on Obama metadata.

It's very bad to even collect the metadata so broadly since it is pretty easy for many people to justify misusing it "for the better of the country".

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Still find it amazing that one mid-level guy can steal so much highly classified information. [View all] trumad Jul 2013 OP

great question.. nenagh Jul 2013 #1

One mid-level guy who was "on the job" for four scant WEEKS, too. nt MADem Jul 2013 #2

and was a contractor Horse with no Name Jul 2013 #42

Huh? AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #46

He didn't work for the Federal Government. n/t Horse with no Name Jul 2013 #47

Ok AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #50

He worked for a private contractor RainDog Jul 2013 #61

Ok I understand that AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #66

I was just noting that no one Snowden worked with was a govt employee RainDog Jul 2013 #68

This is how authoritarians like to work RainDog Jul 2013 #70

The building where Snowden worked AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #74

What does that matter when the monies are allocated? n/t RainDog Jul 2013 #75

You said no one Snowden worked with was a govt. employee AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #77

okay. RainDog Jul 2013 #78

Private intel AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #79

well, it's also a specialty RainDog Jul 2013 #83

No offense taken AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #84

But it is morally wrong, imo, to reduce war to a career path only RainDog Jul 2013 #86

But you are overlooking one key fact AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #88

Well, not surprising at all, tho, imo RainDog Jul 2013 #92

this x 1000's! NT sigmasix Jul 2013 #90

one other question about this set up RainDog Jul 2013 #87

You can go AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #89

Yeah. That's what I've heard about the CIA RainDog Jul 2013 #91

But that was just at BAH. Greenwald slipped up and said that he took that DevonRex Jul 2013 #62

I would really like to get a better sense of all the jobs this guy had. MADem Jul 2013 #69

Switzerland was part of his CIA years. DevonRex Jul 2013 #71

That's what I've been wondering get the red out Jul 2013 #3

Because outsourcing to a private contractor LondonReign2 Jul 2013 #4

Possible responses. longship Jul 2013 #5

But what he sent to Der Spiegel apparently was more higher level stuff. randome Jul 2013 #7

Unless we see what that information was, it's MineralMan Jul 2013 #8

We'll see when we see the details of that. longship Jul 2013 #9

Yeah, you're both right. Not knowing what was redacted doesn't point to anything yet. randome Jul 2013 #12

You dont know this yet you continue to state it post after post. You dont know what he gave to whom rhett o rick Jul 2013 #14

I'm only going by what Der Spiegel says. randome Jul 2013 #16

I dont claim to believe what Snowden says. I believe that there is enough evidence to rhett o rick Jul 2013 #19

I don't think you'll find a single soul on DU who doesn't want more transparency and less secrecy. randome Jul 2013 #20

Or AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #40

And yet he wasn't able to steal personal data to support his claims. randome Jul 2013 #6

+1 uponit7771 Jul 2013 #11

Good grief. Why dont we ask his supervisor? Oh I know, you dont want to bother the rhett o rick Jul 2013 #18

I'm sure there are spinning heads and an investigation at NSA regarding Snowden's theft. randome Jul 2013 #22

What makes you so sure that anyone other than Booz-Allen/NSA are investigating them? rhett o rick Jul 2013 #24

My freedoms are abridged in many ways. So is everyone's. randome Jul 2013 #25

I seriously doubt that the results of said alleged investigations will ever be released. Laelth Jul 2013 #28

I would hope Obama recognizes how much we want more transparency. randome Jul 2013 #29

I share your hope. Laelth Jul 2013 #31

"Running to hide". I don't know if you listen to NPR, but this is a great clip re: Venezuela. Tarheel_Dem Jul 2013 #82

+2 It's important to know who helped him flamingdem Jul 2013 #80

THIS ... THIS is the REALLY big story coming out of this whole thing. Greenwalds ODS made him mis it uponit7771 Jul 2013 #10

His resume from the last 10 years shows a useful dupe for BushInc. ops blm Jul 2013 #13

+ AtomicKitten Jul 2013 #23

What ever comes of this Snowden mess, you're right! one thing is sure............ wandy Jul 2013 #30

Obama is honoring HW Bush at the White House TODAY. Obama and Michelle held court with W and Laura chimpymustgo Jul 2013 #32

I've no doubt this was orchestrated long ago, in exchange for 'help' on immigration bill that blm Jul 2013 #33

You are making my point exactly: as BFEE useful dupes go, Obama is far outstripping Greenwald. chimpymustgo Jul 2013 #34

Obama knows he's stuck doing this - Greenwald isn't showing any awareness that he blm Jul 2013 #36

Still, Obama = EXCEEDINGLY more USEFUL TOOL. Obama is quite aware of what he is doing. I don't chimpymustgo Jul 2013 #37

Obama's STUCK in that position that will continue long after Obama leaves - and we can blm Jul 2013 #54

+2 flamingdem Jul 2013 #81

Is the metadata more secure? alc Jul 2013 #15

Given his unique position and once-in-a-lifetime chance Blue_Tires Jul 2013 #17

Like Julian Assange's 'poison pill' archive? randome Jul 2013 #21

What I know from dealing with the intelligence world. liberal N proud Jul 2013 #26

Bigoted response AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #39

Huh? liberal N proud Jul 2013 #43

Intelligence Analyst AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #45

I don't plan on taking you seriously until you provide your credentials. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #51

Well AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #56

I don't trust random people on the internet claiming to be intelligence analysts. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #57

Wha? AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #59

Any idiot with a keyboard could say they are an intelligence analyst. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #60

Dude I got it AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #64

Your full name, a photograph, a list of prior employers and contacts and your resume. Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #65

LOL AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #72

I find it amazing that Snowden is getting all of the blame. Dash87 Jul 2013 #27

What I find amazing that some here are in total denial of the problems we are facing in rhett o rick Jul 2013 #35

Hate to break it to you AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #38

Good post trumad Jul 2013 #41

Yes AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #44

Reminds me of the human reliability test in Dr. Strangelove... Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #53

Or maybe he was a better than average hacker and was able to access higher Cleita Jul 2013 #48

Not at the facility he worked at AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #49

It was a private contractor, Booze Allen and he was hired through another private sub-contractor Cleita Jul 2013 #52

Yes I Know AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #55

Well, it's wrong. I'm totally against our government being privatized. Cleita Jul 2013 #58

Ok AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #63

I saw the rise of contracting at UCLA, where I once worked. Cleita Jul 2013 #67

It Has Less to Do With the Level of Clearance On the Road Jul 2013 #73

The sad fact is that in PACOM AnalystInParadise Jul 2013 #76

My Knowledge is a Little Old On the Road Jul 2013 #93

...or maybe agent46 Jul 2013 #85