General Discussion

ljm2002

(10,751 posts)

85. "It would take a mix of some huge databases"...

Fri May 2, 2014, 06:27 PM

May 2014

...to do what Snowden is claiming"

What about those real-time pickups on optic cables?

Each of us leaves identifiable traces when browsing the web, shopping, etc. If the government deems you or me a target, they can plug in those identifiable data values (e.g., originating IP address) and siphon off any packets that correspond. That is not coming out of a gigantic database (except in a theoretical way, where you might say that all data that exists is part of a gigantic database). Furthermore, since the NSA actively introduced defects into the security algorithms used in these transactions, there's a good chance they can decipher a lot of encrypted packets.

Anyway, I don't know this is being done, or if that is what Snowden was implying. I'm just saying, it may not require what you think it requires.

Furthermore, the NSA DOES keep "a mix of some huge databases", and they are showing no signs of scaling down. That facility in Utah is nearing completion...

BTW I have worked on software systems that are used in data mining.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

139 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Snowden says he could see what I do on the web. [View all] MineralMan May 2014 OP

Logic has no place in this discussion. giftedgirl77 May 2014 #1

I suppose you are right. MineralMan May 2014 #2

I give you kudos. You have alot more patience giftedgirl77 May 2014 #3

I prefer taco Thursday, really. MineralMan May 2014 #4

Whatever works.. giftedgirl77 May 2014 #5

They were good for laughs! greatauntoftriplets May 2014 #27

I'm sure they were.. Cha May 2014 #66

And it's still raging today! greatauntoftriplets May 2014 #75

in Kenya. lolz. nt okaawhatever May 2014 #105

Thanks Obama! I tell ya when they think they Cha May 2014 #108

Faux outrage Thursday turned into Freakout Friday giftedgirl77 May 2014 #110

.. Cha May 2014 #114

And the ironic thing is, nothng might happen. greatauntoftriplets May 2014 #113

You know it's getting to be downright childish. giftedgirl77 May 2014 #115

Oh I know.. but they have Cha May 2014 #116

I don't mind if my knitting yarn company watches what I do online. JDPriestly May 2014 #120

This is why many pro-Snowden folks are libertarian Cali_Democrat May 2014 #6

So it seems to me, as well. MineralMan May 2014 #8

That many keep trying to marginalize snowden Jesus Malverde May 2014 #10

The actual issue regarding surveillance is that the NSA is forbidden from spying on Americans. randome May 2014 #33

Me, I love watching the kitty! RKP5637 May 2014 #35

Ol Eddie and his big mouth marginalizes himself. Cha May 2014 #67

And Why So Many Anti-Snowden Folks Are Pro-Authoritarian... WillyT May 2014 #12

Libertarian! Jesus Malverde May 2014 #19

Actually I think much of what the NSA does is overkill Cali_Democrat May 2014 #65

Exactly Andrew73 May 2014 #138

The NSA isn't interested in conformist, white knights. Jesus Malverde May 2014 #7

Anyone who posts openly on DU MineralMan May 2014 #9

"I'm quite certain. You can rest easy." - Oh thank god because the mountains of evidence... Gravitycollapse May 2014 #13

I'm glad to be of help in MineralMan May 2014 #21

Go ahead and list that 'mountain of evidence', please. randome May 2014 #34

"There is none." - Here you go... Gravitycollapse May 2014 #38

Jesus fuck, this is the longest post I've ever seen on DU! randome May 2014 #41

I'm going to cut you off at the pass and just get the fact that you're an equivocator out of the way Gravitycollapse May 2014 #47

The metadata that we've known about since 2006. randome May 2014 #55

Equivocation: "This isn't news" - Reality: "Yes it is" Gravitycollapse May 2014 #59

And it seems some people only exist to attempt to bury bad news. Rex May 2014 #71

Thread wining post. zeemike May 2014 #50

I knew the likely response before I posted it. Someone who says "there is none..." Gravitycollapse May 2014 #61

Almost as funny as believing anyone here has internal knowledge of how the NSA works Rex May 2014 #69

two teeny tiny items that makes this long assed post kinds dumb Sheepshank May 2014 #133

Maybe you should try reading what you post about, perhaps? Gravitycollapse May 2014 #134

Well done. (eom) CanSocDem May 2014 #137

Indeed they are interested in the organizers, Jesus Malverde May 2014 #14

Frankly, I've seen few organizers here. MineralMan May 2014 #17

LOL ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #39

Whether the NSA's activities target me or not, I am still opposed to them. Maedhros May 2014 #58

Who here is organizing anything? Agent Mike is bored. nt msanthrope May 2014 #31

...they're great heroes of freedom, making melodramitic posts railing against Obama and the Dems! dionysus May 2014 #42

The 101st Chairborne wishes they were that interesting. nt msanthrope May 2014 #45

Okay, now you made me laugh Hekate May 2014 #51

hell, i read today that considering highway tolls to fund repairs is the death of american freedom! dionysus May 2014 #53

Just letting States decide because Congress won't act at all ... JoePhilly May 2014 #77

frosting made out of tears on top of the melodrama cake..... dionysus May 2014 #63

BUT...anyone who were to become a target - for whatever reason. elias49 May 2014 #18

Your sexual preferences, your dating habits, your google searches. Jesus Malverde May 2014 #22

Who do you suppose will become a target? MineralMan May 2014 #23

Redirect if you like, but you're smart enough elias49 May 2014 #25

Well, see, here's the thing... ljm2002 May 2014 #82

The domestic 'spying', so far as we know, is limited to copies of phone metadata records. randome May 2014 #83

I'm not okay with the government keeping phone metadata... ljm2002 May 2014 #86

None of us are 'authorities' on the subject. randome May 2014 #117

that is what the Corporations ARE keeping on file yes VanillaRhapsody May 2014 #28

Impressive MM! 99Forever May 2014 #29

If NSA is looking at my DU dribble, than this country is in far worse shape than I ever imagined. nt RKP5637 May 2014 #37

Who "disrupts the system" here? MADem May 2014 #57

I'm glad someone is keeping an eye on a shifty character such as yourself Fumesucker May 2014 #11

Oddly enough, all the work I do is for small MineralMan May 2014 #15

All I do is post cat pictures all day... Jesus Malverde May 2014 #16

LOL !!! WillyT May 2014 #20

Seriously cat pictures Jesus Malverde May 2014 #24

My donation to cat pictures: Whisp May 2014 #32

You're missing some important components here The Straight Story May 2014 #26

Really? ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #43

Huh. Well, no amazon account, no ebay account, pay in cash as much as I can Pholus May 2014 #30

The NSA is forbidden from spying on Americans. Got it? randome May 2014 #36

Duh. Metadata equals surveillance. Pholus May 2014 #48

Not everyone sees that as 'spying', although I understand your point. randome May 2014 #52

Once it is there, the temptation for mission creep will always exist. Pholus May 2014 #62

It's what I've been saying ALL ALONG. It would be funny if it were not so sad. Hekate May 2014 #40

Data mining.. HipChick May 2014 #44

"It would take a mix of some huge databases"... ljm2002 May 2014 #85

History shows clearly that dissent is crushed by those who would stomp on your rights, my man. grahamhgreen May 2014 #46

No...not important to you...but, if you are in a peace protest or action with signs and slogans KoKo May 2014 #49

Now, KoKo. Stop thinking of obvious alternate uses for this data! Pholus May 2014 #54

Well those who support it have nothing to worry about zeemike May 2014 #60

Remember MM's Movie: "Farenheit 9/11" where the Peace Group was Infiltrated by FBI? KoKo May 2014 #87

Yep I remember it. zeemike May 2014 #90

I think those who remember it have moved on..as most of us have..but those who KoKo May 2014 #93

Yes I know they do. zeemike May 2014 #94

Yes...but we can "Keep the Faith" also. In ways to support.... KoKo May 2014 #102

+1 nt laundry_queen May 2014 #125

Amazon can't arrest me and throw me in jail forever. MannyGoldstein May 2014 #56

You have statistically the same probability of being arrested by Amazon as by the NSA Kaleva May 2014 #70

Jeff Bezos of WaPo New Ownership and Drones to Deliver your Amazon Products..... KoKo May 2014 #88

Bullsh*t! Go ahead and post your full name address and phone number right here, then. And while grahamhgreen May 2014 #64

No. I won't do that. Nobody on DU has any need for that information. MineralMan May 2014 #76

You buy from "E-Bay" correct? KoKo May 2014 #89

I buy and sell on eBay. MineralMan May 2014 #98

How were you online before the internet? rug May 2014 #107

What? MineralMan May 2014 #109

Were they not connected by the internet? rug May 2014 #111

No. At the time, MineralMan May 2014 #112

At that point, to tap your data over phone lines would have required a warrant. grahamhgreen May 2014 #121

That is quite true. Today, there are other methods people use to MineralMan May 2014 #123

You won't post it because you value your privacy. So do we. Thanks for playing. grahamhgreen May 2014 #119

No, I won't post it because there is no need to post it. MineralMan May 2014 #122

Post it then. Prove your point. grahamhgreen May 2014 #139

So you've worked for the NSA and feel like an expert on the situation? Rex May 2014 #68

He can't talk about it, except when he does. DisgustipatedinCA May 2014 #72

I mean, maybe he worked in the security field for decades or some such. Rex May 2014 #73

Ah, there you are. MineralMan May 2014 #78

I make a point of proceeding without your leave. DisgustipatedinCA May 2014 #97

That's good. You don't need anyone's MineralMan May 2014 #99

Late 1960s. I was in the USAF, and my MineralMan May 2014 #74

Cool...Well before Internet Revolution and Commercial Use along with Social Use.... KoKo May 2014 #92

But, I've continued to observe the NSA MineralMan May 2014 #95

But..what you are saying is that "Little was New to You.... KoKo May 2014 #100

You have no idea what I do and do not know. MineralMan May 2014 #101

If you are still in the Loop...then it's with those who feel Snowden was a Traitor... KoKo May 2014 #104

Again, you know little. That's fine. MineralMan May 2014 #106

Snowden revealed information that was new as to how far things had gone KoKo May 2014 #118

I've posted that recent WaPo analysis on Google 7 or 8 times now Blue_Tires May 2014 #79

Thanks for this because I feel this way too. Skidmore May 2014 #80

NSA isn't trying to sell me anything. GeorgeGist May 2014 #81

No...they are just Watching what you BUY...where You GO (if you are on Facebook) and have KoKo May 2014 #91

*fwap* *fwap* *fwap* *fwap* *fwap* *fwap* *fwap* ...wait!!! what did he say? Xolodno May 2014 #84

If you used Internet Explorer Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2014 #96

Yes, privacy is an obsolete idea. Agnosticsherbet May 2014 #103

Your application of density is educational RobertEarl May 2014 #124

'Yahho?' What does that mean? MineralMan May 2014 #126

Heh RobertEarl May 2014 #127

I'm not trying to amuse. MineralMan May 2014 #129

What are you doing? RobertEarl May 2014 #130

The "nazis?" Really? MineralMan May 2014 #132

Shrug. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2014 #128

But it is not an opt-in process. MineralMan May 2014 #131

The poignant side of Snowden worship deserves some mention. gulliver May 2014 #135

Well, I don't know about that. MineralMan May 2014 #136