Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA

Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by NullCharacter on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @06:58PM (#10223659)

Schneier apparently doesn't even know what the NSA stands for (National Security Administration?) and yet seems it's safe to assume that they had infiltrated Hacking Team, and then proceeds to make a whole bunch of judgements and follow-on assumptions based off that first baseless assumption all while pandering to his userbase.

Well done, Bruce.

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by linkregister on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @07:09PM (#10223696)

I don't think a little typo ("Administration") weakens his argument. I think this post is more of a thought experiment than a serious analysis of what most likely happened.

Though I agree that over the past few years, Schneier's posts have been less substantial in analysis and contain more "thought experiments". I enjoyed his blog way more when it was restricted to the subject he has expertise in, i.e. cryptography.

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by NullCharacter on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @07:13PM (#10223714)

I don't really think he was going the thought experiment route. He seems to genuinely believe what he writes. For example:

"The NSA was most likely able to penetrate Hacking Team's network and steal the same data. The agency probably did it years ago."

Nothing too ambiguous about that assertion.

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by carterehsmith on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @08:47PM (#10224037)

Says "NullCharacter", the respected authority on all matters security.

Teach us more.

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by NullCharacter on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @09:02PM (#10224089)

I definitely never claimed to be anything more than someone who thinks making bullshit assumptions based on other bullshit assumptions is, well, bullshit.

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by carterehsmith on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @09:23PM (#10224162)

Look, there is probably 500M "generalist thinkers" like you on the internet. The value of your opinion is zero - "0".

The value of the opinion of that other guy that you mentioned is way more than zero - he gets invited to conferences, publishes in peer-reviewed journals, publishes free security software etc. So, people actually listen to what he says.

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by NullCharacter on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @09:27PM (#10224175)

Haha wow. Schneier fan, are we? Did I touch a nerve? The hilarious thing is you don't even know who I am or what I do. You have no fucking clue.

How dare someone think critically. Not on your watch.

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by carterehsmith on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @09:43PM (#10224220)

No it's just funny when a random person on internet claims that they are better because they "think critically". My point is, you are not a special snowflake. You are one of 500M that think that they are smarter than others. You are not.

Basically, you are just like a 4-year old begging for attention. You will get some, but unlike 4-year old, it will wane quickly. All the best!

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by deelowe on Wednesday September 16, 2015 @12:30AM (#10224689)

Insulting people only serves to weaken your argument. BTW, your statements are an appeal to authority.

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by NullCharacter on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @09:50PM (#10224236)

In the words of XCKD: The important thing is you've found a way to feel superior. Good for you!

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Re:Hacking Team, Computer Vulnerabilities, and the NSA by carterehsmith on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @10:04PM (#10224275)

If I were on Reddit, I would say something like "I feel massive now", but I am not, so I won't :) BTW no hard feelings, mate, all is good. I don't mean no harm to anyone.

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