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Kpete's Journal Documenting the Atrocities
Posted by kpete in General Discussion
Wed Aug 27th 2008, 02:06 PM
Revealed: The Internet's Biggest Security Hole
By Kim Zetter EmailAugust 26, 2008 | 8:00:00 PM

...................

Two security researchers have demonstrated a new technique to stealthily intercept internet traffic on a scale previously presumed to be unavailable to anyone outside of intelligence agencies like the National Security Agency.

The tactic exploits the internet routing protocol BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) to let an attacker surreptitiously monitor unencrypted internet traffic anywhere in the world, and even modify it before it reaches its destination.

The demonstration is only the latest attack to highlight fundamental security weaknesses in some of the internet's core protocols. Those protocols were largely developed in the 1970s with the assumption that every node on the then-nascent network would be trustworthy. The world was reminded of the quaintness of that assumption in July, when researcher Dan Kaminsky disclosed a serious vulnerability in the DNS system. Experts say the new demonstration targets a potentially larger weakness.

"It's a huge issue. It's at least as big an issue as the DNS issue, if not bigger," said Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, noted computer security expert and former member of the L0pht hacking group, who testified to Congress in 1998 that he could bring down the internet in 30 minutes using a similar BGP attack, and disclosed privately to government agents how BGP could also be exploited to eavesdrop. "I went around screaming my head about this about ten or twelve years ago.... We described this to intelligence agencies and to the National Security Council, in detail."

more at:
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/08/r...
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kpete
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17410 posts
Member since Fri Sep 17th 2004
My Art Work
You can reach my art gallery at http://www.kpetestudio.com


I long for meaningful discussion of our shared values as Americans; I fear only the sound of silence. In the spirit of progressive hope, and while honoring tradition, I poured out my life, heart and soul into the hope of showing the spark of democracy within the paint. I submit my deep longing for the fireworks of a greater democratic deliberation, one that serves us all, as the hoped for result of the sparks in "Freedom in Love."

Before putting paint to canvas for this latest series on the outer path, my preparatory process included: (1) four intense years of research, (2) posting tens of millions of lines of political discourse and images among over 12,000 blog posts, and (3) actively listening to the opinions of others contained in the responses to my posts. I learned much, and the core of this is present in "Freedom in Love."

Notable similarities emerge between my earlier work on the path of the soul and my present work on the path of freedom and democracy. In both, windows represent seeing, or ways out, and pathways symbolize journey. Trees traditionally represent soul, their gnarled qualities a reflection of the forces that buffet them. Birds are wildness, but also observers, the "nonvoters" of nature who still see with dignity and a worthy opinion. Stars and moons are elemental forces of nature and soul-guides. In democracy they are the guide-stars of ideals or principles, lighting the way down the path of democracy. I feel this series of paintings reveals both inner and outer paths as the same journey.

kpete
Freedom in Love Series
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