BS: Feeling paranoid?

Subject: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: dianavan
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:39 PM

Why is it that whenever I call someone in the States, there is an echo on my end or their end?

The FBI has been very naughty!

"The average American can take away the fact that you have FBI officers who felt that they were above the law, and they could just go in and look at anything they wanted on their own (and) would not have to follow the law."

http://www.torontodailynews.com/index.php/WorldNews/2007031002fbi-powers

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Amos
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:44 PM

World News clicky

A

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: gnu
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 02:39 PM

What? What? Really? Really?

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 12:37 AM

Yes, but are you paranoid enough?

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 03:43 AM

Hell, I get an echo just calling another floor in my building!


But then again, my building is owned by HM Government...

Although why she's so interested in what Gary from accounts got up to with Ranjit from Computer support, or what my colleague Lorraine is doing with her boiler, I really can't fathom!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: John O'L
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 03:47 AM

There's no such thing as paranoia, because the most extreme thing you can imagine, they are already doing.

I think Hunter S. Thompson said that didn't he?

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 12:40 PM

I'm not paranoid they're just all out to get me :0)

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 10:45 PM

Ok, Dianavan has caught on. Let's adjourn to the secret Mudcat chat room and decide who's phone we're going to tap next.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 12:55 AM

One of the scariest things about the FBI is that about a year ago they spent several million dollars to update all their data storage and data processing systems, but found that nothing was working so they abandoned that plan and went looking for a few more millions to start over. This time, it's rumored they're planning to give the contract to someone who has owned a computer -

But the scary part is that in the discussion over the recent "failure to improve," it was revealed (convincingly) that the FBI system for several decades now has had NO WAY TO CORRECT AN ERRONEOUS ENTRY. Once it goes in, it's there forever, and cannot be deleted.

Agents who commented (officially, but mostly anonymously) confirm that there is also no way to link a "correction" or later addition/revision to reports previously entered, so it's a crap shoot whether an agent looking up your record will find that someone later entered that the accusation that you were a (insert criminal habit of choice) was found to be untrue in a later entry.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: GUEST,basedata
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 05:28 PM

I started using Internet computers in the public library. The privacy and security situations were deplorable even before the anti-terror initiatives of the last 5+ years. It put me to thinking about how much personal information should be accessible or too easy to get, not only by goverment agencies and the firms they hire, but by commercial opportunists, mischief-makers, and even stalkers. Now, when using a home computer as a non-expert, I notice which web sites tell us as much as they should about their security and their privacy policies.

I hope those who plan or execute harm through terror operations or criminal conduct do get caught, but I do not find justification for the collection of all that can be known about everyone. There are many who still proclaim that you only need to worry if you have something to hide, but they like the rest of us don't know what information has been collected on themselves and whether it is accurate.

Collected personal information is not used only by the FBI, and does not merely determine who'll get raided, questioned, or specially surveilled. What is collected can affect whether one is placed on a watch list or a no-fly list, or whether one can cross an international border. In the private sector, collected personal information can affect hiring decisions, credit-granting decisions, and insurance-provision decisions.

We should not only use the vote, where possible, against overreaching measures in the name of security or crime-fighting, we should also look carefully at all policies and practices of gathering personal data; that applies especially to web sites, such as forums and blogs, to which we post or comment. And we should not forget that some data-gathering entities, public and private, will give up confidential personal information merely upon being asked to provide it, without justification or compulsory process.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 06:06 PM

Look, I've said it over and over and I'll say it once more:

The Internet is NOT, by its very construction and method of working, a secure medium. You can encrypt a message, yes, but even PGP has been broken. DO NOT assume that what you send out in a Forum, via e-mail, or in any other way is private. If it is not intercepted at the server, it can be intercepted at any node along the way (there are currenly 18 nodes or "jumps" between me and Mudcat central).

If you want the best possible privacy for a message, do a bang-up encryption job and send it by trusted messenger. Human messenger.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 06:30 PM

I'm surrounded by anti-primatic discrimination and prejudice wherever I go. It's those humans! They hate us apes because they sense that we are superior to them in every way. They are all out to get me. They might act nice to my face, but that don't fool me. I wasn't born yesterday! No sir. I know it's all a big act. They are just waitin' to stick the knife in my back when I ain't lookin'. That's why I sleep with one eye open and I keep a loaded gat under my pillow...safety NEVER on.

The first sap that tries pullin' the wool over my eyes is gonna end up pushin' up daisies.

Am I paranoid? Hell, no. I'm just careful, that's all. Knock before entering, that's my advice.

- Chongo

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Bee
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 07:47 PM

Aww, Chongo, it'll be that cute lipsticked red-headed orang that gets you with the spiked drink or the mickey'd blowdart, she'll do it for the bananas, and you know it.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 08:06 PM

Ah, Chongo -- there isn't any safety on a revolver, and if you're using a M1911A1 or similar there are several safeties, including the one in the grip. If you're sleeping with it locked and cocked and one up the spout under your pillow, turning in your sleep could cause you to awaken prematurely and quickly or never awaken at all.

Unless...you don't keep a Tommy gun under your pillow, do you? The drum mag might make it uncomfortable to sleep on, but the flat mag would probably permit it. I'd use two pillows, just for comfort, myself.

Why don't you just keep it in a holster along the side of the mattress? Lots safer and quicker to get to, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: dianavan
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 12:57 AM

"NO WAY TO CORRECT AN ERRONEOUS ENTRY"

That very interesting. So the fact that the U.S. would not take Arar off of their no-fly list of suspected terrorists probably had more to do with the U.S. trying to save face. In other words, they couldn't remove him but they didn't want it known.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: John J
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 06:14 AM

Nah - it's all the others.

JJ

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Scrump
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 11:16 AM

It wouldn't surprise me if the FBI had worked out how to spy on what we are saying in this forum.

I believe the UK's MI6 have almost worked it out - it's only a matter of time.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: GUEST,The Common Onion
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 02:25 PM

So, let's start a discussion about "What is Folk-Song" and drive them all round the bend.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 06:27 PM

But we already have and so haven't we already?

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: bobad
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 06:30 PM

They're well beyond the bend by now, probably on that slippery slope to insanity.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 06:35 PM

They would have to be insane, in my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Dickey
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 09:22 PM

"It wouldn't surprise me if the FBI had worked out how to spy on what we are saying in this forum."

You mean they got computers now? Be afraid, be very afraid.

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: bobad
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 09:39 PM

"Until January 2005, Dickey served as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In 1997, Dickey successfully completed the four-month new agent training school at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. Dickey was then assigned to the Las Vegas Field Office of the FBI, where he investigated violations of federal criminal law. Dickey's experience with the FBI included the investigation of a myriad of white collar crimes, including public corruption, securities fraud, cyber crimes, health care fraud and bank fraud. He also served as a relief supervisor to several criminal squads throughout his tenure with the FBI."

Subject: RE: BS: Feeling paranoid?
From: Scrump
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 12:11 PM

You mean they got computers now? Be afraid, be very afraid.

I am, I am