I've been seeing a lot of comments recently along the lines that we "need" more evidence before we assume that the NSA took advantage of heartbleed. I don't get that at all.
I'd love to have harder evidence of what the NSA has been up to. I get that. But here are some things we know: the NSA believes its mission is to collect 100% of the world's data, with the possible exception of data that definitely belongs to US citizens. The NSA has boasted internally of cracking SSL implementations as part of its work. The NSA employs more people who are qualified for and tasked with finding this kind of exploit than anyone else. The NSA's leadership is willing to lie under oath to Congress -- let alone to anyone else -- about its activities. The NSA's secrets are about as heavily defended as secrets can be -- actually providing the kind of evidence requested here is widely considered treason against the United States. And now an investigative reporter with a serious reputation says that he has two sources who can confirm that the NSA knew about heartbleed shortly after it was created.
So let's assume you might behave differently in some way -- in any way -- if the NSA knew about and exploited heartbleed. You have imperfect information and you have to make a call. What else could you "need" before you decide to behave as though this article is accurate?
I think we "need" to assume that the NSA took advantage of heartbleed starting shortly after it was introduced. We'd just "like" to have a little more confirmation about what the hell they've been up to.
I'd love to have harder evidence of what the NSA has been up to. I get that. But here are some things we know: the NSA believes its mission is to collect 100% of the world's data, with the possible exception of data that definitely belongs to US citizens. The NSA has boasted internally of cracking SSL implementations as part of its work. The NSA employs more people who are qualified for and tasked with finding this kind of exploit than anyone else. The NSA's leadership is willing to lie under oath to Congress -- let alone to anyone else -- about its activities. The NSA's secrets are about as heavily defended as secrets can be -- actually providing the kind of evidence requested here is widely considered treason against the United States. And now an investigative reporter with a serious reputation says that he has two sources who can confirm that the NSA knew about heartbleed shortly after it was created.
So let's assume you might behave differently in some way -- in any way -- if the NSA knew about and exploited heartbleed. You have imperfect information and you have to make a call. What else could you "need" before you decide to behave as though this article is accurate?
I think we "need" to assume that the NSA took advantage of heartbleed starting shortly after it was introduced. We'd just "like" to have a little more confirmation about what the hell they've been up to.