November 2004 - cypherpunks-legacy

SSRN- Deworming the Internet by Douglas Barnes
by R.A. Hettinga 24 Nov '04

24 Nov '04

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- <http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=622364> SSRN Deworming the Internet DOUGLAS BARNES University of Texas at Austin - School of Law Texas Law Review, Vol. 83, No. 1 Abstract: Both law enforcement and markets for software standards have failed to solve the problem of software that is vulnerable to infection by network-transmitted worms. Consequently, regulatory attention should turn to the publishers of worm-vulnerable software. Although ordinary tort liability for software publishers may seem attractive, it would interact in unpredictable ways with the winner-take-all nature of competition among publishers of mass-market, internet-connected software. More tailored solutions are called for, including mandatory "bug bounties" for those who find potential vulnerabilities in software, minimum quality standards for software, and, once the underlying market failure is remedied, liability for end users who persist in using worm-vulnerable software. Keywords: Worms, viruses, software, market failure, network externality, negative externality, perverse incentives, tort liability, lemons equilibrium, regulation JEL Classifications: K29, K13, L86, 031 Accepted Paper Series Abstract has been viewed 392 times Contact Information for DOUGLAS BARNES (Contact Author) Email address for DOUGLAS BARNES University of Texas at Austin - School of Law 727 East Dean Keeton Street Austin , TX 78705 United States 512-689-1875 (Phone) Suggested Citation Barnes, Douglas A, "Deworming the Internet" . Texas Law Review, Vol. 83, No. 1 http://ssrn.com/abstract=622364 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 9.0 (Build 1336) Beta - not licensed for commercial use: www.pgp.com iQEVAwUBQaTwysUCGwxmWcHhAQEAnAf5AQO9G8LuuKg1CFYHOnRflT68YX9w6xhp nt0csgWW0dxso9n7T1kMtGzZRDr/G5kdz+IVqHg2qjjzQajf7Ni50/mjRN48tJko vr3TeSWU4cX2yKTPJE56tc27uY534IHc5eBWxtprLagMIGfokNQeGZPT8S4OLzxL H/a9lTIQknHMtOA1HoRXodX252xn5II3AwLOZrC4gnap1R9mfkXOtdB6ChlXD11n hpN7g1A1CTkWE/74NiSEROJdk2oeJS2K0aks2dqMK59tI5KLteePpJGN8DfP0yUv 0HaFKUPFiS1yAzNtTj/J4VLog84Lofel6+rwaKIHCEXvB6nHvFN5SA== =xwLk -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'

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The Fall of Reason
by R.A. Hettinga 24 Nov '04

24 Nov '04

<http://www.daralhayat.net/actions/print2.php> The Fall of Reason Paul Forest Dar Al-Hayat 2004/11/23 Condoleezza Rice is the latest cabinet member to gush out of the oil patch. She is an obvious choice as Secretary of State for President Bush, who is disenchanted with General Powell's ability to mouth the words given to him by the White House spin barons, and yet, convey the impression that he is not really comfortable as a bearer of false tidings. With Dr. Rice, President Bush will be admirably served. Obviously an extremely articulate illusionist, at the time of the Iraq justification period, she was in the foxhole shooting back at all proponents of factuality and, actually, did get in some good shots, when judged more on intellectual acrobatics than accuracy. Of her many masterful quotes, one stands out: "Whoever's fault it is, it is certainly not mine, unless you think it's the President's, in which case it's mine." It is doubtful that the international world of diplomacy will understand her nomination and doubtlessly accept credentials, which they can so clearly identify as that of a studious perpetrator of deceit. She is unlikely to abandon her credo of: "Our truth above all," and while trying to outdo herself, she will preside over the destitution of what remains of U.S. integrity. Few people doubt, that her assertions that this administration's sole objective was to surgically remove Saddam Hussein, would have received ample support from the majority of Arab states. It seems self-evident, however, that despite the U.S. air strike success in Kosovo, the Bush Administration nurtured a hidden agenda that required massive intervention by ground forces, and the establishment of a loyal and friendly new controlling block in Iraq. This machination was conceived as a manner of controlling a sufficient amount of world oil reserves, for the U.S. to be a significant factor in the world price for oil. In modern history, as well as present times, there are numerous examples of dominant powers and individuals, venting their anger on the innocent when the true culprits are beyond their reach. The U.S. military and the current administration at some point, must have decided that using a surgical knife is not time effective when seeking to carve out for itself a sizable niche in the world's most desirable geography. It is truly amazing that when a despicable act is perpetrated by the U.S. military, whether in a prison or as recently, in a Mosque, a camera appeared to have been pointed at the malefactors. We may ask ourselves, is this the superior work of talented embedded cameramen, or could the camera have been pointed anywhere with matching results? These barbarian acts have considerably traumatized much of the world community of Arab and Muslim nations, which are now firmly convinced that the President's "war of vindictiveness" may have been intended to dislodge Saddam Hussein and his regime, but as much thought went into humanitarian concerns for the population, as in the governance of a post-war Iraq, very little. The shortsighted view is that terrorism will once again strike U.S. soil, and recent utterances by the Sultan of Terror confirm that this is in fact their intent. Should a disastrous terrorist act again occur on U.S. soil, the fear mongers in the White House will then feel vindicated by the tangible validation of their long-held views, and they will point fingers at their detractors. These, in turn, will likely respond that a more conciliatory attitude by the administration towards the Arab and Muslim people, replacing the current militaristic course of action, might well have prevented that which by then will have taken place. The longer-term implications, however, are that Arab investments in the U.S., which are now valued near 2 trillion dollars, will dry up, and may in fact be downsized in favor of investments in the growing, potentially friendly and peaceful European Community, whose currency appears destined to supplant the Dollar as the principle world currency. The U.S. treasury and financial markets have been surviving on a steady influx of outside capital, and will be caught in a war of financial attrition which they are not in a position to win. Israel's well-being is directly linked to American benevolence and the Israeli Government may discover the wisdom of having a greater array of able and willing supporters. A considerable concentration of American Jewish wealth and influence has been creatively positioned in the American National Media, and this condition does not exist in any other nation. This was unmistakably exhibited recently in a promo on itself by CNN, in which they present, as most trustworthy, six of their regular hosts, of which four are of Jewish legacy. Simple calculation reveals that since American Jews represent 2% of the total American population, the selected hosts amounted to 33 times the proportional representation within the American population. True friends of Israel, mainly Americans of Jewish heritage, must demonstrate to Israel's fanatic right that the citizens of the world other than North Americans, are not conditioned to readily endure the economic, human and traumatic sacrifices that the U.S. experience clearly indicates are to be expected, when fully committed to the exclusive support of Israel in the relentless pursuit of its political expansionism. The dire consequences previously described, have stealthily begun, and may be experienced by anyone approaching a Foreign Exchange counter. Graver concerns may occur sooner than we might normally expect, at the current rate of irresponsible deficit spending, gargantuan trade deficits and progressively increasing labor outsourcing, unless a total policy reversal is implemented. First, the U.S. must, somehow, find a way to express their support for Israel, without openly exhibiting hostility towards the Arab and Muslim community, their culture, and their leaders. To that end, Israel, whose only derived benefit in the Middle East conflict has been the ephemeral inflow of U.S. capital and military resources, must join the U.S. in this resolve. There has always been, and there continues to be, an unwritten rule among journalists in the U.S., that you do not make a connection between the U.S. total support of Israel in everything of concern to them, and the bottommost esteem of the U.S. and Americans by most of the world and particularly Arab/Muslim descendants. Yet, it is clearly obvious that this is a fact. We must ask ourselves: "What other reason could there be?" No one can now reverse the momentum of militant intervention by Muslim terrorists, without a complete agreement between warring parties in Israel and Palestine. The economic and military support freely given to Israel by the U.S. is the breath of life that is keeping the Middle East conflict alive and well. Any potential solution to this basic Middle East conflict must take the form of an agreement acceptable to the Palestinians of their own free will. For this to happen, perhaps new lines must be drawn in the sand, which would provide a restated Palestine with a significant Mediterranean shoreline, a united West Bank and Gaza and all Palestine lands south of the West Bank. In a dream-like state, one might visualize a peaceful Israel, clearly separated from the equally peaceful states of Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, not by a wall, but by a multilane highway, perhaps to be appropriately known as the "Jerusalem International Highway," under the watchful supervision of the UN. George W. Bush has yet to exhibit any capacity for reversing himself on matters before him, and unless he becomes a born-again rationalist, we can logically conclude that the developing crisis will inexorably degenerate into the colossal tribulation that it appears headed for. Colchester , Vermont PolForest(a)aol.com )2003 Media Communications Group -- ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'

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Government watchdog to investigate election
by R.A. Hettinga 24 Nov '04

24 Nov '04

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 <http://news.com.com/2102-1028_3-5464969.html?tag=st.util.print> CNET News http://www.news.com/ Government watchdog to investigate election By Robert Lemos http://news.com.com/Government+watchdog+to+investigate+election/2100-1028_3… Story last modified Tue Nov 23 13:47:00 PST 2004 The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, will investigate anomalies in the November election at the request of five Democratic representatives. In two letters, sent Nov. 5 and Nov. 8, Reps. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Robert Wexler, D-Fla., asked that the GAO investigate various complaints about election machine technology and procedural issues preventing some votes from being counted. Two other members of the House of Representatives, Robert Scott, D-Va., and Rush Holt, D-N.J., signed the Nov. 8 letter. "On its own authority, the GAO will examine the security and accuracy of voting technologies, distribution and allocation of voting machines, and counting of provisional ballots," the five members of the House said in statement Tuesday. "We are hopeful that GAO's nonpartisan and expert analysis will get to the bottom of the flaws uncovered in the 2004 election." The lawmakers provided to the GAO some 57,000 incident reports that had been received by the House Judiciary Committee. While most observers have concluded that election technology performed reasonably well in the last election, a variety of anomalies have cropped up. In Ohio, President Bush received a boost of some 4,000 votes in the preliminary tallies due to a transmission error. Data from Florida has raised eyebrows and led to at least one analysis that claimed the result of voting there is statistically implausible. The congressmen asked the GAO to move quickly while there was still evidence from the election to analyze. "There is substantial concern that much of the primary evidence needed to evaluate these allegations will not be preserved without immediate action," the representatives argued in the Nov. 8 letter. Eight other members of the House of Representatives gave their support to the GAO request as well, the congressmen said in their statement. - -- - ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 1308 iQA/AwUBQaSqrcPxH8jf3ohaEQIs7gCggMXVNNT/qU2IW6QGs5O1plHS7kMAoISG qEH7cKYcjS3taS4nvAKdQp/N =hdbe -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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U.S., Europe still tweaking anti-terror tech
by R.A. Hettinga 24 Nov '04

24 Nov '04

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 <http://www.menafn.com/qn_print.asp?StoryID=CqAld0eidDxmTzxuTCgfZC3bVCNrZ> MENAFN - Middle East North Africa . Financial Network U.S., Europe still tweaking anti-terror tech UPI - UPI - Tuesday, November 23, 2004 Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 7:28:15 PM EST By DONNA BORAK WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. and European officials said they may encounter more problems implementing new anti-terrorism measures, including the "no-fly" list of passengers banned from U.S. airlines and biometric passports, but are working together on the issue. The viability of such anti-terror technology is important to the U.S. travel industry, which was dealt a severe blow after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In fact, the Travel Industry Association of America said Monday that as part of the fiscal year 2005 omnibus spending package Congress had included $10 million to promote the United States as an international travel destination. Last Saturday an international flight from Paris to California was diverted to Bangor, Maine because a Moroccan passenger was discovered to be on the U.S. "no-fly" list after the plane had taken off. Senior Department of Homeland Security officials warned on Monday that problems with the "no-fly" list would likely continue even when their new computerized screening system was put in place next year. "Obviously, you want the system to work perfectly. I don't know that when you have systems built upon human information and human responses that you are ever going to have a perfect system," said Asa Hutchinson, DHS undersecretary for border and transportation security. Hutchinson faulted the current advance passenger information system, human error and ineffective technology for the security failure. "We have to build a better system design that will greatly reduce and minimize these types of incidents from happening ... You also have to build a system that is capable of responding, (has) good checks and balances, and has layered defenses that is not reliant on one particular system," Hutchinson said at a joint press conference with John Faull, the European Union's director general for Justice and Home Affairs. Expected changes include a revamp of the current advance passenger information system. Currently, airlines are not capable of matching passengers with terrorist-watch lists until 15 minutes after takeoff. The obvious goal is to prevent suspect individuals from boarding at all. In addition to faster matching against terrorist-watch lists, the new system would integrate U.S. and European anti-terror efforts. Hutchinson suggested that the new biometric passport and multilateral efforts among nations would be the solution to alleviating further security failures. Biometric devices were among the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Passports of people entering the United States would be required to contain a special type of computer chip, known as RFID or radio-frequency identification. The chip would contain a digitized facial image of the bearer. Current rules would require them by October 2005. Such biometric passports and visas will help government officials authenticate documents and potentially identify terrorists, officials said. Hutchinson explained that the United States would be aggressively working with its European allies to meet the deadline, but the emphasis on testing would be first priority, before any passports were issued. "Obviously, that has to be completed before production is implemented," said Hutchinson. Last month, the DHS was granted a yearlong extension till the October 2005 deadline. It initially requested two years. "We are working very hard to meet the deadline," said Hutchinson. The European Union agreed in October to use biometric passports. EU Director Faull said that the decision to utilize biometric passports was not the result of pressure by the United States, but a common-sense decision in the face of a common threat. "These are problems that cannot be solved unilaterally," said Hutchinson. It is expected that the United States will demand visas from 27 countries if they do not have biometric passports by October 2005. According to Faull, production has already started on biometric passports and it is expected that the first will be ready in 18 months. Faull explained that there were a number of challenges facing the two parties, but that both were working together to resolve any issues. At the press conference, Hutchinson characterized talks with European Union officials as "frank and open." "In our discussions it is clear to me, that the European Union has accelerated their counter-terrorism efforts and we are grateful for that," he said, adding that the United States and the EU share "common concerns" about terrorism. - -- - ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 1308 iQA/AwUBQaSqqcPxH8jf3ohaEQLXJQCdE8Wj8/8bibK1fGThO0F4G387udcAoNO7 dSvgDVi8kQl+UEkuLlmg4g/s =WgYi -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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[osint] How al-Qaeda's London plot was foiled
by R.A. Hettinga 24 Nov '04

24 Nov '04

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 - --- begin forwarded text To: "Bruce Tefft" <btefft(a)community-research.com> Thread-Index: AcTRvPl/4TehnAnvQQGTeYb2oxIivgAaHPCg From: "Bruce Tefft" <btefft(a)community-research.com> Mailing-List: list osint(a)yahoogroups.com; contact osint-owner(a)yahoogroups.com Delivered-To: mailing list osint(a)yahoogroups.com Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 08:00:08 -0500 Subject: [osint] How al-Qaeda's London plot was foiled Reply-To: osint(a)yahoogroups.com http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1372124,00.html November 24, 2004 How al-Qaeda's London plot was foiled By Michael Evans and Sean O'Neill AL-QAEDA terrorists had to abandon a plan to fly hijacked airliners into Canary Wharf, the London skyscraper, and Heathrow airport after being "rumbled" by British and European intelligence services. The plot was made public this year but senior Whitehall sources gave further details yesterday of the intelligence work involved. Reports on ITV News and in a newspaper implied that the attacks had been thwarted recently. But, the sources said, the intelligence operation was in fact completed at least two years ago. Plots against Canary Wharf, in London Docklands, and Heathrow were confirmed in July when intelligence officers in Pakistan found incriminating files on computers that belonged to one of al-Qaeda's members. Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan, 25, a suspected terrorist arrested after a raid in Lahore, Pakistan, was at the centre of al-Qaeda's computer communications hub. He encrypted and distributed messages between the network's leadership and agents around the world. Among the files on Khan's computers were a plan of the layout of Heathrow and information from reconnaissance of the Canary Wharf complex, including vehicle height restrictions for the underground car parks there. There were also suggestions for "picture postcard" targets, such as the Houses of Parliament and Windsor Castle, and discussions of potential assassination targets. But the plots referred mainly to planning that pre-dated the attacks in New York and Washington on September 11, 2001. Whitehall sources said that a huge intelligence operation was also mounted after Sept-ember 11 when it was feared that al-Qaeda would try a similar hijacking over Britain. The sources said that there was credible intelligence that al-Qaeda planners were preparing to send a hijacking team to the UK. To foil the terrorists, checks were carried out at airports and flying schools in Britain and also in countries in Central and Eastern Europe, from where it was believed that al-Qaeda members might set off. Further checks on flying schools have been carried out in the past six months as part of continuing anti-terrorist operations. "They were rumbled," a source said. "We believe that al-Qaeda recognised that aviation security in the UK was too tight for a repeat of the September 11 attacks in this country and that it was too difficult to hijack an aircraft in our airspace. "Our firm belief is that the Heathrow and Canary Wharf plot is no longer extant. There is absolutely no evidence of any recent plotting against either of these targets. All the intelligence we had dates back at least two years." Some of the key people who were involved in planning the Heathrow and Canary Wharf plots were also by now either "deceased or arrested". The arrests had taken place outside Britain. Anti-terrorist agencies also said that there was no intelligence of any current suicide hijacking plot against targets in Britain. Scotland Yard sources were "bemused" by suggestions of a current plot. Downing Street and the Home Office, stinging from reports that ministers are trying to create a climate of fear before next year's election, distanced themselves from the story. A police source said: "If there was information that Canary Wharf was to be attacked, then I think that we would know. There is no credence to reports of any current threat." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] - ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/TySplB/TM - --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> - -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, discuss-osint(a)yahoogroups.com. - -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor bisoldi(a)intellnet.org http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint(a)yahoogroups.com Subscribe: osint-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe: osint-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: osint-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ - --- end forwarded text - -- - ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 1308 iQA/AwUBQaSfrMPxH8jf3ohaEQJinACgwztafW90l8TRK3yJbt3eBA1VvQwAmQGl dG4kvo9Hart9c8hudMIuGMH4 =FJ44 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Bush Orders Review of Covert Operations
by R.A. Hettinga 23 Nov '04

23 Nov '04

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 <http://reuters.myway.com/article/20041123/2004-11-23T180231Z_01_N2368286_RT…> My Way News Bush Orders Review of Covert Operations Nov 23, 1:02 PM (ET) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush has ordered an internal review into whether the Defense Department should run covert paramilitary operations traditionally mounted by the CIA, administration officials said on Tuesday. The presidential directive, signed by Bush last week, asks the CIA and the Departments of State, Defense and Justice to report back to him in 90 days on "whether or not the paramilitary operations, currently under the control of the CIA, should be transferred to the Department of Defense," a senior administration official said. The recommendation was first made by the commission that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as part of a package of reforms to overhaul and streamline the intelligence community. Top officials at the CIA and the Pentagon have been cool to the idea of giving the military's Special Operations forces such a large role in paramilitary operations. The CIA's paramilitary units are authorized to carry out the most sensitive covert operations, like the one launched in Afghanistan soon after the Sept. 11 attacks. COMPLEX ISSUE Personnel in U.S. military Special Operations forces, such as Delta Force and Navy SEALs, are elite and highly trained troops who perform special missions, in many cases covert and behind enemy lines. "Since this is a complex issue, we want to study it closely with the intelligence community to better understand it," said a Pentagon spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We don't have any preordained or preferred solutions in mind. We are undertaking the study with open minds. "We have been working formally and informally with the CIA already on this issue. We have a great deal of common ground and agreement with them," the spokesman added. Officials said the interagency review, first reported by The New York Times, would look at whether paramilitary authorities should be transferred in their entirety to the Defense Department. It could also advocate a more collaborative role between Special Operations forces and the paramilitary units of the intelligence agency. They already work together in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders. The leaders of the Sept. 11 commission have been critical of the CIA's covert paramilitary actions, which before Sept. 11 had used local agents with little success to attack al Qaeda. The commission said the joint CIA-military covert operations in Afghanistan after Sept. 11 were successful but still recommended shifting lead responsibility for all paramilitary operations to the better-equipped Pentagon. In the Iraq war, Special Operations troops again figured prominently, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has been a big backer of the military's special forces. - -- - ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 1308 iQA/AwUBQaOwrMPxH8jf3ohaEQLKQACdEvkoSq6TQlouJwf2Uj0uBzWsrnEAoJgp AiKA+4rhAZZS9VcEXQEQHxki =wOds -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Cybersleuth paints forgers into corner
by R.A. Hettinga 23 Nov '04

23 Nov '04

<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storyprint.cfm?storyID=3613252> New Zealand Herald Online - Newspaper Wednesday November 24, 2004 Cybersleuth paints forgers into corner 24.11.2004 - By STEVE CONNOR Scientists have created a computer that can tell the mathematical difference between a genuine work of art and a forgery by analysing features invisible to the human eye, paving the way to a new method of art fraud detection. The computer can also distinguish between the contributions of apprentices who collaborated on a well-known masterpiece officially attributed to a single artist. Scientists said the technique meant academics could better understand the hidden contributions of lesser-known artists. The researchers used a mathematical approach, analysing the statistical likelihood that a particular brush or pen stroke was performed by the artist. A similar mathematical approach powered by computer has been used to analyse the words in famous texts to see whether they were the sole creation of a well-known author. Henry Farid, associate professor of computer science at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, said the technique could be applied to fine art thanks to the widespread use of high-resolution digital imagery that collects up to 2400 points of light in a single square inch of canvas. "We have been able to mathematically capture subtle characteristics of an artist that are not necessarily visible to the human eye," he said. "We expect this technique, in collaboration with existing physical authentication, to play an important role in the field of art authentication. "Similar methods have been used to analyse works of literature. "We can find things in art work that are unique to the artist, such as the subtle choice of words or phrasing and cadence that are characteristic of a certain writer." Scientists program the computer with an artist's personal style of painting or drawing, using digital images of masterpieces known to be the work of the same painter. The machine can then decide whether a new work it subsequently analyses is likely to be a forgery. Professor Farid and his colleagues analysed 13 drawings that had been attributed - at least at some time - to Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The computer successfully distinguished between eight paintings known to be by the artist and five famous imitations by contemporary artists, including some by artists who intended to commit a forgery. A second part of the research, reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analysed digital images of the Madonna with Child by Italian Renaissance artist Perugino, who became famous for his altar pieces. The faces of three figures on the left of the painting were found to be the work of one artist, and the three on the right were different enough to be the work of different artists, probably Perugino's apprentices, a common practice in Renaissance art. The researchers say analysing brush and pen strokes mathematically will be combined with other techniques, such as x-rays to see underneath a coat of paint, in verifying a painting's authenticity. -- ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'

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[ISN] Hackers Pocket W16 Billion in Cyber Cash
by InfoSec News 23 Nov '04

23 Nov '04

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200411/kt2004112315444353460.htm By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter 11-23-2004 The state prosecution on Tuesday indicted two computer hackers and one of their accomplices on charges of stealing cyber money worth 16.4 billion won ($15.3 million) by infiltrating one of the largest online game firms. The Seoul Central District Public ProsecutorsB!B/ Office said the suspects pocketed the largest amount of cyber money ever obtained in hacking crimes. Investigators said the suspects allegedly broke into the online game site to steal cyber cash, which can be exchanged for real money, and sold it to cyber brokers on Sept. 24-27. Prosecutors said that suspects plotted the crime beforehand through closely reviewing the companyB!B/s electronic payment system and conducted practice runs beforehand. They found that the Web site run by the major game company has a loophole that enabled them to manipulate file contents. Before committing the crime, the suspects did a mock hacking via the service and stole cyber cash worth 27 million won in March and June. Prosecutors said they connected to the companyB!B/s information network system 227 times during the Chusok holiday in September. They illegally charged mileage points worth 164.7 billion won through 152 identification numbers that they set up beforehand. The suspects then allegedly traded stolen cyber cash at 750 million won to a broker, identified as Kim, who also raked in a total of 168 million won by selling it to other brokers through e-mails or identification numbers. Prosecutors said the companyB!B/s damages have been minimized because it immediately shut down the use of the identification numbers right after the crime occurred. However, prosecutors did not exclude the possibility that more damages are expected because game mileage is vulnerable to illegal trading and is circulated through the black market between cyber traders. The amount of cyber money they stole, estimated at mileage points worth 164.7 billion won, is equivalent to the amount only after users have spent 16.4 billion won in buying items or using services the company provides. _________________________________________ Open Source Vulnerability Database (OSVDB) Everything is Vulnerable - http://www.osvdb.org/ - --- end forwarded text - -- - ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 1308 iQA/AwUBQaNZbMPxH8jf3ohaEQKEMgCg6TxKkxhn/8P1WfjGq3+wD8olfP0AnRcQ G0KREwbqVESINy5ooxPQsctk =6IT1 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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[ISN] Hackers Pocket W16 Billion in Cyber Cash
by InfoSec News 23 Nov '04

23 Nov '04

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200411/kt2004112315444353460.htm By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter 11-23-2004 The state prosecution on Tuesday indicted two computer hackers and one of their accomplices on charges of stealing cyber money worth 16.4 billion won ($15.3 million) by infiltrating one of the largest online game firms. The Seoul Central District Public ProsecutorsB!B/ Office said the suspects pocketed the largest amount of cyber money ever obtained in hacking crimes. Investigators said the suspects allegedly broke into the online game site to steal cyber cash, which can be exchanged for real money, and sold it to cyber brokers on Sept. 24-27. Prosecutors said that suspects plotted the crime beforehand through closely reviewing the companyB!B/s electronic payment system and conducted practice runs beforehand. They found that the Web site run by the major game company has a loophole that enabled them to manipulate file contents. Before committing the crime, the suspects did a mock hacking via the service and stole cyber cash worth 27 million won in March and June. Prosecutors said they connected to the companyB!B/s information network system 227 times during the Chusok holiday in September. They illegally charged mileage points worth 164.7 billion won through 152 identification numbers that they set up beforehand. The suspects then allegedly traded stolen cyber cash at 750 million won to a broker, identified as Kim, who also raked in a total of 168 million won by selling it to other brokers through e-mails or identification numbers. Prosecutors said the companyB!B/s damages have been minimized because it immediately shut down the use of the identification numbers right after the crime occurred. However, prosecutors did not exclude the possibility that more damages are expected because game mileage is vulnerable to illegal trading and is circulated through the black market between cyber traders. The amount of cyber money they stole, estimated at mileage points worth 164.7 billion won, is equivalent to the amount only after users have spent 16.4 billion won in buying items or using services the company provides. _________________________________________ Open Source Vulnerability Database (OSVDB) Everything is Vulnerable - http://www.osvdb.org/ - --- end forwarded text - -- - ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah(a)ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 1308 iQA/AwUBQaNZbMPxH8jf3ohaEQKEMgCg6TxKkxhn/8P1WfjGq3+wD8olfP0AnRcQ G0KREwbqVESINy5ooxPQsctk =6IT1 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: Fallujah: Marine Eye-Witness Report
by John Young 23 Nov '04

23 Nov '04

The Selective Service website unctuously declares there is no draft foreseen at the moment and lists defeat of recent congressional efforts to institute the draft. However, it emphasizes that the agency is required by law to remain at the ready to immediately institute a draft upon notice. As part of this responsibility It polls educational instutitions every 18 months requesting updated information on draft-age youngsters who are receiving federal funding, the most recent of these polls here: http://cryptome.org/sss110404.txt A single harsh attack on US interests could precipitate a draft, and override public opposition in a flash. The military has nearly exhausted it National Guard and Reserve options, and will not give up the long-standing strategic policy of being able to fight two major wars at once. Thus most military resources are tied up not in the Middle East but in pre-positioned locations determined by the 2-wars policy. Whether the US military should forego its 2-war policy and use its forces in ways more appropriate to current threats will be determined by those interest groups who benefit from the horrifically expensive and magnificently wasteful 2-war boondoggle. Two generations of military personnel have been trained for the 2-war threat, and almost none have faced actual combat. This inexperience shows in unconventional warfare. again and again. Big war planners throw big war resources are small targets, take the applause for the phony war show, as in Fallujah, and discount lives lost because the do not show up on big war statistical-casualties diagrams. Big wars expect big losses, far more than volunteers can provide. Indeed, volunteer military personnel -- officers and enlisted -- are careful to throw conscripts into the breech as if they are expendable ammunition, the more thrown the higher the credit obtained in charts of capacity, not charts of smarts. Recall Kennedy embraced the counter-insurgent tool with support for Special Forces, but these forces remain a marginal part of the military, not least because they do not require much material and political resouces to do their duty. Big defense, and never forget, big intelligence to feed the need for big defense, are far superior ar generating contracts, jobs, careers and campaign contributions. The US is totally addicted to profligate, wasteful ineffective big war policy, primarily because there is little risk in parading might, bragging about it, threatening with it, compared to using it. Every application of US military might since WW2 has failed. STF up and pay your taxes, asshole, encourage your sons and daughters to sacrifice for the nation -- well, not really just tell the poor fuckers the military is a good safe job. Don't get drafted, that's for losers. Any road, killing the big war planners at home where they feel safe, is sure to come for their mighty military does not how to fight that war so busy is it parading forces against imaginary wargame-type evil empires of the day.

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