This is a good topic, and one that I know a fair deal about. I'm a computer programmer, and a bit of a tech nut, but I've also done quite a bit of research to combat Dave's claims of massive govt conspiracy to monitor our online actions.

I'll have to read up on Mr. Solove, since he's a guest here on a non-debate day, I can assume I'll disagree with him. ;-)

-Nathan

Nathan, I don't think that you operate on the blind assumption that our government is all together noble, honorable or well intentioned. Indeed, by their standards and ethics, invading the internet of anyone they find troublesome would be such a minor infraction for our present government. Most of the Fed- Hackers that get assigned to me make little effort to conceal their presence. I don't believe this is how they are suppose to operate but they do. They can be mean spirited goons that like to flaunt their tech powers. I should get you to check out how many of my e-mails get blocked.

Dave,

How long have you had Federal hackers assigned to you and your computer? How do they flaunt their tech powers? Can you give specific examples? Did this just begin to happen since the Bush administration has been in office?

Is there any specific reason(s) they would be watching you? Do you have any idea of how many hackers have been assigned to you and your computer?

Yes, I blew the whistle on major government / corporate corruption and I did so to government heads all over Europe, Canida, Africa and Australia. The corporation was Travelers Express which operates all over the world. My letter got responsed from any number of prime ministers and members of parliment. Since that day I have never been alone on my computer, day or night. What I was exposing was, in large measure, was the fact that if a corrupt special interest pays off both major political parties in the USA, they will be permitted to rip-off people with no interference from any government agency or official.

You also asked, how do they flaunt their presance. Some turn my computer off, change volume settings and turn it back on. They do that several times each day. Some type messages to me, I like to play card games, they make threats and unfrendly comments. I find them to be goons with more powers than they can handle. Some will block me from doing any research or from looking up just about anything. Often they block me from listening to a radio station and they will block me from sending, as one example, I am not able to send any message to Common Cause. Common Cause keeps records on which corporations are paying off which political parties. You might yourself contact Common Cause and ask how much money Dell Computers is giving to the Republican party for the right to rip off the people. Or perhaps Allstate insurance or the VIAD Corp. You may get their attention yourself.

Dave,

I certainly don't think this administration (or any for that matter) are above corruption. And I don't discount the possibility that you are right about agents watching your online movement. I just think that it's more than likely something else causing your problems.

You really need to do a complete wipe of your system and re-install windows (I assume you have a pc) with some sort of hardware firewall (like a $50 router at best buy) sitting between your computer and the internet. I know one thing for sure, your computer does HAVE to be infected with software that allows them to do this. Somewhere along the way, some bad software got installed on your system.

What you told me awhile ago is that they federal govt was using the CARNIVORE technology to do this to you. CARNIVORE doesn't even come close to giving them that ability. It only allows them to log your activity on your ISP's server, they couldn't modify your actions in any way or cause your computer to do things like you described.

I'm not saying that software doesn't exist to let someone take control of your computer, I'm just saying CARNIVORE isn't it. And, if you back up the data files you need (no programs), re-install the operating system, and set it up with proper security, the only way the infecting software could get on there again is if someone sits at your computer and installs it.

That's the big reason I'm looking forward to hearing this show. I want to hear if the author claims that the govt can step in and take control of any computer with the touch of a button. I would accept, and can believe, that the govt is monitoring your online actions as far as logging certain activities somewhere, although you'd have a hard time convincing me that more than 00.01% of these logs are ever actually looked at by a person.

I certainly wish I had a whistle to blow on someone, I'd be curious to see if anyone tries to hack my system. And I'd have a lot of fun in the little battles I'd think. Unfortunately, I don't know much do blow the whistle on. Oh well.

What was the whistle you blew? If you don't mind me asking. I'm just curious.

-Nathan

Nathan,

Do you think the Patriot Act's "Sneak and Peek" policy does not apply to the internet? It sure sounds like it. You know, the law that allows the FBI to go through your home without a warrent, without any justification.

I have a software and hardware firewall in my home system. Do I think I'm secure? No.

Nathan you have far greater knowledge of the workings of computers than I. What I understand is that our Feds argued the need to legitimately prevent high crimes on the www. If you were about to send military secrets to Iran for example then our Feds would want the right to prevent that from happening and that was granted to them. How, I don't know, but they do have the ability to invade any computer on the belief that they would be disrupting things such as espionage. Once having been granted such powers we could only speculate as to how honorably they will then use such powers.

I have Norton and Winamp, also Windows Messenger but our Feds can go through all such protections like they weren't even there. And, yes I do get my share of computer glitches and where I suspect the goons until I learn otherwise.

Mr. Solove,

Would you agree that govt access to internet logs is as restrictive as their access to wire tapping?

For example, with CARNIVORE the govt must first get a warrant and then set up the tracking software at the ISP's site.

Nathan

Get a Mac and get any hackers off your back. I have used a Mac for 20 years and never had anyone hack into my computer - and not for trying.

When I used a PC running Windows for a short while several years ago, I was hacked into almost daily.

I have given up on expecting our government today to play by any rules. "We don't need no stinken warents".

I do provolk these guys. I ask them questions like, "What is the maximum I.Q. you can have and still get into the FBI"? I should say that not all of these folks act like non-stop damn fools but I have been dealing with more then just a few of them.

Would you all agree that our government today would surly have no interest in those who would expose government corruption?

An improperly secured mac is just as vulnerable as an improperly secured pc. Bottom line, set up your system right and you won't have problems. I've had multiple windows and linux systems over the years and have kept all of my systems safe.

How do you know if you are secure? Well, if you don't have some sort of firewall (hardware preferred to software), and aren't running anti-virus software AND spyware detection, you aren't secure enough.

But telling someone to "just get a mac" isn't the answer. You have to know how to secure whatever platform you run. Every system CAN be secure.

-Nathan

Both professors wrong.

There is a 10000 Dalloar prize for either of them if they can hack into a Mac. Not done for 20 years.

Profiling in Finland for terrorist - American, Republican, Bush supporter!!

Dave,

Did i misunderstand you or do you think winamp is a program designed to keep your computer hack free?

Also, Nathan...social engineering is the new thing whereby a hacker gains access by getting the user to grant him control unknowingly...This is jus another way..either way the computer being hacked must allow itself to be hacked.

So Ben, the ignorant and the underinformed deserve to be hacked--blame the fucking victim?

If I drained your bank account--who would be the first one screaming?

Let's use technology to identify and eradicate the hackers

Gordon,

I dont think i said anything about the underinformed...I was just stating the hacker does not have to physically be at your pc. I am not blaming victims...It was just a simple statement of how hacking is done...also something you might consider is not using internet explorer, the program is terrible. Foxfire is 100 x's better for popup adds etc.

Ben--you said the computer to be hacked must allow itself to be hacked(a user letting a hacker get control unknowingly)--that's about being uninformed and ignorant--I don't think the hackee willingly wants to be hacked

You are subtly indicting victims for being ignorant about these processes

I disagree Ben, what I said was a properly set up system, behind a firewall and with anti-virus software, cannot be taken over without something being done physically on that computer. Like running a program you get in an email. But you cannot be hacked and taken control of from the outside.

Nathan

Gordon,

I certainly think it's acceptable to expect some personal responsibility from consumers. If it was rocket science I might see your point, but securing your system isn't rocket science and most americans could do it in a matter of hours if they bothered to educate themselves.

Nathan

Thanks Jacob! You know I almost believed those two professors, who happen to be experts in their fields. Good thing you set the record straight. I'll go get a Mac and forget about all my computer worries.

Nathan assuming a defensive posture against hackers is still not addressing the problem of hackers--and I thought you were of a pre-emptive mentality (think of hackers as terrorists--which they are)

It's not rocket science--but does require an education--and in the process novices are punished--and pretentious reactions from those who know, like yourself, aren't part of the solution--Nathan--with all your badass expertise--tell us how to get the hackers

The MAC OS X is FreeBSD UNIX with a MAC GUI. From what I have read, it is the most secure UNIX out there.

I would switch over to a MAC in a second if the software I use was ported to it. Unfortunately it isn't.

Gordon,

Well, unfortunately I have neither the resources nor the authority to catch hackers. Sure I'm all for catching the hackers and bringing them to justice, but there's absolutely nothing I can do to make that happen. What can I do? I can secure my own system.

Catching the hackers is very sticky, because much of it isn't done in the US. For the US to really control the hacking situation we'd have to close off the pipes to the rest of the world. This would, in essance make the internet a governed entity, which no one wants.

Actually, many of the US hackers that started major worms (like the melissa worm) are caught and prosecuted. But when it's being done across international lines, we can't just go in and nab em. So we try to protect ourselves from them instead.

You say assuming defensive posture against the hackers is not adressing the problem. I'm not adressing the problem of crime when I put a security system on my house. I'm not adressing the problem of reckless/drunk drivers when I put my seatbelt on. I'm not adressing the problem of intrusive telemarketers by blocking all private and out of area calls on my home phone. These are all things that I don't have the ability to adress on a large scale, what I have the ability to do is take measures to protect myself from them.

My solution for your average Joe is to spend a few hours reading up on how to secure your system, and implementing it. How is that not helping the situation? It sounds to me like your solution is to take action against anyone who might hack you before they do.

-Nathan

Nathan--actually just intrigued on how international hacking and international terrorism are similar animals in nature, if not convergent--perhaps protocol regarding both could be similar, too

Interesting that you acknowledge the ineptness of pre-emptive action against hackers--perhaps pre-emptive action against terrorists carries the same effectiveness ultimately

Solution may reside in creating a line of diminishing return or destroying motive reinforcement for both categories of aggression

Im not going to argue with you...if you want to take offense to a reality so be it.