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> >The NSA reported using 3 hops for data dumps from their bulk surveillance store. I'm not sure what this means, and you appear to be referencing a comment in
by yid 11y ago
> >The NSA reported using 3 hops for data dumps from their bulk surveillance store.
I'm not sure what this means, and you appear to be referencing a comment in this HN thread. I'd imagine that if an entity uses a hardware splitter to intercept all traffic, the number of alleged hops used in a network traversal isn't as important.
- aunty_helen 11y agoOk no worries, it was quite a while ago that the article came out (I think around some of the early Snowden leaks). It that claimed that the NSA used a 3 hop rule to establish a 'targets' network. They claimed to only use 3 hops to protect the privacy and constitutional rights of US citizens ie 'this is not mass surveillance guys, we promise'. (paraphrasing from memory of course) To the authors point, 2 hops could just about be anyone. To your point, 2 hops could be a very tenuous link. If you put both points together you get effectively mass surveillance of just about anyone whilst still claiming to be on the right side of the law.
- yid 11y agoThank you, that makes sense.