3 ms·

The problem is with the initial line of reasoning: "If you don't like x, don't do x". It's the biggest load of crap that everyone buys into for some reason. It'

The problem is with the initial line of reasoning: "If you don't like x, don't do x". It's the biggest load of crap that everyone buys into for some reason. It's like saying if you don't like air pollution, move to a different location. Like yes, true, but also I want to improve the situation in my current location, not abandon it. That's how people feel on the internet, and you're asking them to throw in the towel completely and accept they'll never be able to share anything on the internet in private. You're even going as far as to say if they want something private they shouldn't be doing it. Both of these two things are untrue, but especially the idea that technology is inherently un-private and can never be so.

VikingCoder 8y ago
> Both of these two things are untrue, but especially the idea that technology is inherently un-private and can never be so. I'm sorry, but I think you need to start with a list of ways you think people can use technology which has a high degree of certainty of being and remaining private. Because I can't think of any. Credit cards are an abomination. ISPs and wireless carriers know way too much metadata. Every social media company is a horror show. The ability to uniquely identify your browser across sites is terrifying. NSA's Carnivore. Keyloggers. Zero day exploits in the OS, in the browser, etc. Row hammer. Spectre and Meltdown. Elemental Technologies. SMS authentication and account recovery. Every online store knows way too much. https://xkcd.com/538/ https://xkcd.com/538/ I mean, there is literally no way to even secure your IDENTITY: https://www.wired.com/2010/05/lifelock-identity-theft/ https://www.wired.com/2010/05/lifelock-identity-theft/ And even if you do everything perfectly, Equifax might screw you, or Oklahoma: https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/01/16/massive-oklahoma-government-data-leak-exposes-7-years-of-fbi-investigations/#259e70af6e11 https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/01/16/massi... So, can you list maybe one or two things in technology you think are strong-guarantee secure and private? And I'm not saying to give up. This is the fight of our lives. But right now we've LOST. We need to think about how to start over, to try to win next time.

VikingCoder 8y ago

> Both of these two things are untrue, but especially the idea that technology is inherently un-private and can never be so. I'm sorry, but I think you need to start with a list of ways you think people can use technology which has a high degree of certainty of being and remaining private. Because I can't think of any. Credit cards are an abomination. ISPs and wireless carriers know way too much metadata. Every social media company is a horror show. The ability to uniquely identify your browser across sites is terrifying. NSA's Carnivore. Keyloggers. Zero day exploits in the OS, in the browser, etc. Row hammer. Spectre and Meltdown. Elemental Technologies. SMS authentication and account recovery. Every online store knows way too much. https://xkcd.com/538/ https://xkcd.com/538/ I mean, there is literally no way to even secure your IDENTITY: https://www.wired.com/2010/05/lifelock-identity-theft/ https://www.wired.com/2010/05/lifelock-identity-theft/ And even if you do everything perfectly, Equifax might screw you, or Oklahoma: https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/01/16/massive-oklahoma-government-data-leak-exposes-7-years-of-fbi-investigations/#259e70af6e11 https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/01/16/massi... So, can you list maybe one or two things in technology you think are strong-guarantee secure and private? And I'm not saying to give up. This is the fight of our lives. But right now we've LOST. We need to think about how to start over, to try to win next time.