4 ms·

Doing the communications via SMS would make it trivially easy to block, or, even better for a dictator, work out who the troublemakers are and track them in rea

Doing the communications via SMS would make it trivially easy to block, or, even better for a dictator, work out who the troublemakers are and track them in real time via the mobile network.

stcredzero 16y ago
Not being able to read the messages in plaintext would be a step up. It would still be very useful for coordination in a situation like Tahir square. "We cannot read the messages right now, because they are encrypted with 64 bit Blowfish. It will take some time to crack the passwords. But we have traced their location." "Where are they?" "Tahir square." "...Get back to me when you actually have useful information."
- bensummers 16y ago
  Unless the protestor dumps their phone, they can be traced on an ongoing basis for reprisals at the dicator's leisure. You don't need to decrypt to identify users of such an application. I've read there is some reluctance to leave Tahir Square because they fear they will be attacked by thugs as soon as they leave the safety of numbers and focus of the world's media.
  - stcredzero 16y ago
    Unless the protestor dumps their phone, they can be traced on an ongoing basis for reprisals at the dicator's leisure. Dumping your phone is not a bad price for taking part in a movement freeing your country. Here's an idea: a Kickstarter project that acquires a bunch of prepaid phones and DHLs them someplace they can be smuggled into the country?
    - bensummers 16y ago
      Let's hope everyone knows to dump that phone.
chopsueyar 16y ago
Weren't folks setting up their own GSM network at Burning Man?
- phowat 16y ago
  Yes, using OpenBTS ( http://openbts.sourceforge.net/ http://openbts.sourceforge.net/ ) . It's quite a cool project. Unfortunately, it would be illegal to use here in Brazil.
  - mctavjb9 16y ago
    Why do you think OpenBTS is illegal in Brazil? There's a research group at UFPA in Belem that's been quite active in the OpenBTS project. I met two of the guys at the OpenBTS Workshop in Germany last summer. See-- http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=5304848 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=5304... A license for the GSM spectrum used by OpenBTS from the relevant government telecommunications authority is necessary almost everywhere in the world.

Doing the communications via SMS would make it trivially easy to block, or, even better for a dictator, work out who the troublemakers are and track them in real time via the mobile network.

stcredzero 16y ago

Not being able to read the messages in plaintext would be a step up. It would still be very useful for coordination in a situation like Tahir square. "We cannot read the messages right now, because they are encrypted with 64 bit Blowfish. It will take some time to crack the passwords. But we have traced their location." "Where are they?" "Tahir square." "...Get back to me when you actually have useful information."

bensummers 16y ago
Unless the protestor dumps their phone, they can be traced on an ongoing basis for reprisals at the dicator's leisure. You don't need to decrypt to identify users of such an application. I've read there is some reluctance to leave Tahir Square because they fear they will be attacked by thugs as soon as they leave the safety of numbers and focus of the world's media.
- stcredzero 16y ago
  Unless the protestor dumps their phone, they can be traced on an ongoing basis for reprisals at the dicator's leisure. Dumping your phone is not a bad price for taking part in a movement freeing your country. Here's an idea: a Kickstarter project that acquires a bunch of prepaid phones and DHLs them someplace they can be smuggled into the country?
  - bensummers 16y ago
    Let's hope everyone knows to dump that phone.

chopsueyar 16y ago

Weren't folks setting up their own GSM network at Burning Man?

phowat 16y ago
Yes, using OpenBTS ( http://openbts.sourceforge.net/ http://openbts.sourceforge.net/ ) . It's quite a cool project. Unfortunately, it would be illegal to use here in Brazil.
- mctavjb9 16y ago
  Why do you think OpenBTS is illegal in Brazil? There's a research group at UFPA in Belem that's been quite active in the OpenBTS project. I met two of the guys at the OpenBTS Workshop in Germany last summer. See-- http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=5304848 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=5304... A license for the GSM spectrum used by OpenBTS from the relevant government telecommunications authority is necessary almost everywhere in the world.