4 ms·

Similar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF4EUM8CwT4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF4EUM8CwT4 "The Secret Behind the Huge, Windowless Skyscraper in NYC" by H

by nayuki 6y ago

Similar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF4EUM8CwT4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF4EUM8CwT4 "The Secret Behind the Huge, Windowless Skyscraper in NYC" by Half as Interesting And: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33_Thomas_Street https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33_Thomas_Street ; https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21555954 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21555954

kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
The reason it doesn't have windows it because it's a telephone exchange. These are, almost universally, windowless shacks in the US. The cloak and dagger bits are just because it's in a convenient location for spying.
- C1sc0cat 6y ago
  Telephone exchanges especially big ones are built for resilience and high security A few years ago I had to do an update to some of our sun servers in CAPITAL (the really big international Exchange in Edinburgh) interesting experience cavernous rooms and quite spooky with all the various clicks and bleeps
xyst 6y ago
Is it a known fact that AT&T is in bed with the NSA, or just a coincidence? Titanpointe and Room 641A are currently or formerly owned by AT&T.
- C1sc0cat 6y ago
  All PTT's and ex PTT's do its just how that industry is.
- griffinkelly 6y ago
  My uncle worked for AT&T and he said he was installing hardware to do wiretaps all the time. I don't know the exact specifics, but he would only go so far with the tap, someone later would come in and complete it, presumably from the NSA.
- redblacktree 6y ago
  Basically all telecom. Highly important for three-letter agencies to have access, and they have basically unlimited resources, so they get access.
  - x86_64Ubuntu 6y ago
    Don't communications companies have to follow some law stating that their infrastructure MUST be tappable by the US government?
    - renewiltord 6y ago
      CALEA, FISA, and PATRIOT allow for that together.
- mtgx 6y ago
  All telecoms are. It's no coincidence that telecom security is crap. https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/Olkl/sources-we-were-pressured-to-weaken-the-mobile-security-in-the-80s https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/Olkl/sources-we-were-pre...? https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/06/vodafone-reveals-secret-wires-allowing-state-surveillance https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/06/vodafone-re...
- vb6sp6 6y ago
  > Is it a known fact that AT&T is in bed with the NSA, or just a coincidence It's complicated. Telcos that operate in the US are required to follow US laws and court orders and there are laws and orders that require them to submit data to the gov. But they also don't seem to be trying to fight it: https://www.wired.com/2013/09/telcos-metada-orders/ https://www.wired.com/2013/09/telcos-metada-orders/ I'd imagine if they fought it, a new law would magically appear in the books so it's hard to tell if they are being practical by not pursuing legal action that is bound to be overruled or just plain evil (the truth probably lies in the middle)
kjs3 6y ago
Clickbait. It's not a 'secret'. Atlanta has 56 Marietta Street...same windowless tower. They're in every major communications hub.

by nayuki 6y ago

kevin_thibedeau 6y ago

The reason it doesn't have windows it because it's a telephone exchange. These are, almost universally, windowless shacks in the US. The cloak and dagger bits are just because it's in a convenient location for spying.

C1sc0cat 6y ago
Telephone exchanges especially big ones are built for resilience and high security A few years ago I had to do an update to some of our sun servers in CAPITAL (the really big international Exchange in Edinburgh) interesting experience cavernous rooms and quite spooky with all the various clicks and bleeps

xyst 6y ago

Is it a known fact that AT&T is in bed with the NSA, or just a coincidence? Titanpointe and Room 641A are currently or formerly owned by AT&T.

C1sc0cat 6y ago
All PTT's and ex PTT's do its just how that industry is.
griffinkelly 6y ago
My uncle worked for AT&T and he said he was installing hardware to do wiretaps all the time. I don't know the exact specifics, but he would only go so far with the tap, someone later would come in and complete it, presumably from the NSA.
redblacktree 6y ago
Basically all telecom. Highly important for three-letter agencies to have access, and they have basically unlimited resources, so they get access.
- x86_64Ubuntu 6y ago
  Don't communications companies have to follow some law stating that their infrastructure MUST be tappable by the US government?
  - renewiltord 6y ago
    CALEA, FISA, and PATRIOT allow for that together.
mtgx 6y ago
All telecoms are. It's no coincidence that telecom security is crap. https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/Olkl/sources-we-were-pressured-to-weaken-the-mobile-security-in-the-80s https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/Olkl/sources-we-were-pre...? https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/06/vodafone-reveals-secret-wires-allowing-state-surveillance https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/06/vodafone-re...
vb6sp6 6y ago
> Is it a known fact that AT&T is in bed with the NSA, or just a coincidence It's complicated. Telcos that operate in the US are required to follow US laws and court orders and there are laws and orders that require them to submit data to the gov. But they also don't seem to be trying to fight it: https://www.wired.com/2013/09/telcos-metada-orders/ https://www.wired.com/2013/09/telcos-metada-orders/ I'd imagine if they fought it, a new law would magically appear in the books so it's hard to tell if they are being practical by not pursuing legal action that is bound to be overruled or just plain evil (the truth probably lies in the middle)

kjs3 6y ago

Clickbait. It's not a 'secret'. Atlanta has 56 Marietta Street...same windowless tower. They're in every major communications hub.