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>> Signal was an approved and whitelisted app for ... discuss top-secret matters on. No. Just no. Anyone who has handled TS information would know how nutz t

>> Signal was an approved and whitelisted app for ... discuss top-secret matters on. No. Just no. Anyone who has handled TS information would know how nutz that sounds. Irrespective of software, TS stuff is only ever displayed in special rooms with big doors and a man with a gun outside. The concept of having TS on an everyday-use cellphone is just maddening.

timschmidt 1y ago
[flagged]
- seanhunter 1y ago
  Do you have evidence that Obama discussed or viewed topsecret intel on that blackberry or are you just trying to muddy the waters with a false equivalence?
  - timschmidt 1y ago
    You think he used it only to discuss what flavor of ice cream was being served that day in the whitehouse dining hall? With only the senior staff? If so, I have a bridge for sale which may interest you. > false equivalence We're literally talking about people occupying the same positions. If anything, blackberry seems less secure. For instance, there's a global en/decryption key, and it's known: https://www.vice.com/en/article/exclusive-canada-police-obtained-blackberrys-global-decryption-key-how/ https://www.vice.com/en/article/exclusive-canada-police-obta...
    - runlevel1 1y ago
      It was only to be used for a limited subset of Secret or lower comms. It was hardened and didn't use RIM's servers.
      - timschmidt 1y ago
        [flagged]
        deleted 1y ago
        [deleted]
    - seanhunter 1y ago
      OK so we've established two things: 1) you don't have any evidence that he used it for TS and are just trying to make a false equivalence. 2) you think secdef and potus occupy the same position. Got it.
      - timschmidt 1y ago
        [flagged]
- _djo_ 1y ago
  You're leaving out crucial information. Obama didn't keep his BlackBerry for classified information, he was given the then-standard government secure mobile communications device, a Secure Mobile Environment Personal Encryption Device (SME-PED). More specifically, the device Obama was given was a Sectéra Edge [0][1] by General Dynamics, a device specifically designed to be able to operate on Top Secret voice and Secret data networks. It had hardware-level separation between the unclassified and classified sides, even having separate flash memory for both. [2] The NSA contributed to the design and certified it and another device (L3's Guardian) on the SCIP, HAIPE, Suite A/B, Type 1, and non-Type 1 security protocols. It was absolutely not a regular BlackBerry, it didn't run any RIM software, no data ever went through RIM's servers, and secure calls were encrypted and didn't use SS7. It was a clunky purpose-designed device for the entire US government to be able to access Secret information and conduct Top Secret voice calls on the go. Even then, there were limitations to when and where it could be used and when a SCIF was required. The current equivalent of the SME-PED programme is the DoD's Mobility Classified Capability[3], which are specially customised smartphones again made by General Dynamics. There is no excuse whatsoever for the current administration's use of Signal, let alone TeleMessage Signal, for Secret and Top Secret discussions on regular consumer and personal devices. It's deeply irresponsible and worse than any previous administration has done. [0] https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/obamas-new-blackberry-the-nsas-secure-pda/ https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/obamas-new-blackberr... [1] https://gdmissionsystems.com/discontinued-products/sectera-edge https://gdmissionsystems.com/discontinued-products/sectera-e... [2] https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA547816.pdf https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA547816.pdf [3] https://www.disa.mil/~/media/files/disa/fact-sheets/dmcc-s.pdf https://www.disa.mil/~/media/files/disa/fact-sheets/dmcc-s.p...
  - timschmidt 1y ago
    Your reference [0] appears to contradict what you've said here. It speaks at length about several NSA approved options as alternatives, but says Obama used a BlackBerry. The photo attached to the article captioned "President-elect Barack Obama checks his BlackBerry while riding on his campaign bus in Pennsylvania last March." appears to show a blackberry. I take it from the article that this was as controversial as I remember it being at the time. Thanks for posting it.

timschmidt 1y ago

[flagged]

seanhunter 1y ago
Do you have evidence that Obama discussed or viewed topsecret intel on that blackberry or are you just trying to muddy the waters with a false equivalence?
- timschmidt 1y ago
  You think he used it only to discuss what flavor of ice cream was being served that day in the whitehouse dining hall? With only the senior staff? If so, I have a bridge for sale which may interest you. > false equivalence We're literally talking about people occupying the same positions. If anything, blackberry seems less secure. For instance, there's a global en/decryption key, and it's known: https://www.vice.com/en/article/exclusive-canada-police-obtained-blackberrys-global-decryption-key-how/ https://www.vice.com/en/article/exclusive-canada-police-obta...
  - runlevel1 1y ago
    It was only to be used for a limited subset of Secret or lower comms. It was hardened and didn't use RIM's servers.
    - timschmidt 1y ago
      [flagged]
      - deleted 1y ago
        [deleted]
  - seanhunter 1y ago
    OK so we've established two things: 1) you don't have any evidence that he used it for TS and are just trying to make a false equivalence. 2) you think secdef and potus occupy the same position. Got it.
    - timschmidt 1y ago
      [flagged]
_djo_ 1y ago
You're leaving out crucial information. Obama didn't keep his BlackBerry for classified information, he was given the then-standard government secure mobile communications device, a Secure Mobile Environment Personal Encryption Device (SME-PED). More specifically, the device Obama was given was a Sectéra Edge [0][1] by General Dynamics, a device specifically designed to be able to operate on Top Secret voice and Secret data networks. It had hardware-level separation between the unclassified and classified sides, even having separate flash memory for both. [2] The NSA contributed to the design and certified it and another device (L3's Guardian) on the SCIP, HAIPE, Suite A/B, Type 1, and non-Type 1 security protocols. It was absolutely not a regular BlackBerry, it didn't run any RIM software, no data ever went through RIM's servers, and secure calls were encrypted and didn't use SS7. It was a clunky purpose-designed device for the entire US government to be able to access Secret information and conduct Top Secret voice calls on the go. Even then, there were limitations to when and where it could be used and when a SCIF was required. The current equivalent of the SME-PED programme is the DoD's Mobility Classified Capability[3], which are specially customised smartphones again made by General Dynamics. There is no excuse whatsoever for the current administration's use of Signal, let alone TeleMessage Signal, for Secret and Top Secret discussions on regular consumer and personal devices. It's deeply irresponsible and worse than any previous administration has done. [0] https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/obamas-new-blackberry-the-nsas-secure-pda/ https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/obamas-new-blackberr... [1] https://gdmissionsystems.com/discontinued-products/sectera-edge https://gdmissionsystems.com/discontinued-products/sectera-e... [2] https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA547816.pdf https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA547816.pdf [3] https://www.disa.mil/~/media/files/disa/fact-sheets/dmcc-s.pdf https://www.disa.mil/~/media/files/disa/fact-sheets/dmcc-s.p...
- timschmidt 1y ago
  Your reference [0] appears to contradict what you've said here. It speaks at length about several NSA approved options as alternatives, but says Obama used a BlackBerry. The photo attached to the article captioned "President-elect Barack Obama checks his BlackBerry while riding on his campaign bus in Pennsylvania last March." appears to show a blackberry. I take it from the article that this was as controversial as I remember it being at the time. Thanks for posting it.