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You don't need to go that far back in time: Microsoft helped the NSA to circumvent its encryption to address concerns that the agency would be unable to interc

by devx 13y ago

You don't need to go that far back in time: Microsoft helped the NSA to circumvent its encryption to address concerns that the agency would be unable to intercept web chats on the new Outlook.com portal; The agency already had pre-encryption stage access to email on Outlook.com, including Hotmail; http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-collaboration-user-data http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-c...

harrytuttle 13y ago
Diddums. Most of it goes over SMTP in plain text anyway. If you want secure communications, you don't use email or you use something you control.
- toyg 13y ago
  There has long been an expectation of formalized privacy in emails, which was asserted in numerous laws -- basically extending the concept of regular mail to the electronic counterpart. It's like saying "most regular envelopes go through the Post Office using plain vans, if you want secure communication you send it in an armoured van staffed by personally-vetted Congolese mercenaries". Nobody touches Post Office vans not because they're hard to assault (they're not), but because they're shielded with thick walls of law. I know that smtp is more like sending postcards and yadda yadda yadda, but that's not what most legal systems have assumed for 20 years, nor what the public at large expects.
  - harrytuttle 13y ago
    I agree with you but the expectation always needs to match reality. Many civilization had fallen to this sort of ignorance.
    - Dylan16807 13y ago
      The expectation and reality should both be "they can view the mail at certain stages but if they get caught they're getting the book thrown at them, and the incentives are aligned that breaches will be reported".
larrik 13y ago
True, but the NSA snooping is different than Microsoft employees looking at your pictures to make sure they are "family friendly." I hope.
unicornporn 13y ago
But but but... They saaaay they will be nice. https://pay.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1m926j/we_are_the_outlookcom_team_ask_us_anything/cc6yjrt https://pay.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1m926j/we_are_the_out...

by devx 13y ago

harrytuttle 13y ago

Diddums. Most of it goes over SMTP in plain text anyway. If you want secure communications, you don't use email or you use something you control.

toyg 13y ago
There has long been an expectation of formalized privacy in emails, which was asserted in numerous laws -- basically extending the concept of regular mail to the electronic counterpart. It's like saying "most regular envelopes go through the Post Office using plain vans, if you want secure communication you send it in an armoured van staffed by personally-vetted Congolese mercenaries". Nobody touches Post Office vans not because they're hard to assault (they're not), but because they're shielded with thick walls of law. I know that smtp is more like sending postcards and yadda yadda yadda, but that's not what most legal systems have assumed for 20 years, nor what the public at large expects.
- harrytuttle 13y ago
  I agree with you but the expectation always needs to match reality. Many civilization had fallen to this sort of ignorance.
  - Dylan16807 13y ago
    The expectation and reality should both be "they can view the mail at certain stages but if they get caught they're getting the book thrown at them, and the incentives are aligned that breaches will be reported".

larrik 13y ago

True, but the NSA snooping is different than Microsoft employees looking at your pictures to make sure they are "family friendly." I hope.

unicornporn 13y ago

But but but... They saaaay they will be nice. https://pay.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1m926j/we_are_the_outlookcom_team_ask_us_anything/cc6yjrt https://pay.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1m926j/we_are_the_out...