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You don't want to use the same VPN everyone else is using. You don't want to take critical security updates, because you need to have CIA analysts do a thorough

You don't want to use the same VPN everyone else is using. You don't want to take critical security updates, because you need to have CIA analysts do a thorough source code audit of any software provided by untrusted parties. This isn't tin foil hat stuff either - it's entirely likely that if the president used off-the-shelf VPN software that a foreign government would get an operative into Cisco or wherever and slip a backdoor in. So either you convince Cisco that they need to fire any non-US nationals involved in packaging/bugfixes/security and have everyone submit to security screening, or you build your own.

gcb0 13y ago
so you are affirming all the network the white house used until obama's blackberry was not yet vetted?
lawnchair_larry 13y ago
The CIA doesn't do that.
jdiez17 13y ago
I don't understand why so much weight is given to the difference between US and non-US nationals. And in my experience, it's pretty common to see the US assign a pretty high amount of trust by default to US citizens. For example, a few months ago I visited a friend there, and I got to tour the SpaceX factory. Since I'm foreign, he had to jump through some hoops and there were parts of it the factory that were off-bounds for me. I know there are very tight controls on space-related industries and I can understand the no-pictures policy, but I don't know why it makes such a big difference whether I was born elsewhere.
- kefka 13y ago
  Because you are a foreigner. My government has done horrible things to many people in many countries. They are afraid of blowback. In all honesty, if you are an intellectual, go elsewhere than the US. We're slowly turning technological backwater because we do not cater to smart people who were born in (gasp) other countries. As for me, I'm stuck here, due to family ties and money. I wish you the best, wherever you go.

gcb0 13y ago

so you are affirming all the network the white house used until obama's blackberry was not yet vetted?

lawnchair_larry 13y ago

The CIA doesn't do that.

jdiez17 13y ago

I don't understand why so much weight is given to the difference between US and non-US nationals. And in my experience, it's pretty common to see the US assign a pretty high amount of trust by default to US citizens. For example, a few months ago I visited a friend there, and I got to tour the SpaceX factory. Since I'm foreign, he had to jump through some hoops and there were parts of it the factory that were off-bounds for me. I know there are very tight controls on space-related industries and I can understand the no-pictures policy, but I don't know why it makes such a big difference whether I was born elsewhere.

kefka 13y ago
Because you are a foreigner. My government has done horrible things to many people in many countries. They are afraid of blowback. In all honesty, if you are an intellectual, go elsewhere than the US. We're slowly turning technological backwater because we do not cater to smart people who were born in (gasp) other countries. As for me, I'm stuck here, due to family ties and money. I wish you the best, wherever you go.