> Many people forget that the guys running the show at the NSA are, in all probability, at least as savvy as any one of us. Indeed, but I would add that these

> Many people forget that the guys running the show at the NSA are, in all probability, at least as savvy as any one of us. Indeed, but I would add that these people are more than just savvy. Many of these people have been picked out because they are smarter than the average bear. They've also be brain-washed into the mold to believe that if you aren't inside, then you are the enemy, or the friend of my enemy, or a potential "task". Many of these guys (and girls) are converts - young hackers who have been caught hacking and have been given the option to serve jail time or join the cause. Its an easy sell to young impressionable minds who want to be a hacking James Bond. More importantly, these guys are hacking targets across the world with a remit; a licence to hack if you will. If you or I go out hacking random companies for fun and profit, we'll get a 5am dawnraid knock-knock visit and spend a couple of years 'rooming with Bubba'. These guys can do what they want without the fear or stress of that 'Sword of Damocles' hanging over their heads. They have a free reign, and they are smart. They also have the feeling that what they are doing is right. That makes them way more dangerous than you or me. Thanks the hat tip nevertheless. I grew up in a government security type environment. These things rub off on the kids. Somehow you learn to evaluate risk, locations and people very quickly in this kind of environment. I guess it is useful in some ways. It also makes you a constant analyst, which tires the brain somewhat, but you see things that others don't.