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Of course they don't like unknown cryptography. It easily makes automatic decryption impossible. That means that the NSA needed scarce expert-time for each cust
by madez 11y ago
Of course they don't like unknown cryptography. It easily makes automatic decryption impossible. That means that the NSA needed scarce expert-time for each customly secured communications. No agency in the world has the ressources to pull that off for many connections. That is the reason why they love Google and Facebook, and why I stay away from these services.
But here on HN, many folks like their mantra of "security by obscurity is bad" too much. Personally, I think many of those who repeat that didn't think for themselves.
- bthornbury 11y agoSecurity by obscurity is great until it isnt. It's largely impractical for long term data security. I don't understand why you'd say that is group think.
- ohitsdom 11y agoUsing unknown cryptography is not security through obscurity. If the encryption is legit, then it's good. The problem is when you are relying solely on obscurity without the encryption.
- innguest 11y agoIt's the ivory tower problem. I agree with you and the parent post. Parent said: "new less scrutinized algorithms may still offer a practical defense" But in my experience that P word there is unknown to ivory tower dwellers. And so the practical peasants end up getting unrealistic (but theoretically correct) advice.