[tor-talk] [cryptography] Paris Attacks Blamed on Strong Cryptography and Edward Snowden

[grarpamp]

On Tue, Nov 17, 2015 at 1:39 PM, Givon Zirkind <givonne at gmx.com> wrote:
> imho, the crypto involved is not the issue.  not having boots on the ground,
> good intel, good spies who can walk and talk like the enemy, is the real
> issue.

Exactly. Governments have had at least 15 years to strap those boots,
and certainly have some good ones. These days it's probably just
as interesting as USA vs. USSR in that regard... plots, schemes,
double and triple agents... the spy game.

It's interesting what other perhaps complementary and/or parallel
forms of intel and boots have sprung up. Though best examples
are surely not seen, wrapped in closeness to government agencies
or other allegiences, and these links cover only one small theatre
among the list of things any agents, actors and mafioso have always
had an interest in... yet one can begin to get the idea... just how
deep does this sort of online game go...

https://twitter.com/TorReaper/status/661266213000073218
http://www.ghostsec.org/
http://pastebin.com/search?q=isdratetp4donyfy
https://cpunks.org/pipermail/cypherpunks/2015-November/010940.html

> there was no crypto in the false i.d. papers used to gain entry.
> there is no crypto in exploiting the humanitarian aid being given to syrian
> refugees.  these people operate in unconnected cells.  how much
> communication can there be; once an idea is hatched; a plan formed and; put
> into motion--from a few secret meetings.  esp. since they know enough to
> have to maintain radio silence.

Like volunteering for missionary, cash and a blessing at sendoff
is still a very hard problem to crack. Unless you become confidant
of both Padre and Church itself, or simply become them...

Regardless, if any of this affects your area you should definitely
have your talking points and counter solutions lined up, because
the exposure and fields of play are growing and it's not going away.
Welcome to the connected world.