Class 8 Questions about term paperlist of possible topics - - PDF document

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Mary Jean Harrold 1 CS 4001

Class 8

• Questions about term paper—list of possible

topics available later today

• Communications discussion
• Communications assignment

Mary Jean Harrold 2 CS 4001

Intercepting Communications

Thanks to Sherry Clark for her notes

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Mary Jean Harrold 3 CS 4001

Outline

Overview of the Controversies Intercepting Communications Cryptography and Its Uses Encryption Policy: Access to Software, Keys, and Plaintext Fundamental Issues

Mary Jean Harrold 4 CS 4001

Overview of Controversies

Communications Privacy Affected by

Interception of communications, including:

Telephone, E-mail, and Web activity.

Restrictions on secure encryption.

Exportation of strong encryption was viewed as a threat to national security.

CALEA (Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act.

Communications technology must assist law enforcement, not hinder.

Global surveillance systems.

The constitutionality of domestic systems and the necessity of international systems are under question.

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Mary Jean Harrold 5 CS 4001

Q: Can law enforcement intercept communications without a

court order?

Intercepting Communications (1)

Wiretapping

Telephone:

Pre-1934: used widely by government, businesses, and private sector. 1934: the Federal Communications Act disallowed unauthorized wiretaps; many ignored the law. 1968: the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act restricted wiretapping by requiring a court order.

Mary Jean Harrold 6 CS 4001

Intercepting Communications (2)

Wiretapping

New Technologies:

1986: Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and its amendments restricted government interception of e-mail, cell-phones, etc. 2001: USA Patriot Act loosened restrictions on government wiretapping and communications interception.

Q: Does the USA Patriot Act supersede ECPAs restrictions?

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Mary Jean Harrold 7 CS 4001

Q: Why did privacy advocates object to CALEA? Intercepting Communications (3)

Designing Communications Systems for Interception and Tracking

Obstacles to interception:

Incomplete pen-registers as a result of long distance service. Packet-mode communications (e-mail, file transfers, Internet phones).

Solutions:

CALEA: Requires telecommunications equipment be designed to ensure interception by law enforcement (with court order).

Mary Jean Harrold 8 CS 4001

Q: CALEA allows for the interception of PINs. Do you support

this use?

Intercepting Communications (4)

Designing Communications Systems for Interception and Tracking (cont’d)

CALEA

Costs include modified hardware, software, and overuse by authorities. Wiretappable systems vulnerable to criminal hacking, industrial spies, etc.. Competition weakened due to restricted changes and diversities. Civil liberties threatened by nationwide standard for surveillance.

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Mary Jean Harrold 9 CS 4001

Q: Does Carnivore violate the 4th Amendment?

Intercepting Communications (5)

Carnivore

FBI’s system to intercept e-mail with a court order.

Pro: Law enforcement needs this tool to fight crime. Con: All e-mail goes through FBI’s Carnivore system.

Mary Jean Harrold 10 CS 4001

Q: Should the NSA be permitted to intercept all e-mail

entering and leaving the U.S.?

Intercepting Communications (6)

NSA and Echelon

NSA (National Security Agency):

Collects and analyzes communications to find threats to national security.

Echelon:

Member nations intercept communications for each other.

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Mary Jean Harrold 11 CS 4001

Communications Assignment

Discuss and work on in groups of 2-3