Privacy and data protection are two hot topics these days, and thanks to a case study conducted by Edward Snowden on the Xkeyscore leaks, we can learn how to protect our data in a simple a way. In the same case study, Snowden tells us how simple it is to be marked as "extremist" by the NSA, the National Security Agency.

Xkeyscore is the system used by the NSA to collect and analyse data (in a legal way, that's what they say) to prevent any kind of illecit activity. After the big scandal, that was brought to light by Edward Snowden, a lot of programmers analyzed the code of the program, to understand how the NSA screens potential criminals.

Thanks to a simple search of the words "Amnesia Incognito Live System", or "tails", plus the words "linux", "USB", "CD", "secure desktop", "IRC", "truecrypt" or "tor", you will pop up on the NSA's radar, and your IP will be checked out.

The NSA quickly responded to the accusation, saying that all data were collected in a legal way. They think that if you look for those kinds of words, if you want to protect yourself, it means that you have something to hide, which means you are worth spying on. Security and freedom are two important rights that apparently are not given by the USA at the moment. Be aware of the fact, and act consequently.




Source: TechSpot
via Le Comptoir du Hardware.