MI5 has overhauled an e-mail terror alert system for the public following detective work by privacy activists.
Digital detective work by campaigners revealed that the alerting system did little to protect the identities of anyone signing up.
They found that data gathered was being stored in the US leading to questions about who would have access to the list of names and e-mail addresses.
The activists discovered that the whole system had been contracted and some of it was being run by a company called Mailtrack that specialises in handling large e-mail mailing lists.
More worryingly when people signed up to use the alert system, the standard encryption software had been disabled. This would have scrambled personal data, such as name and e-mail address, to stop others eavesdropping.
Also the computer system to manage the list was based in the US on a server run by Seattle-based firm What Counts. SpyBlog researchers suggested that this put it at risk of being snooped on or inspected by US law enforcement authorities.
Why do Brits think they should be free from a paranoid, intrusive and incompetent bureaucracy? Aren’t they supposed to be as obedient as their national lapdog Prime Minister?
OFF TOPIC;
[edited: way OT, see comments guide]
#1 – I agree – That is off topic.
#1 – I agree – That is off topic.
As for an On Topic comment, my natural body chemistry conspiring with seasonal depression is in the midst of its downward cycle… Thus, I can’t muster the energy to care about it. We are all going to hell in a handbasket and I can’t even enjoy the ride…
I hope all our demises are grisly.
On the other hand, how’s everything going with you guys 🙂 ?
3. Is demises a word, plural, like “I hate dem Mices to pieces”? Sorry, you’ll need to be old to get that one. It is Monday, and its 10 below zero out there.
#4 – How young do you imagine I am? 🙂
I’m figuring Mid to upper 30’s. Just based on music choices.
#1 commented on the decapitation of Saddam’s half-brother. It was funny as hell but got censored. It was definitely off topic. Just to stay on topic that is a good picture of Bush and Blair holding hands. The decapitation video has someone yelling “whoops” when the head popped off. Another said, “my bad.” I do think Homeland Security is a crock – just like FEMA. Apparently they dropped the body from too high.
I’ll bet heads will roll over that! (no pun)
damn i missed it, musta been really OT to get editied here
On topic, lol – Dept of “homeland security” provides the people in power with more power. Is it any suprise that other governments are picking up the idea? Hopefully, the Brits will avoid some of the mistakes OUR govt has made in implementing this “secret police” bureau
#6 – My Dandy Warhols Album didn’t fool ya 🙂
I turned 40 this year. It’s good to know someone is paying attention…
Lest we forget duct tape and rolls of plastic. I hope the Brits understand they need that. And yes, use double thickness!
#7, I thought that was a good pun. It gave me a chuckle.
More on topic, gee, notice what nice teeth Blair has for a Brit?
#9,
don’t worry, you’ll outgrow that stage. One day you’ll wake up and ask yourself,
“Self, whatever happened to the Ramones?”
and you will answer yourself,
“Self, they went the same way as my 40s did”.