I became aware of the fact that Dell likes to insert keyloggers in their laptops. I know this isn't news, I read a bunch of such theories a while back and, while they all abound of a rather un-needed conspiracy theory air to them, they do raise certain interesting points [Note: I am not confirming or refuting the claims made in the linked article.]

We are slowly becoming our very own worst enemy. The lack of understanding of technology, the things we allow our governments to do in the name of safety and security are all amplifying the idea that we are becoming prisoners of our ignorance.

I will stick to technology. Is there a need for the government to monitor citizens' activities? Is there a logical reason to assume that subversive - or 'terrorist' - factions will use standard means of communications to pass along tactics, orders etc? Even if they did, the slightest possibility that these communications are intercepted would be a deterring factor. In the USA especially, considering all the agencies that deal with security and admitting to the fact that the NSA might have ways of deciphering encryption that is otherwise considered safe, what are the chances that some group or another will start e-mailing its members about the latest developments in biochemical sciences or explosives?

There are voices considering that the entirety of government influence on ISPs is, in part, a result of RIAA's and MPAA's campaigns to deter file-sharing. Sounds surreal? More and more people voice their concerns regarding actions on the Pirate Bay as being a result of foreign pressure. So we have our privacy trampled upon because of greed?

Well, I doubt it. Certainly this is a bonus but it would be foolish to simplify the issue to that point. When you can deploy such a large tool capable of even the most ambitious, mass psy-ops, there must be other plans, other interests at stake. World domination is the much played-on theme and could very well be it. After all, so many events in history teach us that Man wants to rule over men. Forget technological advance, space colonization and the Philosopher's Stone; this planet is here and it somehow became up for grabs.

As for the punch-line. People need to be aware of their surroundings. They need to reflect and evaluate whether what their governments demand from them are truly acceptable give-aways for their perceived security - and, especially, if this security is something that they truly lack. Staying clear of Nazi comparisons, it can be argued that the difficulty of ruling over a nation is directly proportional to their fear.

oh my fucking god!: "un film de la razvan"

(Via Elucubraţii - zoso's blog.)

With the ever-increasing number of outlets for information marketing, the Internet has, unfortunately, also established itself as a proper ground for the distribution of disinformation and propaganda. With the average netizen's lack of proper "information dissemination" skills, most people will believe whatever comes their way.

Enter the hacktivist groups. The first net guerillas formed in Germany but, due to the hive nature of the Internet, soon spread all over the Globe. Regardless, this entry is not aimed at providing the reader with either history or a social overview of what hacktivist groups represent. There is a slightly more practical goal to this.

As a 'combatant' on HackThisSIte! I was introduced to probably a few of the issues that some hacktivist groups deal with. More than one of their challenges were focused around a make-believe Neo-Nazi party [although in the real world this would probably be the American Nazi Party - ANP] This, to me raised the issue: who - if any - are the forums that have the authority to evaluate what constitutes propaganda and what constitutes disinformation - as opposed to what is simply a manifestation of free speech. After all, it is exactly free speech that hacktivist groups should aim to enforce.

It is my strong belief that hacktivist groups should focus on pushing forward free speech and lack of censorship. They should attempt to hit those institutions that try to restrict these principles and slowly render [said institutions] incapable of any actions. They should have members of sister-groups that should methodically refute propaganda based on information that can be verified. They should also minimize the effect that the psy-ops of any government have.

I am aware that it is far easier to set goals than to see them through. I know that the forces against which I am arguing here are large, well-funded and employ some pretty darn good security. I also urge any readers to not forget that no revolution in the histories of the peoples of planet Earth was waged from a position of advantage. Change does require certain risks, but these risks become greater as we allow more time to pass without acting. In the words of Maxi Jazz, "Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction." And before you ask, yes, this is trying to encourage action. Non-violent as it may be, because the battlefields look different nowadays.