There is material covered in the talk that isn't covered in the paper, so it might make sense to start with the sides. I'm very interested in any thoughts, comments, or feedback that you might have.

My Blackhat DC paper, slides and videos are online

To meet the needs of law enforcement, most telecommunications equipment includes hardware and software that allow for the monitoring of traffic originating with the targets of investigations. The precise capabilities are often dictated by formalized standards, which allow any hardware maker to implement a compliant system. Unfortunately, these standards often leave the hardware wide open to various attacks that leave regular users vulnerable, and provide savvy surveillance targets the opportunity to evade the snooping. An IBM researcher has put Cisco's system under the microscope at a Black Hat Conference, and found it comes up short.

Cisco's wiretapping system open to exploit, says researcher

This time, an IBM researcher told Black Hat conference attendees that these openings can still expose information about us to hackers and allow them to "watch" our Internet activity.

Cisco backdoor still open | NetworkWorld.com Community

Activists have long grumbled about the privacy implications of the legal "backdoors" that networking companies like Cisco build into their equipment--functions that let law enforcement quietly track the Internet activities of criminal suspects. Now an IBM researcher has revealed a more serious problem with those backdoors: They don't have particularly strong locks, and consumers are at risk.

In a presentation at the Black Hat security conference Wednesday, IBM ( IBM - news - people ) Internet Security Systems researcher Tom Cross unveiled research on how easily the "lawful intercept" function in Cisco's ( CSCO - news - people ) IOS operating system can be exploited by cybercriminals or cyberspies to pull data out of the routers belonging to an Internet service provider (ISP) and watch innocent victims' online behavior.

Cisco's Backdoor For Hackers - Forbes.com

A scheme that gives U.S. law enforcement authorities with a warrant access to networking equipment could also be exploited by illegal snoopers.

Tom Cross, manager of X-Force research, a security unit at IBM, discovered this after reviewing details of a lawful intercept scheme used to access equipment made by the networking giant Cisco.

Technology Review: How Legal Wiretaps Could Let Hackers In

An IBM ISS researcher here today revealed major security holes in a little-known wiretapping architecture for IP networks created by Cisco Systems for law enforcement.

IBM ISS Researcher Exposes Holes In Cisco's Internet Surveillance Architecture - DarkReading

Well, apparently the search is over. The UCLA police department has updated their missing persons bulletin for Agre with the following news: "Philip Agre was located by LA County Sheriff's Department on January 16, 2010 and is in good health and is self sufficient."

Missing Internet Pioneer Phil Agre Is Found Alive - All Tech Considered - Technology News And Culture Blog : NPR

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Helmet - Gigantor

Tehran's Revolutionary Court sentenced 11 people to death after convicting them of participating in post-election riots, state media reported Thursday.

Two of the sentences have been carried out; the rest are under appeal, the Iranian Students News Agency said, quoting a court official.

If your purpose is to scare people, is there political utility in the perception that trials are unfair and results arbitrary and severe?

Iran sentences 11 demonstrators to death - CNN.com

But this was a truly shocking lack of decorum and disrespect towards the Supreme Court for which an apology is in order. A new tone indeed.

There is a lot of technical analysis out there about the Obama-Alito exchange. I think this point is more important. The Republicans are actively attacking the court, in particular because of Roe, but also because of the "unitary executive" idea and resistance to checks and balances that informs their perspective on the GWOT. What is the impact of Obama joining in?

On a direct level, its a partisan attack on a political institution. It contributes to political divisiveness, and helps further undermine the system of checks and balances, which is the opposite of what Obama claims to be doing.

On an indirect level, it puts partisan conservatives in the odd position of defending the Supreme Court. Perhaps THAT was the intent?

In any event, they already seem to be back pedaling:

Vice President Joe Biden, appearing Thursday on ABC's "Good Morning America," argued Obama "didn't question the integrity of the court. He questioned the judgment of it."

Someone recently told me that they wanted me to look at something in order to understand it, not hack into it. I'm a security vulnerability researcher. I don't understand the difference.

The Supreme Court judges things.

Randy Barnett's response to 'State of the Union: How did he do?' - The Arena | POLITICO.COM