Air Force Aims for 'Full Control' of 'Any and All' Computer

[toadeater]

The Air Force wants a suite of hacker tools, to give it "access" to -- and "full control" of -- any kind of computer there is. And once the info warriors are in, the Air Force wants them to keep tabs on their "adversaries' information infrastructure completely undetected."

The Department of Homeland Security, Darpa, and other agencies are teaming up for a five-year, $30 billion "national cybersecurity iniative." That includes an electronic test range, where federally-funded hackers can test out the latest electronic attacks. "You used to need an army to wage a war," a recent Air Force commercial notes. "Now, all you need is an Internet connection."

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/05/air-force-mater.html

Question: If this is an Air Force commercial, can the Air Force be sued for false advertizing?

Note: I am sure the backdoors in Microsoft and Apple operating systems will go a long way in helping the Air Force with their "hacking."

[Knife Party]

idiots :hmmm: :huh:

[ring0]

can't wait for a torrent of those puppies ;)

[primexx]

love how it's called the "cybersecurity" initiative when it's really the cybercompromize initiative.

[gigapixels Veteran]

love how it's called the "cybersecurity" initiative when it's really the cybercompromize initiative.

Oh, but it's okay. Remember, the fight against terrorism grants the government the right to do anything it wants! :rolleyes:

[Arkaic]

Oh god! I hope it fails horribly and gets blocked. Hello, aren't we allowed to have privacy? And don't tell me that this won't be used in unethical ways.

I'm getting my tin-foil hat here. because in all honesty, this type of big brother crap scares me.

Oh, but it's okay. Remember, the fight against terrorism grants the government the right to do anything it wants! :rolleyes:

+1

[Osiris]

Seems to be more smoke and mirrors then anything tangible. The smart appropach would be to take China's lead and go about it without announcing it to the world. Even the US Dept of Defence Annual report on China has bugger all information on China's information warfare divisions/capabilities/strategy. Seems like the smarter approach then rattling the cages of everyday people and annoucing you want to do this and that.

This quote from the article is kinda cool though "The Air Force recently put together a "Cyberspace Command," with a charter to rule networks the way its fighter jets rule the skies."

[Borbus]

Glad I use free software.

[n_K]

Glad I use free software.

What, free open source software that the airforce can get the source to and look thru for bugs ?

[Borbus]

What, free open source software that the airforce can get the source to and look thru for bugs ?

Yes, exactly. Note: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus%27s_Law

[Sadelwo]

Wonder if they'll call it 'Skynet'?

[jingarelho]

Oh, but it's okay. Remember, the fight against terrorism grants the government the right to do anything it wants! :rolleyes:

not my government... skynet would be funny.

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

So Cyber Terrorists can do whatever they want and the Air Force can't fight back. Absurd.

[Chele]

Oh, but it's okay. Remember, the fight against terrorism grants the government the right to do anything it wants! :rolleyes:

Does the fight against terrorism grant the people the right to do whatever they want to stop the government's terrorism of the people? Before you know it we'll all have to wear camoflauge do-rags to disguise our thoughts.

[abcdefg]

LolZ ! I have nothing to hide.

[Pupik]

Meh, I got nothing to hide. Let them spy on (and control) my bytes.

[TruckWEB]

Glad I use free software.

Why? Do you think they would stop at the software? They could force something in hardware (that can't be disabled)... So even the "free" software won't help you.

[utdarkviper]

Why are you guys all talking about how they will spy on "us"? You do know that the purpose of this is to be able to spy on other nations and to make sure that we keep tabs on anything that they do using their computers. This is to virtually spy on other nations, not on the people of this one. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the next step. The main focus will for sure be on other places though, so far this thread has been off-topic.

[C_Guy]

Glad I use free software.

Glad you got what you paid for.

And since that has nothing to do with anything, try to stay on topic a little.

Ha ha ha oh Wired. We know you have a horrible bias for Apple but now you're paranoid too? How do your magazines still sell??

[Zab]

Glad i live in Canada, even though the government up here seems to be taking notes on how to screw our rights like the american one

[DrewJW]

Skynet is coming.

The end will be here soon.

;)

[neufuse Veteran]

So to increase security we need to put holes in it... gota love that logic

[stevember]

Well to be honest when a geek/hacker can do real damage the protectors of democracy do need some ability to defend or fight back if case arises.

[-Vivicidal-]

can't wait for a torrent of those puppies ;)

I bet it will happen, too...

[sweetsam]

At this point of time the best security measure is to keep your network separate and not connected to the internet. I am sure people are aware and are already practicing it.