National Security: At What Price
analytical Essay
2046 words
National Security: At What Price
Never has information played a more important role in society than it does today. The advent of the Internet has made the distribution and collection of information easier and faster than ever before. Today, the Internet is used for communications, shopping, management, and even financial transactions. Despite the slowing economy, recent years have seen a large increase in Internet usage by corporations, and research indicates that this trend will likely continue. Figures gathered by eMarketeer indicate that Internet based commerce will reach as high as $2.4 trillion by 2004 (B2B). With easy access to information from anywhere on the globe, safeguards must be taken to protect sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands. These measures include passwords, protected networks, and secure connections. While much has been accomplished in the area of network security, data encryption remains the most fundamental layer of protection.
The goal of data encryption (or cryptography) is to render information unreadable to all except an authorized user (one who knows the password, also called the key). While there are many encryption algorithms and techniques, most involve the use of a "private key" which is the mathematical value that decodes the information. Without the key, a hacker has a chance of one in several trillion to correctly decode the information, making encryption a very effective method of data protection.
While encryption fills a critical role in personal and corporate security, the technology can also be used by criminal and terrorist organizations. The same systems that protect your credit card number online can also be used to organize covert operations in safety....
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... Wired News. March 31, 2002
In this essay, the author
- Cites abelson, hal, et al. the risks of key recovery, key escrow, and trusted third party encryption.
- Describes bellovin, steven, et al. comments on the carnivore system technical review.
- Describes blaze, matt, and steven bellovin's books on 'tapping tapping on my network door'.
- Explains cdt policy post volume 7, number 11. october 26, 2001. center for democracy and technology.
- Argues that the advent of the internet has made the distribution and collection of information easier and faster than ever before.
- Explains the impact of a secret cryptographic standard on encryption, privacy, law enforcement, and technology.
- Analyzes how mccullagh, declan, and senator backs off backdoors.
- Cites schwartz, john, "disputes on electronic message encryption take on new urgency" and center for democracy and technology.
Related
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- opinion
- Encryption: Privacy versus National Securityexplanatory essayIn the past decade, rapid advances have been made in the field of cryptography. These advances have brought considerable attention to encryption policies in the United States from three large groups: the government, the computing industry and researchers in the field. With old faithful encryption standards quickly becoming obsolete, new standards are currently being proposed by each group. However, the government has its own interest in mind in its standards, and the computing industry and researchers have an opposite idea as to how encryption should be implemented. Thus, the issue is trying to find a new standard that will be accepted by both groups, and ultimately will be a benefit to all individuals. Specifically stated by Kevin Bowyer, "Individuals should have just as great an assurance of privacy. Law enforcement should have at least the same effective ability to conduct surveillance. The U.S. computing industry should compete at least as effectively in global markets. And, national governments should have no less ability to regulate what happens inside their nation." [1]
In this essay, the author
- Explains that encryption is growing at a tremendous rate, and cryptography issues have engulfed both the u.s. government and the computing industry since 1991.
- Explains that advances in cryptography have brought attention to encryption policies in the united states from three large groups: the government, the computing industry, and researchers. the issue is trying to find a new standard that will be accepted by both groups.
- Explains that before the 1990s, the encryption issue was straightforward; government, computing industry, and researchers were satisfied with the worldwide data encryption standard.
- Explains that the government is concerned about the implications of securely encrypted communications, and the computing public is losing faith in des.
- Explains that the government proposed the escrowed encryption standard in 1993, which encrypted messages in two stages.
- Opines that although the computing industry has been hostile towards key escrow and key recovery systems, such standards do not provide some benefits. the government needs to be able to continue to protect this country from domestic and foreign enemies.
- Opines that the world will be safer if criminals cannot take advantage of a ubiquitous, standardized encryption infrastructure that is immune from any conceivable law enforcement wiretap.
- Explains that illegal wiretapping by a rogue prosecutor or police officer is impossible. the use of encryption by criminals is increasing greatly.
- Explains that the fbi laboratory division's computer analysis and response team has seen the number of cases utilizing encryption and/or password protection increase from two percent to approximately twenty percent over the past four years.
- Explains that the new operating system will allow users to employ an encrypted file system which will provide the individual computerusers with easy to use "point and click" encryption thereby enabling criminals and terrorists to easily encrypt all of the files stored on their computer.
- Explains that key escrow systems have been rejected by the computing industry because they add a substantial security risk.
- Explains that key recovery systems are less secure, more costly, and difficult to use than similar systems without a recovery feature. massive deployment of key-recovery-based infrastructures will require significant sacrifices insecurity and convenience and substantially increase costs to all users of encryption.
- Opines that the scale and complexity that would be required for such ascheme is beyond the experience and current competency of the field and may introduce ultimately unacceptable risks and costs.
- Explains that the computing industry and researchers are moving towards new algorithms that provide "everlasting security".
- Opines that dr. rubin's algorithm provides ultimate privacy to every individual. every law-abiding person should have the right to keep their private conversations private, forever.
- Explains that they conferred, as against the government, the right to be let alone. every unjustifiable intrusion bythe government upon the privacy of the individual, whatever themeans employed, must be deemed a violation.
- Opines that a new encryption system would be risky, since criminals could communicate without the fear of ever incriminating themselves. schneier argues that security companies are blinded by shiny new cryptography.
- Opines that the aes proposal suggests a compromise that will provide the greatest utility to all.
- Cites bowyer, kevin, h. abelson, and schwartz, john. the risks of key recovery, key escrow and trusted third party encryption.
- Cites baker, stewart, rivest, ronald l., kolata, gina and olmstead v. u.s.
2486 wordsRead More - Security Versus Privacyanalytical essayMcCullagh, Declan. ?Congress Mulls Stiff Crypto Laws.? Wired Magazine 13 September 2001. 29 March 2002 <http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,4686,00.html>
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the government must find a balance between privacy and national security in light of 9/11.
- Explains that there are several solutions pertaining to internet security, such as limiting the sale of encryption technologies and giving the government a back-door.
- Opines that the government must be allowed to have keys to access the encryption algorithms so that all internet traffic can be safely monitored.
- Explains that senator gregg called for a worldwide ban on encryption logarithms without backdoors for government surveillance after the terrorist attacks.
- Explains that the second position is that of those who strongly support the individual's right to personal privacy. they believe that no person, or group of people, should be allowed to interfere with and intrude upon a person?s privacy on the internet.
- Explains that there are more online groups and foundations being formed to carry the torch for personal electronic privacy, including the americans for computer privacy, the electronic frontier foundation, and senator patrick leahy.
- Analyzes how the 'agent of a foreign power' restriction was abused during the 1960s.
- Explains baker, stewart a., and paul r. hurst's the limits of trust: cryptography, governments and electronic commerce.
- Argues that the new bill limits surveillance and encryption key access to those investigations conducted to protect against international terrorism and spying activities only.
- Cites leahy, patrick, and mccullagh, declan. the senate mulls stiff crypto laws.
2300 wordsRead More - Background The National Security Agency was established in 1952 from the National Security Council for the purposes of intercepting foreign radio communications (Howe, p 11). Since, the NSA has been one of the most secretive institutions within the intelligence community. However, recent events have focused on the NSA’s domestic surveillance, encouraging a debate between security and privacy.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the national security agency was established in 1952 for the purposes of intercepting foreign radio communications. recent events have focused on the nsa's domestic surveillance, encouraging a debate between security and privacy.
- Explains that edward snowden, a former technical assistant for the cia, flew to hong kong to meet with journalists to disclose what he had been doing. these disclosures led to debate among politicians and americans about security versus privacy.
- Explains that senator leahy and representative sensenbrenner are proposing legislation to reform the nsa and protect u.s. citizens' security and privacy.
- Opines that the balance between security and privacy is a delicate place. the supreme court has ruled that privacy of u.s. citizens should be respected and protected at all times.
- Explains that the usa freedom act was proposed by senator leahy and representative sensenbrenner as a means to reform the nsa. it will end bulk collection of american’s records, impose additional requirements on ized use of pen registers and trap and trace devices, amend the 2008 fisa amendments act and mandate the government to make available how many people are under surveillance.
- Explains that this legislation protects u.s. security by continuing intelligence gathering, but also protect citizens' privacy by imposing restraints and limitations. it improves transparency and gives authority to the nsa
- Opines that the most viable option for reform is the usa freedom act.
- Recommends voting in favor of the usa freedom act, which serves the public interest and the interests of constituents.
- Opines that the usa freedom act is a step to protect america's interests, both at home, and abroad.
786 wordsRead More - National Security vs. the Right to Privacyanalytical essay"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller
In this essay, the author
- Opines that security is mostly a superstition. it does not exist in nature.
- Explains that security has been a common topic of controversy since the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001.
- Argues that security is not something that can be compromised; however, it doesn't have to come at the expense of our privacy.
- Analyzes how schneier addresses the issue of security in an article for an internet security company.
- Explains that giving airline pilots firearms, reinforcing cockpit doors, better authentication for airport maintenance workers, armed air marshals traveling on flights, and teaching flight attendants are all suggested security measures that have no effect on individual privacy or liberties.
- Opines that security can be achieved without hindering privacy, but it is not necessary to constantly berate innocent citizens.
- Opines that airport security personnel should be given adequate training and authority in order to make intelligent decisions in determining necessity of patting down every other person making a flight.
- Opines that airport security is no safer today than it was prior to september 11th. it is important to find more efficient and less hindering ways to ensure security.
- Analyzes how airport security rips away privacy, citing bacard and nesson.
- Analyzes how rita cain, a law professor at the bloch school of business and public administration, debates that the constitutional right of privacy does not provide consumers any protection against use or abuse of personal data by private sector parties
- Explains that the restrictions placed on the trade of private information are nearly non-existent in the united states.
- Analyzes how cain argues that after the terrorist attacks on the united states, issues about privacy now focus on national security needs to protect against further violence.
- Explains that learning of a terrorist group’s plans in advance, monitoring its efforts and frustrating those efforts, or denying all those who do not pass some test of loyalty access to likely targets or to the resources needed to attack those targets.
- States that the declaration of independence and the bill of rights were designed to protect against government intrusion in the lives of the united states of america.
- Explains that the usa patriot act was implemented in 2001 following the attacks of september 11th. it calls for increased security for criminal investigations and other areas that will help reduce the chances of terrorist attacks.
- Analyzes how government secrecy has become the norm in the post-september 11th world, citing nikki swartz's essay for the information management journal.
- Opines that security and privacy are a difficult balance. it depends on what you feel is important.
- Explains that all men are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. governments are instituted among men to secure these rights.
- Cites bacard, andre, and academic search elite. privacy in the computer age.
- Opines that the united states is a world apart. cain, rita marie. academic search elite.
- Cites charp, sylvia, academic search elite, university library, indianapolis, in. "security and privacy."
- Cites fjetland, michael, j.d., "global commerce and the privacy clash." the information management journal.
- Analyzes heymann, philip, and philip's article, civil liberties and human rights in the aftermath of september 11.
- Explains kroll, robert e., "can the fourth amendment go high tech?" aba journal. academic search elite.
- Cites nesson, charles. "threats to privacy." social research.
- Explains schneier, bruce, "protecting privacy and liberty." nature 413 (2001): 773.
- Explains sopinka, john, "freedom of speech and privacy in the information age." the information society. academic search elite.
- Cites swartz, nikki, and academic search elite. the world moves toward freedom of information.
2936 wordsRead More - The History of Cryptographyexplanatory essayCryptography is the use of codes and ciphers to protect secrets and has been around for centuries. It has its beginnings in ancient Egypt and has played a role in every part of history to its current role in protecting communications across today’s computer networks.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the enigma machine was widely used by nazi germany during world war ii. marian rejewski reconstructed the german army's code using mathematics and documentation retrieved from the french military.
- Cites all about archaeology's history of the rosetta stone.
- Explains frequency analysis, wikipedia – the free encyclopedia, retrieved march 4, 2014.
- Cites encrypt's cryptography from 1800 to wwii, retrieved march 5, 2014.
- Explains caesar cipher history, secret code breaker – online cryptanalyst’s handbook, retrieved march 5, 2014.
- Cites gill, n.s. (2014) rosetta stone, about.com – ancient / classical history, retrieved march 5, 2014.
- Cites tyson, jeff, how encryption works, howstuffworks.com, retrieved march 6, 2014.
- Describes cryptography as the use of codes and ciphers to protect secrets and has played a role in every part of history.
- Explains the introduction of the data encryption standard and the public key in the 1970's.
- Cites morelli, r., and rouse, margaret, in edgar allan poe and cryptography.
1434 wordsRead More - Software Piracyopinion essayencryption there will always be someone out there , wether it be me or the next
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the government can put as many copyright laws in a book as they feel, but soon it will.
- Explains that software is protected from the moment of its creation.
- Explains that software that kills the day before is more sophisticated and in tune with the needs of today's superusers, office users, and home users. the software theft industry is growing at an even faster rate.
- Opines that america has gotta wake up, no matter what kind of warning you put out, or whatever restrictions you try to enforce, there will always be another way.
- Opines that the government can't baby-sit everyone who buys software. john doe bought a copy of duke nukem 3d and wanted to install it on jane smith's computer.
- Explains that once you are caught up in trying to stop one thing, the cycle begins.
460 wordsRead More - The Definition and Importance of Data Encryptionexplanatory essayData encryption refers to the process of transforming electronic information into a scrambled form that can only be read by someone who knows how to translate the code. In nowadays business world, it’s the easiest and most practical way to secure the information that we stored and processed, and it’s significant for our sensitive information. For example, as electronic commerce is popular now, the vendors and retailers must protect the customers’ personal information from hackers or competitors. They also have many business files or contracts that need to be strictly protected. Without data encryption, these important information may fall into wrong hands and be misused by others. Besides, data encryption may be used to secure sensitive information that exists on company networks, or create digital signatures, and help to authorize in business. No one should underestimate the importance of encryption. A little mistake in encryption may make sensitive information revealing, or even result in illegal and criminal accuse.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that data encryption is the easiest and most practical way to secure the information that we stored and processed, and it's important for our sensitive information.
- Explains that cryptography has a long history working with the secrets, even before there is digital information.
- Explains that symmetric-key encryption is a secret code that each computer must know in order to decode the information.
- Explains that symmetric key encryption has a fatal weakness. it uses two different keys at the same time, combining private key and public key.
- Explains that american has developed an algorithm called data encryption standard (des), based on an earlier design by horst feistel.
- Explains that secure sockets layer (ssl) is an internet security protocol used by internet browsers and web servers to transmit sensitive information.
- Explains that the key in public key encryption is based on a hash value.
- Explains the use of checksum and cyclic redundancy check (crc) to ensure data correction.
- Explains that ramona fricosu was accused of participating in a small mortgage scam. she secured the data in her computer by encrypting it.
2007 wordsRead More - Privacy rights have been an important issue through out time, and it has been increasing in importance as we have moved into the electronic/information age. Keeping that privacy had become a growing concern for many businesses and consumers. With all the information being sent across the web, people are very concerned about their personal information falling into the wrong hands. One way to help protect your privacy on the net is by using an encryption program. Even though they are not completely unbreakable, an encryption program is one of the best ways to protect against outside intrusions. Despite this fact, the government wants too place legislation on encryption services that can be a potential danger to both the development of encryption systems and to your rights.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the government should not regulate encryption or cryptography. privacy has become a growing concern for many businesses and consumers.
- Explains that the clinton administration adopted the "clipper chip" plan in 1993, which would give the government free access to all private and non-private communications.
- Explains that encryption keys are necessary to survey possible criminal or terrorist activities. however, 83 percent of all government surveillance in the past decade were authorized in connection with vice crimes.
- Explains that key recovery systems weaken the computer system, making it more susceptible to hacker attacks, which can lead to theft, blackmail, extortion and sabotage.
- Opines that the government is wrong in trying to force encryption users to hand over their decryption keys.
995 wordsRead More - Social Control of Cyber Spaceanalytical essay(4) United States, Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Computer Security in the Federal Government and the Private Sector. Washington: U.S. G.P.O., Ninety-Eighth Congress, First Session, October 25, 1983.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the three categories of computer abuse, including financial fraud and theft, information theft and vandalism.
- Explains that cybercrime is a new form of crime hitting the nervous system of courts and the criminal justice sector.
- Analyzes how a 16-year-old cracker struck several worldwide websites, dropping dow jones for more than 500 points and losing tens of millions of investment dollars.
- Quotes kiernan, v., "appeals court rules that first amendment protects computer encryption." the chronicle of higher education.
- Explains that organized cyber criminals hacking away at our super computer information systems are generating unpredictable challenges for law enforcement in discovering the unethical abuse on computer systems.
- Explains that cyber terrorism is difficult to detect until it has already struck, causing millions of dollars, or even life.
- Opines that authorities have had to adjust to two decades of a new crime trend by educating themselves and hiring knowledgeable computer specialists.
- Cites master's article, "is mafiaboy real or a creation of the media?" news.
1901 wordsRead More - Individual Privacy versus National Securityanalytical essayThe attacks on American soil that solemn day of September 11, 2001, ignited a quarrel that the grade of singular privacy, need not be given away in the hunt of grander security. The security measures in place were planned to protect our democracy and its liberties yet, they are merely eroding the very existence with the start of a socialistic paradigm. Benjamin Franklin (1759), warned more than two centuries ago: “they that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Implementing security measures comes at a cost both economically and socially. Government bureaucrats can and will utilize information for personal political objectives. The Supreme Court is the final arbitrator of what the ‘law is”, causing a lack of circulated rule. The actual leaders with political purposes jeopardize our individual privacy rights, liberties, and freedoms.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the attacks on american soil ignited a quarrel that the grade of singular privacy, need not be given away in the hunt for grander security.
- Explains that the supreme court is the final authority on all issues between privacy and security. privacy encourages or is a necessary factor of human securities and fundamental values.
- Explains that the word security originates from the latin securus, which means "carefree". it does not stipulate the individual whose security is at issue or the types of values pliable to being secured.
- Explains that the fourth amendment prohibits "unreasonable searches and seizures" and necessitates that warrants be issued only on probable cause, reinforced by oath or confirmation, and predominantly describing the place to be searched.
- Explains that the fourth amendment isn't the only restriction on the government's power to gather and use information through surveillance.
- Explains that the government has authority to gather data without legal oversight in cases of national security interests. the homeland security act consolidated federal law enforcement, naturalization and immigration bureaucracy under one central agency.
- Opines that government access to individual information can intimidate the privacy that is at the center of the relationship between the government and the citizenry.
- Argues that the supreme court is a judge nominated by the same political system (government) that has enacted such distrust.
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