Personal Security and Social Credit Systems.

keith · August 10, 2019

If you have friends living in less than free communities, how can you have open and free conversations with them on the internet?
The mere fact I have asked this question could affect their Social Credit Scores.
Is this really the world we need?
Can hardware or software companies create so many methods of secure communication that the officials will have to give up? I hope.
Or, as now, if you have secure com it can be blocked and your score is reduced.
Can satellite WiFi or anything solve this problem?

Pooh · August 10, 2019

Define 'secure' - right now the most secure method of encrypted conversation is still the one-time pad (which is just no a feasible thing to use for us normal folk, and bears).

Public\Private Key pair encryption with large keys is where it's at right now, especially if you're only using TSL v3 (which does a better job of preventing MitM attacks). That said, flaws in software can expose the keys (Signal had such a flaw in 2016) and new attacks on Memory & CPUs such as Rowhammer & Spectre have been shown to be able to extract the private keys from a users device.

Thats today, tomorrow? Who knows. It's widely assumed that eventually quantum computing will crack most modern forms of encryption, regardless of key length.

Perhaps quantum conversations might be the next answer (whereby just the mere fact of trying to eavesdrop will corrupt the conversation stream - in theory).

Multiple governments think they can keep encryption whilst still providing back doors - something that is not just mathematically possible (since it would involve either weakening the encryption, or allowing the government access to everyone's private keys in a PGP conversation.

Ultimately there's never a 100% take it to the bank rock solid guarantee that your encrypted conversation stays encrypted. And, even if it is, many governments in oppressive regimes might see encrypted communications as subversive and punish people regardless of the content of the content.

keith · August 11, 2019

Thanks for the general summary.
I live in hope, "can satellite WiFi or anything solve this problem?"
The mere fact you attempt high level encription identifies you as a poi in some countries.
If everyone has access to strong encription does that solve the free speech situation?
Some countries are now promoting their closed internet's to other budding totalitarian governments, can the likes of Musk or anyone disrupt that situation?
I know our governments want to read our mail, as long as I voted them in, I can wear that.

keith · August 16, 2019

After I made this comment, a friend related his own recent experience.
He was part of an online discussion group, in the middle east, it had been running for a long time.
A member made some candid comments regarding a member of a local royal family.
The next day he was shocked to find more than 50% of the group were no longer present.
He lives here, Australia, the group majority do not.
Some of us do not know how lucky we are.

Lee_Bo · August 16, 2019

Carrier pigeon is still the only way to communicate.

kltaylor · August 16, 2019

keithatpda said:

After I made this comment, a friend related his own recent experience.
He was part of an online discussion group, in the middle east, it had been running for a long time.
A member made some candid comments regarding a member of a local royal family.
The next day he was shocked to find more than 50% of the group were no longer present.
He lives here, Australia, the group majority do not.
Some of us do not know how lucky we are.

I honestly had no idea that social credit scores at all.

I'm shocked that this is 'a thing' and want to do some more research on it. Thanks for bringing this up.

keith · August 18, 2019

A little more reading on privacy in some parts of the world, not here, hmmm really it is relevant here and everywhere.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/huawei-technicians-helped-african-governments-spy-on-political-opponents-11565793017
That is an abreviated version of the article, note, the governments and companies mentioned totally refute the accuracy of the information in the report.
Be alert not alarmed.

Pooh · August 19, 2019

Lee_Bo said:

Carrier pigeon is still the only way to communicate.

True, not only can you intercept communications, you can also have a quick bite to eat the the same time.

https://library.si.edu/exhibition/once-there-were-billions/recipes

Personal Security and Social Credit Systems.

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