Author Topic: Computer/Internet issues (Read 2641 times)

JTFenthusiast2 · « **on:** June 09, 2013, 08:28:01 PM »

I was speaking to my mom today and she was saying more and more how the government, at least as portrayed by recent events in the News media, is diving into people's internet and phone use. I told her that anyone who posts foolish, illegal and immoral things online shouldn't be doing that anyway, never mind doing it, but that did she think freedom of speech was such an issue? I mean if someone responds in kind to vicious Islamic anti-Semitism while reflecting back to them that they seem to love and worship hate, how could this possible be seen as not every free person's right? I remember people posting here oon this who know light years more than myself. Should we be protecting ourselves somehow from this invasion of completely legitimate cases of privacy where people are responding to hatred, etc?

muman613 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2013, 08:30:06 PM »

Read the George Orwell book 1984 and ask yourself if you can trust the government...

JTFenthusiast2 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2013, 08:34:31 PM »

Quote from: muman613 on June 09, 2013, 08:30:06 PM

Read the George Orwell book 1984 and ask yourself if you can trust the government...

I read this many years ago and I do understand that. So how should be browsing if everything we look at is also being 'looked at?' I understand this for terrorists, but isn't this a gross waste of manpower to be observing the rest of us?

Joe Gutfeld · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2013, 08:38:55 PM »

If you think that the government isn't checking out this site, you don't know what you are talking about.

HiWarp · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2013, 07:08:11 AM »

Quote from: JTFenthusiast2 on June 09, 2013, 08:34:31 PM

I read this many years ago and I do understand that. So how should be browsing if everything we look at is also being 'looked at?' I understand this for terrorists, but isn't this a gross waste of manpower to be observing the rest of us?

One man's terrorist is another man's patriot. Be careful how much power you give your government when people you support run it. They will not run it forever.

Zelhar · « **Reply #5 on:** June 10, 2013, 09:33:24 AM »

I think the Ginni is out of the bottle already and I suggest to anyone to always assume that his communication lines and even personal files on his computer are compromised. So modify your behavior according to how paranoid or concerned you are for your privacy.

Israel Chai · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2013, 06:45:21 PM »

Don't put your name on the internet and hide your ip. The government can be lousy, but your info gives anyone power over you.

muman613 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2013, 07:10:20 PM »

The sages of our Talmud (Oral Law) were wise when they advised (in the Ethics of the Fathers) :

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2011/jewish/Chapter-Two.htm

Rabban Gamliel the son of Rabbi Judah HaNassi would say:
3. Be careful with the government, for they befriend a person only for their own needs. They appear to be friends when it is beneficial to them, but they do not stand by a person at the time of his distress.

muman613 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2013, 07:28:17 PM »

I am not paranoid at this time. I believe that I am exercising my Constitutional right as an American citizen and using my voice and keyboard to express my opinion. I do not condone violence or armed insurrection against any American institution. I still believe that it is possible to make change within the rules of the existing system.

I am fully aware of the technological abilities of our government, and I do believe they have over-reached and are behaving like Big Brother (of 1984) and I hope that through democratic means we can reign in the powers that be. It is surely scary to contemplate the power which has been placed in the hands of those who run the information systems of our current world, it is like a double-edged sword.

I do what it takes to protect personal information (SSN, License ID, passwords, etc.) and I even encrypt some of my personal writings because I believe I have a right to privacy. We have discussed here at JTF the use of PGP/GPG (Pretty Good Protection/Gnu Privacy Guard) to encrypt messages which are sent via email. I still consider it overkill for most email applications (sending letters to mom, sending pictures, etc.) but for private business which others may be trying to hack, it is advisable to use some encryption...