NSA says it "accidentally" placed cookies

Maestro

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Thu Dec-29-05 12:41 PM
Original message

NSA says it "accidentally" placed cookies

on people's computers who visited its website. Oh man they are really lying bastages. Sure. :sarcasm:

http://tinyurl.com/964d3

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LeftNYC

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Thu Dec-29-05 12:44 PM
Response to Original message

1. Lots of "accidents" happening...nt

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sabbat hunter

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Thu Dec-29-05 12:48 PM
Response to Original message

2. hey!

how does that little icon work, and spy on me? considering i am behind a firewall it shouldnt right?

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mrfrapp

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Thu Dec-29-05 01:03 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. It's not spying

It's not spying, it's only telling you your IP address and browser/operating system, all three of which are trivial to find out. Your IP address has to be public otherwise no data would ever arrive at your computer (similar to how no-one would be able to send you mail if they didn't know where you lived) and the browser/operating system are sent by your browser as part of a "useragent" string, to all web sites you visit.

If you run Firefox and don't want the "useragent" information to be sent or at least for it to be misleading, you can download and install this extension.

https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=59&application=firefox

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NightOwwl

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Thu Dec-29-05 01:46 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. Cookies in general may be harmless...

but why the hell is NSA putting a cookie on your computer in the first place? Besides, they could just as easily ftp an entire program to your hard drive then install it and you wouldn't even know it.

Cookies are only the tip of the iceburg.

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mrfrapp

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Thu Dec-29-05 02:39 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. Perhaps

"but why the hell is NSA putting a cookie on your computer in the first place?"

The same reason any other web site uses cookies.

"Besides, they could just as easily ftp an entire program to your hard drive then install it and you wouldn't even know it."

How would they do that? The only way they could install the program is either through an exploit or with user co-operation. Not impossible but hardly efficient. I'm sure the NSA have more impressive technology than cookies at their disposable.

"Cookies are only the tip of the iceburg."

I agree with this. The NSA are up to far more nefarious activities than installing cookies.

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Maestro

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Thu Dec-29-05 03:04 PM
Response to Reply #3

7. Hey don't give away secrets.

I like to make people paranoid; especially lurking freepers. :)

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mainegreen

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Thu Dec-29-05 01:22 PM
Response to Original message

4. Looks like their using Dreamweaver MX and Coldfusion?

If their developers are lazy and use bottled code, I might actually buy that excuse.

Maybe.

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