Genii Weblog
Using WikiLeaks to commit the perfect crime
Thu 9 Dec 2010, 05:22 PM
Tweetby Ben Langhinrichs
Copyright © 2010 Genii Software Ltd.
What has been said:
924.1. Giuseppe Grasso (10/12/2010 00.21)
Hem.... Digital signature...
924.2. Ben Langhinrichs (12/10/2010 01:15 AM)
Wonderful things, digital signatures. They prove that stuff from a trusted source is really from that trusted source. Of course, I could easily use a digital signature that says I am Barack Obama, and unless I am a trusted source, it is as believable as the next untrusted signature. Also, these are big compressed file directories of text files. Where does the digital signature go? On the whole file. Are they secured via a trusted source?
924.3. Ben Langhinrichs (12/10/2010 12:08 PM)
The first line says: "based on fake WikiLeaks cables that contain crude anti-Indian propaganda". As I pointed out, a subtle approach is necessary. Think about what the story confirms, though, which is that newspapers were taken in by the admittedly crude propaganda (some still swear by it), because it confirms what they wanted to hear.
After all, do you think that because some clumsy oaf got caught hacking into a corporate website, no sophisticated hacker could have gotten away with it? This was a crude, obvious attempt with no subtlety at all, and it still managed to make it into newspapers.
924.4. Alin (12/10/2010 04:48 PM)
is WIKI and people should always remember that. Needs confirmation or denial, before that is wiki. Apply more sofistication to your scenario and it for a short time would work on Wikipedia also.
on the other end, a lot of true information lost its value because was included in wikileaks.
"because it confirms what they wanted to hear." is also a key phrase.