[tor-talk] Harvard student used Tor to send bomb threats, gets caught by old-fashioned policework

[David]

     The way that we know that Tor is relatively safe is that it is open
source and transparent. The government isn't monolithic. There are
different branches of government that have different interests. It is in
the interest of certain branches of US government to have a diverse,
secure, and anonymous system so that their own people can use it without
being known government operatives. Also, if there were any backdoors
we'd probably know by now. The code is not secret, nor are the finances.
The Tor Project is incredibly open and transparent about almost
everything that happens.

     Furthermore, the NSA doesn't need to own half the relays to
de-anonymize someone. If you're targeted, then Tor just buys you some
time. Tor is extremely secure against drag-net surveillance, but
targeted attacks from a government entity are a little more difficult to
defend against.

     If you are worried that there aren't enough Tor relays then I'd
encourage you to start one.


Cheers,

David



DeveloperChris:
> 
> Regards
> Developer Chris
> DeveloperChris at rebel.com.au
> 
> I haven't been following this conversation so please excuse me if I am
> covering old stuff here, but this situation is something I have been
> very concerned about since the silk road was busted. I found the excuses
> given as to how the silk road was busted as far far too flimsy.
> 
> My knowledge of TOR is severely limited but I have a major concern about
> TOR and the number of nodes.
> 
> Given the following...
>     A bomb threat is considered a terrorist activity
>     Tor was a US military project
>     Tor was funded until very recently by the US military (possibly
> still is under guises)
>     As we have recently discovered The US/UK/Australian etc governments
> have no qualms in spying on everybody and everything and using illegal
> means to do so.
>     The above lie outright.
> 
>     Tor has very few nodes, what ~4k+ How many of those nodes are
> directly military, how many nodes have been subverted, by well, anyone
> with an interest in TOR and the know how (read military). A timing
> attack in my opinion is more than just feasible it is very likely.
> 
> If the FBI/NSA used TOR to track down this person, a potential
> terrorist. Would they be honest about it? Obvious answer NO!.
> 
> Is TOR safe?
> 
> Put it another way. If I was the military I'd be very keen on subverting
> TOR and then using every means at my disposal to deny that I had done so.
> 
> The very people TOR  is designed to protect probably don't have enough
> knowledge of TOR to use it safely. I asked an acquaintance the other
> day, a technically wise person. "How many nodes do you think TOR has?"
> His answer "Oh I don't know, Millions!?"
> 
> 
> 
>