Anon | Network Associates never said that
I'm sorry to see that Forbes (and DSL Reports) have enabled this story to become twisted even further.
First, as Rob himself has stated at this site, he did not discover a flaw in an anti-virus software vendor's product. He merely learned "something" that he thought would be embarrassing to the vendor.
This "something" was comments made by a senior virus researcher from NAI at a private meeting on Sept. 18 of a government-industry working group on infrastructure security.
Note that Rob was NOT present at the meeting. He obtained an audio recording of the teleconference.
Nor did the NAI researcher suggest "shutting down the Internet."
NAI merely chimed in to support an idea that was being kicked around by some attendees at the meeting. That idea was to warn Internet users not to browse the Net until they had patched their IE browser against the hole exploited by Nimda.
The idea was quickly shot down by other participants, as has been previously reported in this Newsbytes story, which was published weeks before Rob was visited by the the Air Force Office of Special Investigations police.
So I don't know what Rob means when he says that NAI was trying to "squelch an important story."
As I understand it, Rob, by virtue of his work in the Air Force reserves, is not at liberty to disclose what happens at closed meetings involving government agencies.
Granted, it was low of NAI to get AFOSI cops to roust Rob out of his bed in the middle of the night.
But that does not make this incident proof of a conspiracy between the government and the anti-virus industry.
Brian McWilliams |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
 ·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
 ·Cox HSI
| said by bmcwilliams:
...But that does not make this incident proof of a conspiracy between the government and the anti-virus industry.
Nope, but it sure strongly suggests that the Government is in lockstep with powerful corporate interests and willing to do their bidding... (Can we say TD, DMCA, SSSCA, Bankruptcy reform laws, etc etc etc on into infinity)...
----
The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of altering their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views ... which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.
-- Doctor Who, "Face of Evil" |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
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| reply to Anon
quote:
Granted, it was low of NAI to get AFOSI cops to roust Rob out of his bed in the middle of the night.
LOW? My friend you miss the whole point. Who cares what he found out. The fact, and you even admit it, that NAI used a government agency to exert its will in the first place should disgust anyone reading the story.
[text was edited by author 2002-01-23 12:33:58] |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to KrK
said by bmcwilliams:
So I don't know what Rob means when he says that NAI was trying to "squelch an important story."
Unless I read his forum response (linked above) wrong, Rob states that (NAI) trying to squelch an unimportant story is the story, not whatever he did or did not find, overhear or was writing about in the original column. All the other stuff related to it is just background.
"National Security" is a faceless, formless, lawless concept. It has spawned the X files, noiseless black copters and all manner of suspicions and myths. There's no doubt that it exists in the shadows all around us. Why is it surprising to find out that it has seeped into AV companies and their products we use every day?
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Oops...sorry KrK. I hit the wrong reply to link...
[text was edited by author 2002-01-23 13:28:57] |
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Copzilla$
Mmm... Donuts
join:2000-10-10
Friendswood, TX
| reply to Karl Bode
People do this stuff all the time, Leviathan, not just AV companies.
Women accuse cheating husbands of beating them, children falsely report abuse, feuding neighbors calling in noise disturbances, drug dealers ratting another dealer off to get his turf, the list goes on and on.
I don't think one instance of a reporter being paid a visit by a bored government agent who asked him to hold a story in light of the 9/11 events as being an indication that AV companies have the government in their back pocket.
I think it's probably an indicator of an AV company exec calling the feds screaming about "RISK TO NATIONAL SECURITY, GET OVER THERE NOW AND STOP THIS ANIMAL!!!", and the agent's boss has been instructed to investigate everything that pops up, leave no stone uncovered, so he sends agent Joe Blow, who has had ZERO rest in the previous couple of weeks, and is working 20 hour days, and pops in when he figures he'll find this person at home for certain, and just asks if he'll throw him a bone so he can move on to something else. The reporter agrees, and the non-story is still a non-story.
But paranoia makes it a story, eh? * whisper * whisper* government agents * whisper * whisper * collusion * whisper * whisper * secrets * whisper *
The fellow who responded to the first article by saying *** sorry, I'm going to edit this out because it's not very nice - and I shouldn't have quoted it ***
--
"Free your mind and your behind will follow" - The iBrotha
[text was edited by author 2002-01-23 21:31:13] |
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antiserious
The Future ain't what it used to be
Premium
join:2001-12-12
Scranton, PA
| reply to Anon
... "But that does not make this incident proof of a conspiracy between the government and the anti-virus industry.
Brian McWilliams" ...
... gee, thanks for clearing that up ... I feel SO much better, knowing you guys are looking out for us mere citizens ... I'm sure it's all in our best interests, right ? ...
... now I can sleep at night ...
... knock knock ...
--
"I got a Sweater for Christmas - I really wanted a Screamer, or a Moaner ... but I got a Sweater". |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | reply to Copzilla$
quote:
People do this stuff all the time, Leviathan, not just AV companies.
And they're wrong too.
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Copzilla$
Mmm... Donuts
join:2000-10-10
Friendswood, TX
| said by Leviathan:
And they're wrong too.
Oh, no doubt... Using misleading reports to government agencies in order to harass? Sure, it's dead wrong.
That doesn't mean the agency is a willing participant, though, and not necessarily an indicator of collusion. The agency has to strike a balance between duty to investigate and the right of the public to their peace and quiet.
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"Free your mind and your behind will follow" - The iBrotha |
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pkust
join:2001-08-09
Houston, TX
| said by Copzilla:
That doesn't mean the agency is a willing participant, though, and not necessarily an indicator of collusion. The agency has to strike a balance between duty to investigate and the right of the public to their peace and quiet.
Since when is rousting a private citizen at 3:00AM to "ask" him not to exercise his First Amendment rights a valid investigative technique?
--
Cordially,
Peter Nayland Kust
pkust@tekmedia.com
TEKMedia Communications
www.tekmedia.com |
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Copzilla$
Mmm... Donuts
join:2000-10-10
Friendswood, TX | --
Why don't you ask the person who paid the visit? |
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