Snowden leak: NSA and CIA infiltration of online games

Rayhdeeyoh · **Posted:** Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:08 pm

According to the following articles, the NSA and other security agencies are taking their work so seriously they have started spying in games like World of Warcraft and Second Life:

http://www.propublica.org/article/world-of-spycraft-intelligence-agencies-spied-in-online-games
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/world/spies-dragnet-reaches-a-playing-field-of-elves-and-trolls.html?_r=0
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/09/nsa-spies-online-games-world-warcraft-second-life

Apparently at one point there were so many spies roaming around in virtual worlds that they needed to take special measures to avoid collisions -- although they haven't been able to find any evidence of actual terrorist activity or involvement.

In the articles and the linked classified document there appears to be no mention of Uru, thankfully. For whatever that's worth.

AdamJohnso · **Posted:** Mon Dec 09, 2013 9:14 pm

Uru's security sucks so much that you don't need intelligence agents to mine it for information.

Mac_Fife · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:43 pm

I don't mind as long as they're donating to CAVCON

.

Rayhdeeyoh · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:58 pm

Mac_Fife wrote:

I don't mind as long as they're donating to CAVCON

.

Heh. Why do you think the MOULa server is still running? :twisted:

Marten · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 5:10 am

AdamJohnso wrote:

Uru's security sucks so much that you don't need intelligence agents to mine it for information.

The independent shards could, of course, implement improved security. The only system that we can't fix is MOULa itself, because no source for Cyan's server.

Tomala · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:41 am

AdamJohnso wrote:

Uru's security sucks so much that you don't need intelligence agents to mine it for information.

cpt-jericho · **Joined:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:36 am **Posts:** 319

Meh, I think they just wanted to play games during working hours.

Nalates · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:54 pm

There is a lot going on in the political realm we don't hear in the national news. Over in Second Life some are concerned about the NSA listening. But, in general, listening for terrorists and criminals using under the radar communications channels is a good thing. Except...

I got into some of what is coming down the road on the blog in: NSA, Google, and Games.

Basically it isn't the listening that is a problem. It is the abuse of power, violation of law, and direction things are going. Take a look at the article and decide whether the listening is a problem or symptom.

cpt-jericho · **Joined:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:36 am **Posts:** 319

Bah, all that spying is moot anyway. It doesn't stop terrorists to plant a bomb in a cooking pot at a major sports event. What the NSA et al. does is spying for spying's sake. Mostly a waste of tax money.

Annabelle · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:30 pm

I remember during few AGM meetings in a row a bunch of "Birds" secret agents :lol:

Agent Muckingbird
Agent Eagle
Agent Sparrow
Agent Pink Flamigo
Agent Chicken
etc...

I don't remember their exact names, only they were very silencious like they didn't care much about our meetings & they never opened their beaks... I mean their mouths :wink:

Maybe they were there trying to see if we were up to no good... :lol:

MercAngel · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:38 pm

they do not need to spy on games they already have a backdoor into anyone running windows lol

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9909/ ... ws.nsa.02/

cpt-jericho · **Joined:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:36 am **Posts:** 319

Who needs a backdoor into any game when there are keyloggers? With current laws (i.e. Patriot Act) you can scan most of any traffic on the internet.
As far as I can see there are two things that have to be done:
A) put pressure on your gouvernment that you think that democracy cannot work under mass surveillance (that's what a dictatorship usually does),
B) remember that most comments you make in the internet are public ones.

korovev · **Posted:** Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:59 pm

Also: move away from U.S.-based services, which is what many countries are starting to do.

cpt-jericho · **Joined:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:36 am **Posts:** 319

I doubt that would make much difference. The NSA does have dirty little helpers in foreign intelligence agancies. And if they can't get info legal, they will bribe; and if bribing doesn't help they will use non-legal ways to aquire what they want.

Freedom isn't free. And the watchmen need to be watched by the ones who blow the whistle.

Karkadann · **Posted:** Fri Dec 13, 2013 7:59 pm

Perhaps you can do an In-Game interview with them and ask them which games they like the best

Snowden leak: NSA and CIA infiltration of online games

Who is online