Domestic Policy
NSA Caught Placing Cookies On Web Visitors’ Computers
Beware of the cookie monster, this one has bite. As if the paranoid need any other reason to rally against Bush and the NSA, there is now a revelation that the NSA has been placing cookies on visitors computers. Most have no idea what a cookie is used for but you can bet there will be much talk and debate about this issue.
It has been reported that the National Security Agency’s Internet site has been placing cookie files on visitors’ computers, the cookies allow tracking of web surfing activity, there is strict federal rules banning this practice for government agencies. Do you care if they do this, or is this something you just feel we will have to accept as modern times have changed?
Until the story broke again Tuesday, the NSA website was placing two cookie files on visitors computers who accessed heir website, the cookies were set to expire in the year 2035, but the date is actually irrelevant as most computers in use today will be destroyed by that time.
Don Weber, an NSA spokesman, stated that the cookie use resulted from a recent software upgrade. Don went on to advise that usually the site uses temporary cookies, which are permissible, the temporary cookies are automatically deleted when users close their Web browsers. However, Don advised that the software upgrade used had the permanent cookies setting on; he feels this was an honest mistake. He stated, “After being tipped to the issue, we immediately disabled the cookies.”
The White House’s Office of Management and Budget forbids federal agencies from using persistent cookies, unless there is a compelling argument for this setting.
The issue was brought up previously when it was announced that cookies were being used by the government. However, the cookies soon disappeared after a privacy activist complained and the media became interested in the story. The government usually has in place a policy that restricts the practice of placing permanent cookies on visitor’s computers.
The revelation comes at a time when many are concerned their rights to privacy are being taken away and many feel a ‘Big Brother’ type of paranoia. The issue will once again raise the questions about privacy at a spy organization that is already on the defensive because of the secretive eavesdropping program recently revealed in the United States.
Ari Schwartz, associate director at the Center for Democracy and Technology, stated, “Considering the surveillance power the NSA has, cookies are not exactly a major concern…But it does show a general lack of understanding about privacy rules when they are not even following the government’s very basic rules for Web privacy.”
Cookies are widely used on most commercial Web sites, they store information that makes it easier to access websites that need authentication or predetermined settings. The cookies usually make internet browsing more convenient by allowing sites to remember user preferences. This keeps website visitors from having to repeatedly enter usernames and passwords at sites that necessitate them.
Do you feel violated by this revelation or is it something you will easily just dismiss? Many feel the evidence is piling up and they feel their privacy is being stripped away, others feel this is just another necessity that reflects the times we live in. How do you feel about this?
NSA Caught Placing Cookies on Web Visitors’ Computers
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I am mad, really mad. I want my privacy and I want my privacy protected. What is going on here? Many individuals I spoke to are ticked at this. Maybe I am overreacting but I want answers. I am glad you brought this subject to light, I appreciate you making people aware. Now I can’t wait to see how oyhers feel and what will get done.
Mike, if you’re so mad you might want to include the Democractic Party, the New York Times, The LA Times, CNN and more in your privacy campaign as they all use cookies in the same manner on their websites.
Well to be fairDNC.org disabled their cookies on Tuesday when the story broke.
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/006038.php
I agree with you Kellino, there are many organziations who utilize cookies, actually most of the time they help us eliminate entering redundant data when we access certain sites frequently. Some say this is just another excuse to bash Bush, others feel genuinely offended. It is defnitely interesting to hear both sides of the argument. Thanks for your opinion, I think many share your views.
I would like more answers than wht I ahve heard from the government soo far. I need justification. I demand it.
Answers are what we all want. The fact that cookies were used on the NSA site, and a web bug program was used on the White house site, does not sit easy with alot of people. If people better understaood the actual use of cookies and other such technologies they would not be as afraid of this story. There are policies in place that assure the government does not track us and these are good things, I do not perfomr any illegal or malicious actts but I do appreciate my right to privacy regardless. However, because the government, and media, have not relaesed mcuh information, and most people are afraid of the unknown, their is a growing anxiety.