NSA eavesdropping: How it might work

This is the second in a two-part series. Part one appeared Monday: A survey asking telecommunications and Internet companies if they cooperated with the National Security Agency.

WASHINGTON--Even a panel of determined senators couldn't convince Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to divulge much about how the massive surveillance program conducted by the National Security Agency actually works.

Gonzales told a Senate committee on Monday that he was not "here to discuss the operational details of that program or any other classified activity." He refused to answer a series of questions such as the number of people who have been wiretapped, the safeguards put into place, and how many NSA analysts are involved in the operation.

News.context

What's new:
General Alberto Gonzales refused to divulge much about how the massive surveillance program conducted by the National Security Agency actually works.

Bottom line:
A series of interviews reveals how the program may work, including buddying up to a company with access to cables, tapping transoceanic cables on land and even underwater.

More stories on the NSA program

But a series of interviews of technical experts by CNET News.com during the last few weeks may shed some light on how the program--authorized by President Bush soon after Sept. 11, 2001--works in practice.

It's hardly a secret that the NSA specializes in electronic surveillance, called communications intelligence in the vernacular of spies. Author James Bamford's 1982 book, "The Puzzle Palace," documented how the NSA created hundreds of "intercept stations"--ultrasophisticated, hypersensitive radio receivers designed to pluck both military signals and civilian telephone calls out of the air.

That worked well enough when the bulk of international communications were transmitted by bouncing them off satellites. Today, however, an undersea web of fiber-optic cables spans the globe--and those carry the vast majority of voice and data that leave the United States.

Jim Hayes, president of the Fiber Optic Association, a California-based professional organization, says 99 percent of the world's long-distance communications travel through fiber links. The remaining 1 percent, he says, are satellite-based, mainly in places like Africa, South America and less developed parts of Asia.

It's easiest to tap those underwater cables when they make landfall instead of trying to do it underwater, analysts say.

Credit: Anne Broache

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
fields questions from senators on
Monday.

"On land, it's not nearly as difficult," said Tim Chovanak, a defense consultant who specializes in network taps and digital forensics. "The easiest thing to do would be to somehow get an agreement with a provider and just simply co-exist in a building, one of the main fiber stations, (peering) points or whatever. In other words, work out something with either a long-haul provider or with an employee."

A survey conducted by CNET News.com and published Monday found not one provider willing to acknowledge participation, with backbone providers being among the most reticent. An article in USA Today on Monday said AT&T, MCI and Sprint were cooperating with the NSA. In addition, AT&T is facing a class action lawsuit filed this week that alleges cooperation with the NSA in violation of federal law.

If a backbone provider cooperated, it would be legally tricky. Under federal law, any person or company who helps someone "intercept any wire, oral, or electronic communication"--unless specifically authorized by law--could face criminal charges. Even if cooperation is found to be legal, it could be embarrassing to acknowledge opening up customers' private communications to the perusal of a spy agency.

[Catgic]

Speedy Gonzales

Anne and Declan, I enjoyed perusing Part 2. Anne, you are doing a fine job of reporting.<br /><br />Attorney General Alberto Gonzales swore or affirmed that he would tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He no doubt did behind closed doors in the classified session, but here are likely answers to some questions the U.S. AG refused to answer in the public session:<br /><br />Question 1: The number of ?people? monitored?<br /><br />Likely Answer: ALL CONUS-to-OCONUS and OCONUS-to-CONUS voice and data traffic.<br /><br />Question 2: ?Safeguards? put in place?<br /><br />Likely Answer: As required by current Directives.<br /><br />Question 3: Number of NSA analysts involved in the operation?<br /><br />Likely Answer: Count the number of cars in the parking lot at Fort Meade, and multiple by three.<br /><br />JP B-)

[Mr. Network]

One who would give up.....

a little liberty for security, deserves neither.

[SteveBarry687]

Apparently you didn't watch the same hearings

"Attorney General Alberto Gonzales swore or affirmed that he would tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."<br /><br />Alberto Gonzales WAS NOT sworn in for these hearings.

[johnfrank]

backbone cut in 2 places

I'm not a conspriacy buff. But I wonder why and how the Internet backbone was cut in 2 places a couple of months a go???? At a minimum highly unlikely to occur at the same time. ???? without being planned!!!!

[marileev]

Only Connect

Funny how control of the information infrastructure seems to fit with the US being a primary in that.<br /><br />I defer to childhood author PL Traver's In Only Connect, the Mary Poppins said that writing, "aspires 'to find the human key to the inhuman world about us; to connect the individual with the community, the known with the unknown; to relate the past to the present and both to the future."<br /><br />The administration seems to be interested in fracturization than connection.

[jassyline]

eavesdropping

i've got an idea, check to see if i'm being eavesdropped on. if so then you'll know something illegal is going on. i don't make calls to foreign countries, or know anyone, yet when having problems recieving my e-mails a while back, i was told something or someone wasn't letting them go thru. curious, huh? i'm just a country peon, but i thought that strange. as i said, check it out.pamela (fuller) holt 8870 hohenberger rd. foley, al. 36535 [e-mail] 215-943-2175

[marileev]

eavesdropping & spying

You're right, this is disgusting. I'm on board with protecting my privacy and know that a couple years ago as a UW Undergrad our library records were probably scoured. My teammates and I have consistently had our bags searched when flewn - I link it to the Islam Project we did for the UW Adv. Digital Journalism class we took discussing the faces of Islam <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.com.washington.edu/program/news/digijournalism/islam/home.html" target="_newWindow">http://www.com.washington.edu/program/news/digijournalism/islam/home.html</a><br /><br />Checking out PBS host Fareed Zakaria's book, the Future of Freedom - <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.fareedzakaria.com/" target="_newWindow">http://www.fareedzakaria.com/</a><br /><br />Who is watching the watchers?

[marileev]

Stand by your Man

The song so appropo to the Clinton's CBS interview of Hilary not "standing by her man," isn't a problem for U.S. Attorney General Gonzales. The gavel to gavel coverage on NPR had him sernly supportive of President Bush and unfaltering in his support. Is this a good thing?<br /><br />Likely no, keeping the American populace blissfully ignorant is not what we do in the U.S.<br /><br />Gonzales' testimony yesterdya was highly hipocritical to his own DOJ bio:<br /><br />"[we have] a special obligation to protect America against future acts of terrorism. We will continue to make that our top priority while remaining consistent with our values and legal obligations. That will be the lodestar that guides us in our efforts at the Department." ? <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/aggonzalesbio.html" target="_newWindow">http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/aggonzalesbio.html</a><br /><br />C'mon, we can handle the truth - <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.iwantmyess.com/?p=49" target="_newWindow">http://www.iwantmyess.com/?p=49</a>

[Stating]

And A Few Days After The Gonzales Testimony

Just a few days after Mr. Gonzales tearful testimony, the Administration leaks that a skyscraper in Elle Lay was a target. These people are just so transparent in their attempts at media manipulation. Where is Teddy when you really need him -- oh, sorry, he is busy at the all male country club.

[mosshaven]

CNET aids the enemy?

Declan McCullagh has a history of writing from a very Leftist point of view. Too bad CNET has allowed this political slant to put down roots as an objective point of view would better serve CNET users. Some past CNET editor must have decided CNET's target users love a biased POV but I really prefer the straight facts. It's a sad fact that many "media outlets" have decided to program politically to appeal to a target audience. Like Fox and ABC.<br /><br />As to this article, safeguarding our civil rights comes only after national security in importance. So discussing domestic spying in general terms is a good idea but digging into the nuts and bolts of who, how, when and where only aids the enemies of the United States. <br /><br />Remember them? Those people who, if you are American, European or just non-muslin, want to cut your head off.<br /><br />Oh, and the Democrat political party benefits too.<br /><br />I am total disgusted at all political parties, the media and now CNET, using national security issues to gain selfish advantage. <br /><br />So, speaking for the 25 million living American military veterans, I say...SHAME!<br /><br />And I bet the dead vets would echo...SHAME!!!

[marileev]

slanting

If you want to talk slanting Mr. Moss, I defer you to <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.foxnews.com" target="_newWindow">http://www.foxnews.com</a> <br /><br />Some will find these slanted to the left. Many are in favor of this information. Which pill will you take the red or the blue? Americans are ready to go through the rabbit hole.

[markdoiron]

Please Don't Speak for Me

i appreciate that cnet is staying on top of this issue. and what is in the article is a summary of material available from various other books and publications. <br /><br />as for the 25 million living veterans--please subtract one and don't bother speaking on my behalf.<br /><br />mark d. doiron<br />retired cmsgt, usaf, 27-1/2 years

[SteveBarry687]

As a vetrean of Desert Storm, I say bravo

Show the Bush admainistartion for the crroks they are.<br /><br />Go back to watching Fox.

[My-Self]

Yes, CNET aids the enemy

It sure does !<br />It helps this administration's worst enemy: the Democrats !<br /><br />They must realize all of them are wiretapped, all their communications are intercepted. As a result, if they want a chance in the tactical game of politics, they'd better encrypt all their correspondence (private/political/business), shut off their cellphone when they don't want their location traced and start behaving like a ... terrorist organization.<br /><br />And we still call it democracy. What a sick joke !

[russ b]

Really.

I'm of no particular mind concerning the author of the article, but it's really far too simple to say he writes with bias. <br /><br />Having read that article and a dozen others hosted on various sites, pretty much the same information was covered. <br /><br />Do everyone[this to all who whine about any slant when reading any article with a similar talkback feature] a favor and show where this bias is in the article, rather than falling back to a weak prop concerning past claims of impugned integrity[something that it would fall on the accuser to similarly verify as well].<br /><br /><br />As far as the article...cynicism rules the day--I was not surprised.

[bigduke]

Speaking for vets??

Not me. I had 8 years of service time. And you don't speak for me. I make my own judgements. <br /><br />The Shrub scares me at least as much as O. BenLaden. <br /><br />And I know which one has the football!!!

[kilamanjaro]

The 900 Pound Gorilla In The Corner

1. The FISA court law has been amended 5 times since 9/11 to <br />give the government increased flexibility. <br />2. In over 20,000 requests over some 28 years (according to Sen <br />Leahy) FISA has declined something like a dozen of those <br />requests. <br />3. The FISA application form is approx. 80-85% boilerplate <br />according to a CNN security analyst.<br />4. FISA Permission can be sought after action, so it's no drag on <br />initiatives.<br />5. In other words the FISA court is government friendly to a <br />fault.<br /><br />I reckon if with FISA the govt. can pretty much do what it needs <br />to then there are possibly three reasons why they haven't. In <br />order of likelihood (1) The 900 LB gorilla in the corner (I'll come <br />back to that in a sec). (2) Arrogance; and (3) Laziness. <br /><br />I rule out (3) 'cause from all I've seen most lawyers work <br />themselves to the bone. It could be (2) but 18 microseconds of <br />reflection by the smart minds of the NSA and Justice ought to <br />reveal that it isn't worth the trouble it brings - like right now, <br />and growing. <br /><br />So, from my lil armchair I reckon (1), the 900 LB Gorilla, namely, <br />the nature of the "targets" of surveillance. And the only thing I <br />can think of that would keep folks from using all the free candy <br />FISA hands out is that those targets are domestic AND <br />POLITICAL (it wouldn't be the first time - FISA was in part a <br />reaction to the excesses of past governments in doing just that).<br /><br />Strangely enough not one senator or congressperson appears to <br />have asked the "googly" question - "Do you tap me?" or the <br />closely related "are you/ have you tapped any domestic <br />Washington political types". Better still: "Can you assure us Mr. <br />Attorney-General that you have not?" Maybe the Republicans <br />who voted NOT to swear in the AG already know the answer.

[mgreere]

I think you're right on (probably)

The breadth of the initial tapping is probably the mother load here. <br /><br />"I'm sorry senator, can you define 'eavesdrop' before I answer the <br />question?"<br /><br />Gonzales' stonewalling and hedging certainly suggests there's a <br />monster under the tablecloth.

[avalo]

We need to stop the eavesdropping

The best way to stop the eavesdropping or at least make it worthless is to basically spam the system to death. If everyone and every e-mail had the following words in the header or message body there would be a massive overload of messages flagged so much so that there aren't enough computers or people at the NSA to process them because it would have to flag every single message and scrutinize the content. So put a permanent header of bomb, drugs, FBI, NSA, DEA and Al Quieda (sp) etc. It would only take up one line of your message, e-mail, advertisement etc. and it would overwhelm the system if a majority of the people would do it. To be truthful most people won't because they are too stupid, dum, or naive or just don't care that their privacy and constitutional rights are going out the window in the name of security.

[My-Self]

nah ... try this instead ...

If you really want to ring the bells, try this ...<br /><br />Cheney, proof, halliburton, 'creative accounting', lobbyist, Bush, Election, Diebold, Arbusto, 'Soft money', protest, 'Made in Israel', Scalito, Sheenan, 'James R. Bath', 'Intelligent design', Democrat, polls, facts, sex.<br /><br />That should be enough ;-)

[TSop]

KVM

I know a ting or two about surveillance. I think the NSA stuff is a smokescreen for the real stuff happening at the Dept. of Defense. I bet they put some crap on switches to monitor keyboards, video and mouse movements...not to mention capturing wireless network information. Just my opinion. Fuggedaboudit.

Recommended readings:Revealing E-Mail's Secrets

Here is the link to <br />Revealing E-Mail's Secrets <br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticleSrc.jhtml?articleID=166403423" target="_newWindow">http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticleSrc.jhtml?articleID=166403423</a><br /><br />Below is a post from a message board recomending it and below that a snipit from techweb.com that<br />mentions the former Homeland Security 'cyber czar',Amit Yoran,who has now replaced Gilman Louie as the CEO of In-Q-Tel.<br /><br />The link at very bottom is to a news.com article<br />on the In-Q-Tel's and thus the CIA's Gilman Louie<br />with my reply to that story,'Gilman Louie and the CIA less than honest' posted as commentary to that news.com article .It would sure be good if news.com followed up with an interview of the new In-Q-Tel CEO Amit Yoran and ask him if he doesn't feel it a conflict of interest for the CIA or others with insider banking and investment records of individuals to also be competing with them in the 'securities' markets to begin with.Not to mention that their SRA International with so many ties and funding<br />from the Beltway not only may have insider info on banking and investing by way of their Mantas Inc connections but also have allowed their stock to be promoted by Bellador Group of Kuala Lumpur and Dubai,(a known boiler room often dealing in U.S.penny stocks),to recommend SRA Inrternational shares to their clients ! And Bellador Group or belladorgroup.com has also <br />dumped U.S.penny stocks around Asia and the world that looks suspiciously like money laundering and definitely pump and dump scams. <br /><br /><br />What is the CIA's and In-Q-Tel's company,SRA International,(that benefits greatly from federal government security and IT contracts and who claim they have anti-money laundering expertise ) Bellador Group connection ? Or at least why did a boiler room operation out of Kuala Lumpur, Dubai,etc. promote SRA International's shares ? Why did this boiler room,that is even suspect in Asian countries they operate out of,recommend SRA International shares to their clients in the first place ? Those questions would be a start and then the ethical and public responsibility the CIA has put itself in by investing in publically owned companies,whose shares they greatly control and economically benefit from the sale of to a potentially naive investing public who may lose money at the CIA empoyees' gain ?<br /><br />Tony Ryals <br /> <br /><br />Recommended readings:Want to know the hardware behind Echelon? Interception Capabilities 2000<br /><br />A current example of this technology for emails can be found by reading ? Revealing E-Mail's Secrets By Larry Greenemeier, InformationWeek August 2005: ? Backed by In-Q-Tel, the CIA's technology incubator, Spotfire Inc. this week will introduce a tool for uncovering patterns and relationships in information extracted from E-mail messages?.. In-Q-Tel first approached Spotfire in 2003 when the CIA-backed venture-capital firm was looking to invest in technology that could find critical patterns by translating and analyzing data?. "The application is limited only by the creativity of the person who's trying to apply it."<br /><br />Posted by: LuckyBogey at December 20, 2005 08:13 AM <br /><br /><br />From techweb.com :<br /><br /><br />Homeland Security Elevates Cyber Czar Spot<br /><br /><br />By Gregg Keizer, TechWeb News <br /><br />Buried in the massive restructuring plans that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced Wednesday for his 180,000-employee agency is a promotion in the position of national cyber security czar, a move that Congress and the computer security industry has been urging for months.........<br /><br />"We appreciate both the efficiencies and the vulnerabilities of the modern technology on which so much of our society depends," said Chertoff in prepared remarks Wednesday as he outlined the DHS reorganization. "To centralize the coordination of the efforts to protect technological infrastructure, we will create the new position." <br /><br />Calls to elevate the cyber czar position go back to mid-2004, but they gathered momentum when former Symantec executive Amit Yoran resigned suddenly from his post as director of the National Cyber Security Division in October, barely 12 months after he took the spot. <br /><br /><br /><br />The secret behind the CIA's venture capital arm<br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://news.com.com/The+secret+behind+the+CIAs+venture+capital+arm/2008-1082_3-5728548.html" target="_newWindow">http://news.com.com/The+secret+behind+the+CIAs+venture+capital+arm/2008-1082_3-5728548.html</a>