Comments on: Congress: P2P networks harm national security

House of Representatives panel chairman says peer-to-peer networks pose a "national security threat," new laws needed.

[DragonSlayer69_1999]

Bad adminstration

You can't blame P2P as much as the network administrators. If a computer has sensitive information on it, it should be locked down so that only approved software can be installed on it. The problem I have seen in many places is that too many so called Admins have no clue about network security. If a laptop is used for company business, then it needs to be locked down so that no unapproved software can be installed on it.

If you want to really tighten security on the network then use Linux or buy a Mac.

[umbrae]

So can the internet...

The internet is just as much a risk as any information can be made "accidentally" available. So can Laptops too, so we should regulate those as well. Oh, so can notepads, so we need regulation on paper products too... Tired Yet?

[ordaj]

This is a Hollywood attack

MPAA and RIAA using their dollars and lobbyists to scare up an alterantive scenario that brings down P2P.

[BillCall]

Amen!

Aa they say "follow the money"!

[R. U. Sirius]

Waxman is from LA

What's in LA? Oh right, hollywood.

Both parties are nothing more than greed and graft.

[oneeyedcarmen]

Congress states the obvious

As someone who has worked in govenment facilities, I can attest to the fact that DoD standards require sensitive information to be held in separate, isolated environments. That anyone with access to such data would be so careless as to have it unsecured, making Congress feel the need for this proposed law, is quite frightening.

This is beside that point that has been brought up by so many previous forum members, that end users should not, under any circumstances, have the access permissions to install this software. In any environment where that is the case, IT Management and any Data Security structure that may be in place are solely to blame.

[David Arbogast]

Right... except...

I've been there myself... as a government employee, and working directly for a major government contractor. The law may indeed be necessary, however. I agree with many folks here that the government should secure their own networks and not allow any risky software to be implemented. HOWEVER... Government contractors need to follow similar rules, or the effort is for not. Those rules, imposed by the federal governemnt upon private companies, amount to laws.

Nowhere in the article did I see anybody mention that P2P should be illegal... so most of these angry posts are just people flying off the handle... quite ridiculous, really. Information MUST be protected for the security of our country, and laws can, and do, help.

Seems to me that a law stating security protocols for any network connected computer or device that handles classified material in any context would be very reasonable and would accomplish the intended goal.

Passing laws to regulate P2P doesn't have to mean that those laws are going to infringe on our rights as citizens... too many people here are angry activists.. but... they really do help fund CNet with all their furious and ignorant posts... more comments = more pages = more advertising.

[247mark]

Dangerous?

P2P is dangerous the way that cars are dangerous. If used improperly, disastrous results are possible - drivers could kill using cars, idiot employees could share national/company secrets. If you don't know how to use it, you have no business using it. How about talking to the IT department and locking down the computer? Duh. This is a scapegoat argument by these representatives, some of whom are Republicans. This from the party who trumpets personal accountability and responsibility for your actions. I am a Republican, I don't particularly care for P2P, and I think these arguments against P2P are lame.

[JIMBOB6]

the real threat

If the people working in government can help but broadcast classified documents all over the net then maybe they are the real threat to national security. Is it the concrete layers fault if a congressman accidentally leaves a pile of confidential files laying on the sidewalk?

[bpowell415]

Wag the Dilbert!

It is great to have politicans in place who have no clue about the technology they are legistating, but trying to legislate it! So are they trying to make a big deal out of this because they are hiding their ignorance? Or to deflect attention from the fact their IT practices are lacking? So if we can sue LimeWire for their software and its misuse, then we can sue the IRS for losing our information or our insurance companies for stolen laptops!

[Phillep_H]

Oh, yes.

I think Heinlein wrote something on that. A Board of Directors, or equiv. has a proposal put before them for some sort of hugely complicated project, described with real heavy jargon, and every one sits there looking wise and nodding in (they hope) the right places, and vote for it to keep from admitting they don't know the least thing about the subject. But, bring up buying a new coffee pot! Oh, my! They will debate that all day. They understand coffee pots.

That's Congress.

[LuvThatCO2]

Your democratic congress, folks

You're the ones who voted them in, so stop your complaining.

Is anyone stupid enough to honestly believe this has ANYTHING to do with national security? What this is really about, and we all know it, is kissing the backsides of their masters in Hollywood so the campaign contributions will keep coming in.

[R. U. Sirius]

Both parties are corrupt

Pull your head out of the sand GOP boy. Both "parties" are corrupt. It was the GOP congress that made the current mess were in, and until people wake up and insist on real democracy, we are going to have money controlling everything.

[rabergnc]

It ain't only the Democrats...

Perhaps you have forgotten about Sen. Ted Stevens R - Alaska and his tubes??

[Phillep_H]

Afraid not

As much as it pains me to say it, the Democratic Party is not the problem this time. It's both parties, and the system.

[don21140]

Our Democratic Congress

We live in a crazy world, why should we think congress is any different?

[gerardogerardo80]

Too much wax from Mr. Waxman but no details.

I would like to hear it. Why and how come network administrators working for US agencies can't keep the secret info locked. And "Corporate America".

They adopted Windows as the standard, and that is the real problem. By the amount of spam and malware circulating at places like University of Souther California, no wonder we are at risk, and they don't ever bother to install filters like. Yahoo and others do.

I believe Mr. Waxman should spend his energies to control countries that offer safe heaven to internet gangsters if he meant what he said, they have the resources and know how, to penetrate US Agencies get the info and sell it to our enemies.

[ibglowin]

So Block the Ports......

You can't connect P2P if all the ports are blocked. Any network
admin can do this. And in fact it is done on government networks.

[Expat type]

Who can we fund to run against these Dingbats?

Think I will see who is his competition and fund him beyond his dreams. That should give this strained mentality a rest from the stress of public office...It is evident he needs this badly. There seem to be many that could benefit from this!

[scdecade]

Good one!

That's funny. LMAO. So you're going to go out and find yourself an honest politician. HAHA! Good luck find one.

[Unmindfulawe]

Person gets by another person with a bat.

A wise person once said if someone hits you with a bat do you not blame the person who hit you and not the bat? Why is there an endless stream of people who want to blame software for problems when really it's user's error that always seems all too prevalent.

[Ngallendou]

Other regimes at greater risk

Communication has been denied repressed minorities and majorities round the globe for centuries. PSP is presently allowing crushed remnants to share ideas and ideals, organise themselves, warn each other ... There are evil regimes in the world that deserve to fall, at least to be resisted effectively.

[Kings X Rocks!]

Holy Krap!

Where'd this come from? (nicely worded, though)

Ease off a little. Watch some Andy Griffith or something.

[Phillep_H]

Yup

I was in favor of bagging up some cheap guns and ammo and dropping them all over Vietnam so the locals could decide what they wanted instead of wasting so much money on that war. I'm still in favor, but add some basic communications.

[rex007can]

What!!!

What the hell is a government worker with sensitive files doing installing Limewire on his/her work computer in the first place?
.
How come the government doesn't have proper IT security in place to block access to file sharing networks by using a proper secure proxy and firewalls?
.
And further more, why the hell are they even allowed installing anything at all????
.
And why isn't it strictly against Government policy to copy sensitive government files on an employee's home computer and why wasn't the user who did that and subsequently shared the files fired for leaking information and holding sensitive government information on her home pc?

I am freaking outraged that the government would have such lack security with people's private information as to allow the computer's that use them unsecured and unrestricted access to the Internet.
THAT is the real problem.
P2P only becomes a problem to national security if users are installing and using it. And if such behavior is allowed, then National security has absolutely NOTHING secure about it!!!

Morons!

[kehandley]

The daughter had access

It wasn't even the employee who installed Limewire, it was her daughter. If there are any sensitive documents on the computer, should the daughter have access? It seems like there is plenty of blame to go around, and none of it should go to P2P.

[bschmidt25]

Contributions...

>I wonder who's contributing to Waxman's coffers...

Well... my guess would be you wouldn't have to look too far considering he's from California. I'm sure he's just being the mouthpiece for any number of media companies.

This would be like them blaming Ford because someone didn't know how to drive and got into an accident.

[JDavis19]

Insane!

This obviously has nothing to do w/ P2P. It is definitely political.

[ABurm]

too many Cheeseburgers harm national security

why are government employees allowed to install P2P programs on computers with classified materials in the first place?

It seems like the web administrators are not enforcing their own rules while government employees are spending thousands of hours a week visiting shopping, sex and gambling Web sites, not to mention AIM.

Stop thinking that people in 'Washington' aren't human, they get bored too.

[BionicRunner]

IMO

This has absolutely nothing to do with peer-to-peer.... and national Security...

Anytime the government cant get rid of something outright.. It will try to pull out the NS shield...

More than one has said it...
1)Having a P2P client on a government/buissiness machine is grounds for immediate termination...
2) Most of the high security networks are probably on a closed Circuit.. Kinda maskes all this talk about P2P irrelevent I would think
3) Election year is comming up...Just another feel good measure.. Makes them feel like they are doing something, when in fact.. they arnt


It is nothing kore than an indirect attack at file sharring.. They can get rid of ya one way.. They will try to find another

[Javabean1126]

This is feeling more and more like Communist country

This is probably one of the funniest thing I have ever heard. By the same standard, anything can be deed harmful to national security. Isn't a better solution to prvent P2P softwares to operate on government systems? The government is using fear to violate the rights and freedom of its citizens. Police can now search without warrants? How is this different from a communist country...

[BionicRunner]

Democracy?

You still believe we are a democracy? LOL Havent been a true democracy in some time IMHO.. Its getting worse too.. Alot worse...

[Troll Hard]

This isn't why we elected Democrats

to Congress to take away our rights like this.

P2P File Sharing Networks are used for legal things as well, like sharing open source, shareware, freeware, public domain, and demo software and files.

Work with the P2P software makers to develop a list of filenames and checksums to use to screen out the piracy.

Any idiot that shares their "My Documents" directory is going to get their secrets stolen. Just have a policy for government workers not to use P2P software or not share their documents directory with the rest of the world.