Totally disregarding the open “secret” that the federal government illegally collects and retains information (http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/07/surveillance-spirit-law/) and gee, hackers know about that, four-star General Keith Alexander told those same hackers, “You’re going to have to come in and help us.”
Cue the golf claps, and do as one hacker prepping for a capture-the-flag competition did, wave him away.
Attendees were respectful and gave modest applause, though several said they were concerned about secret government snooping and the failure of authorities thus far to stop foreign-backed attacks.
“Americans pay taxes so that federal agencies can defend them,” said a researcher who asked not to be named. “I see it as a hard sell asking a business entity to spend money for the common good.”
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/27/usa-security-hackers-idINL2E8IRCQK20120727
As a matter of fact the Feds have been anything but kind to any number of security researchers, and have generally alienated themselves through their own conduct. I personally operate from the principle that once you’re caught in a deliberate lie, you are a liar. As we say around here, por vida.
Taking questions screened by Moss, Alexander adamantly denied that the NSA has dossiers on millions of Americans, as some former employees have suggested.
“The people who would say we are doing that should know better,” he said. “That is absolute nonsense.”
Uh huh. Like I said.