A sampler platter of the best snippets from bonus Q&A sessions with cybersecurity professionals and digital rights advocates. Topics include cyberattacks on hospitals, politics of privacy, hacking contests, AI ethics, Burning Man descriptions, challenges of rain in the desert, proxy hams for online anonymity, and reflections from previous episodes.
The Proxy Ham project aimed to provide online anonymity but was canceled before its release.
Bringing technologists together for crisis simulations and using science fiction scenarios can improve preparedness for cyber warfare.
California's laws and regulations, such as net neutrality, have a significant impact on national internet access protection.
Deep dives
Proxy Ham: Anonymity and Privacy Tool
Proxy Ham was a highly anticipated tool that aimed to provide anonymity and privacy online. It utilized a radio device and a 900 megahertz connection to connect to an antenna dongle on a computer up to two and a half miles away. Users could place the Proxy Ham in a public location like a library or coffee shop and access the internet from their home, hiding their IP address. However, just before its scheduled debut at Defcon, the project was canceled and all existing Proxy Ham units were disposed of.
I'm the Calvary: Enhancing Cybersecurity Preparedness
Josh Korman, founder of I'm the Calvary, discussed the importance of bringing technologists together to improve preparedness for cyber warfare and threats to human life. He highlighted the need for tabletop crisis simulations and rehearsals, emphasizing that assumptions about resilience can be flawed and crisis standards of care declaration must be considered. Josh also mentioned the role of science fiction authors in creating scenarios for planning worst-case situations, highlighting the use of fiction to help process and prepare for real-world events.
California Politics and the Ripple Effects of Legislative Actions
Ernesto Falcon, an EFF representative and politician, highlighted the significance of California's laws and regulations on the national stage. With the state's large economy and reach, regulations passed in California often have broader impacts on other states. Falcon discussed how California's net neutrality law, for example, influenced internet access protection nationwide. He emphasized that California politicians are aware of their influential role and take pride in being viewed as national legislators, capable of affecting change beyond state boundaries.
AI in the Future: Creating Programs Like People
The podcast episode features an interview with an AI expert, Michael Lippman, discussing artificial general intelligence (AGI) and its likelihood. The AI problem, which refers to creating a program that is as smart as humans, is explored. The interview delves into the potential benefits and risks of developing AGI, highlighting the importance of understanding and complementing human capabilities rather than replacing them.
Proxy Ham: A Controversial Privacy Project
The podcast touches on the controversial Proxy Ham project, which involved a device designed to anonymize internet activity by broadcasting signals from a remote location. The device, which raised concerns about potential misuse, faced scrutiny for violating regulations related to encryption and broadcast power. Despite speculation about a government intervention, the exact reasons for the project's shutdown remain unclear. The discussion showcases the intersection of privacy, security, and legal considerations in emerging technological projects.
Every week, I record a special, private bonus podcast for my patrons. Until today, all of that content was restricted to my supporters. But today I've got a sampler platter of some of the best snippets from my bonus Q&A with my interview guests, along with an episode of my more-technical bonus series I call Merlin's Musings. You'll hear from Josh Corman (CISA and I Am the Cavalry), Ernesto Falcon (EFF and CA Senate candidate), Omega and Deth Veggie (Cult of the Dead Cow), Michael Littman (AI expert from Brown Univ) and Cory Doctorow (author and activist), plus the strange story of the ProxyHam.
Podcast Links
These are links to the public podcasts associated with the bonus clips I played today along with some related links.
Ep332, Josh Corman: https://podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2023/07/10/national-cyber-strategy/
Cyberattacks on hospitals are growing threats to patient safety, experts say : https://abcnews.go.com/Health/cyberattacks-hospitals-growing-threats-patient-safety-experts/story?id=99115898
Ep334, Ernesto Falcon: https://podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2023/07/24/the-politics-of-privacy/
Ep336, Cult of the Dead Cow: https://podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2023/08/07/cult-of-the-dead-cow/
Ep338, Michael Littman: https://podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2023/08/21/demystifying-ai/
Ep348, Cory Doctorow: https://podcast.firewallsdontstopdragons.com/2023/10/30/reclaiming-the-internet/
Wired article on ProxyHam: https://www.wired.com/2015/07/online-anonymity-project-proxyham-mysteriously-vanishes/
Hackaday ProxyHam: https://hackaday.com/tag/proxyham/
ProxyGambit: https://github.com/samyk/proxygambit
Further Info
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Table of Contents
Use these timestamps to jump to a particular section of the show.
0:02:41: Josh Corman: analog back and sci-fi table top exercises
0:12:51: Ernesto Falcon: raising money and CA influence
0:19:19: Cult of the Dead Cow: Agent Steal
0:23:44: Michael Littman: Superintelligent AI risks vs reality
0:33:03: Cory Doctorow: Burning Man
0:41:00: Merlin's Musings: ProxyHam
0:53:37: Wrapup & patron perks
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