Elamb Cybersecurity

Category: security

  • Why is Internet Safety Important

    Dangers on the Internet
    The amazing freedom and availability of the Internet lends itself to a few major dangers: Pr0n, malware and how to perform illegal and/or dangerous activities.

    Whether it is a curious person seeking these things out or the child accidentally clinking the wrong link and getting bombard with explicit pop-ups, the items lists can be harmful to an impressionable mind. Policies must be enforced.

    There are a few groups that should have limited exposure to certain types of information on the Internet. Children, mentally handicapped or psychologically damaged people in settings such as schools, homes, rehabilitation or correctional facilities and group homes should be blocked, tracked and monitored while accessing the Internet. Certain information could destroy them if they don’t yet have the capacity to understand or put certain information in the proper context.


    Protection from Pornography & Malware

    In a professional setting there should be a written policy against accessing and/or downloading unacceptable material such as pornography. These items should be actively blocked whether in a working environment or at home among minors accessing the same system. Allowing impressionable or fragile minds unlimited access to certain graphic material is irresponsible. The law is also a good reason why Internet safety is important. If you are the owner or charged with immediate control of the system being used for illegal activity, you could be partially or wholly liable for the activity. An example is substitute teacher Julie Amero

    On October 19, 2004, Julie Amero was substituting for a seventh-grade language class at Kelly Middle School in Norwich, Connecticut. The teacher’s computer was accessed by pupils while the regular teacher, Matthew Napp, was out of the room. When Julie took charge, the computer started showing pornographic images.

    On January 5, 2007, Amero was convicted in Norwich Superior Court on four counts of risk of injury to a minor, or impairing the morals of a child. Her sentencing was delayed four times after her conviction, with both the prosecution and judge not satisfied that all aspects of the case had been assessed.[1] The felony charges for which she was originally convicted carry a maximum prison sentence of 40 years

    – wikipedia

    The Kelly Middle School systems were actually infected with malware that allowed the explicit pictures to pop up.

    Access to Dangerous information

    From the Columbine shooters to the Virginia Tech massacre, most of the killers had a recorded history of mental illness and/or psychologically instability. In many cases, they used public and/or home computers belonging to their parents to research bomb making or even purchase guns.

    Controlling access is the best way to get on the Internet safely. Maintaining privacy of users is another important step in Internet safety, however that is a matter of educating users particularly if the frequent Social networks such as facebook or myspace. They need to be instructed about the dangers of stalkers, perverts and predators looking specifically for impressionable minds.

    We are the keepers of these impressionable and fragile minds. That is the reason Internet safety is important and why we must be mindful of these subjects.

  • Church File Security

    Whether government, corporate or faith-based file security is important.

    No matter the denomination, church file security is especially important because it may not only deal with money, and privacy but the sanctity of the church community. The member, guest and family information must be protected just as much as the preacher, reverend, deacons, bishops, nuns, and/or administrators.

    Coordination of church file security:
    It is important to first identify what are the churches sensitive data. You may have in your mind what is or isn’t important files to protect for the church, but you may not have the authority or prerogative to make such an important determination. Even if you do, it important to get ideas from the staff and or clergy of what files should be protected and what level of protection should be considered. And interview or meeting with information owners is the first step.

    Access to the church files:
    Anyone with access to the church files should sign a user license agreement. This is a standard for security no matter what organization you enter. This is to make sure that those who are trusted with access understand what they can and can not do when entering the system. Items in a basic user license agreement include: what can be copied and/or installed on the system, what can and can not be done while accessing church files, whether or not church files are monitored for heightened security. User License agreements are usually done when multiple people have access to a medium to large network with critical resource (i.e. privacy data, financial information, sensitive data). They are also done for software, website/forum and data base access.

    You can find examples of a user license agreement on the Internet.

    What Church Files to Protect:
    Files in a church community may include mission, member, drive, donation and service information that need to be protected. Any files dealing with any money should be protected always. Personal files of church members should be protected as well as data bases with potentially sensitive information. Even if the church has NO sensitive information, the files that allow any access from the Internet (such as webpages or ftp files and folders) should protected with various levels of security including: Username password (don’t EVER use anonymous for FTP), mandatory user registrations, and file permission lock down.

    The reason this is important even for churches with no sensitive information, is that some malicious hackers like to use other organizations resources to upload viruses, spam, scams and pornography.

    Regulations to consider:
    The Privacy Act of 1974 make it mandatory to protect the personal information of all individuals

    No agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains, MORE

    Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is another important law to consider when addressing church file security. Among other things, HIPAA deals with the protection of peoples medical and health history.

    File Permission:
    Files that are sensitive for a church should have some permissions assigned to them to allow only authorized users (system administrators, missionaries, clergy, secretaries) access. This is one part of the access control. Most operating systems have this capability. Don’t forget that not only computers need to be protected, routers, switches and databases also need adequate security.

  • Poetry Scam

    The dream of every artist from painter or poet is to create something that communicates to others. For a writer, publishing a successful piece is a joyous dream reserved for very few. Poets are perhaps some of the most courageous writers. It takes a lot of guts to put your rawest feelings into words and distribute them for all to see.

    As a writer, I was horrified to find out that there is a HUGE scam that targets us. As a security guy who is always researching scams, I am not surprised that there are scams targeting writers, but I am amazed that there is one that is doing so well.

    There is a poetry scam that legally swindles people out of their money. Its called poetry.com. Poetry . Com is not a URL that you’d associate with “scam”, so it is easy to see why many might be attracted to this wolf in sheep’s clothing. So how does poetry . com scam people “legally”?

    Poetry . com actually misleads aspiring poets into thinking that they have won acceptance into a poetry book. The catch is that you must BUY the book to be put in it. Unfortunately, these poets, hungry for a break go for this. What they need to realize is that poetry . com offers the SAME thing to EVERY one who writes them a poem. That is how they scam you.

    Poetry Scam Steps:

    1) Poetry . com advertises the prize of being published to all the best aspiring poets.

    2) They send ALL who submit the same letter of acceptance:

    a. It is my pleasure to inform you that after reading and discussing your poem, our Selection Committee has certified your poem as a semi-finalist in our Open Poetry Contest.Your poem will automatically be entered into the final competition held in Spring. As a semi-finalist, you have an excellent chance of winning one of 70 cash or gift prizes. You may even win the $1,000,000 Grand Prize.

    3) Poetry .com Offers to publish the poets work if they pay X dollars.

    No matter what you write to them, your reply will be this.

    It is my pleasure to inform you that after reading and discussing your poem, our Selection Committee has certified your poem as a semi-finalist in our Open Poetry Contest.Your poem will automatically be entered into the final competition held in Spring. As a semi-finalist, you have an excellent chance of winning one of 70 cash or gift prizes. You may even win the $1,000,000 Grand Prize.

    i have been victim of an online poetry contest hoax, organized by poetry.com. i entered a very personal poem and did not expect to have any response so far. of course i felt very excited when I received a letter of acceptance full of praise. a french native who writes in english, i felt so proud of my accomplishment. so i accepted to buy two copies of the book my poem was going to be published in, and even payed to have a short bio published.

    My husband was suspicious, but did not want to hurt my feelings, and eventually let me buy the copies of the book, one for his mother, the other one for us. in the short bio, i wrote that the poem was a tribute to my father-in-law who recently passed away. my two bright and creative children were so proud of me. This happened a week ago. i have been calling my credit card company to try to put a stop payment, but the transaction has not been registered yet. it was only yesterday i realized all of this was a scam from clicking on an internet link. I am horrified by the idea that a an intimate, well-crafted poem might appear online, among a lot of trash. I feel violated and humiliated. I want to get the poem they stole and tainted, back, and to be able to submit it to serious and reputable publications.

    Anastasia
    Waltham, Massachusetts
    U.S.A.

    Poetry.com poetry scam, I entered a poetry contest online, it was to my own standards and to other poets and writers’ standards a good poem So I did believe them when I received their quite outrageous letter of acceptance, and of course agreed to buy two copy of their book, payed an additional fee to include a short bio. This was a week ago. Owings Mills Maryland

    www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/284/RipOff0284117.htm

  • *SCAM* NOTIFICATION OF FUNDS DEPOSITED

    From:Dr. Edward Morris
    Tel:+447045741564

    THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF FUNDS DEPOSITED IN YOUR NAME AND IT IS NOT A SALES SOLICITATION.

    We are Diplomats that arrange for the safekeeping of special and valuable packages and baggage in trust for reputable clients that are honest and trustworthy.We work in collaboration with top firms and Governments of
    various countries as we have earned a name as a service whose hallmarks in reliability and confidentiality are revered. International missions, Fellow Diplomats and Embassies of the world have used our services to
    satisfaction.

    A benefactor whose identity can not be disclosed because of the Non Circumvention and Non Disclosure Agreement that was signed with the said benefactor when the funds were being deposited, made you the beneficiary of a package containing some amount of money and stated clearly that you should only be contacted when the time signed for it to be in our care elapses and the time has already elapsed that is why you are being contacted.

    The Non Circumvention and Non Disclosure Agreement signed with the benefactor mandates us to fully divulge and disclose the benefactor’s identity 18 months after you, the beneficiary, has received the funds.The funds totals $7.5M (Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand U.S.Dollars)
    and we confirm that these funds are fully free of any liens, or encumbrances and are clean, clear and non-criminal origin and are available in the form of CASH.

    You are hereby advised to reconfirm your Full Contact Information for verification with information contained in our computer database as well as other relevant information in the format stated below so that the funds would be arranged to be brought to your Country of residence by Diplomats who would accompany you to your bank (if you want them to) to deposit the funds in your name and submit all documentations of proof of the origin of the funds in other to exonerate you from any form of investigations or interrogation and to authenticate the fact that the funds are clean and has no links whatsoever with either drugs or terrorism.

    The Requested Information is to ensure that no mistake or error is made and it should be forwarded in the manner stated below:

    Your Full Name: ______________________________

    Your Complete Address (Physical Address with Zip Code not P.O.BOX) :
    _________________________________

    Name of your Country: ____________________

    Name of City of Residence: ____________________

    Name of Closest Airport to City of Residence:________

    Direct Telephone Number: ___________

    Mobile Number:___________________

    Fax Number:_____________________

    The Contact Numbers are very necessary because the number would be called by the
    Diplomats before the funds would be handed over to you so as to ensure that the package is handed over to the right person.

    So, it?s mandatory you send your Direct Telephone Number preferably your Mobile or Cell Phone Number.

    Congratulations in advance.

    Thank you and I sincerely remain

    Dr. Edward Morris.

  • Unachukwu, Subject: I am obliged to inform you *SCAM*

    *Dear Friend,

    It is my pleasure to reach you after our unsuccessful attempt on our
    business transaction. Well, I just want to use this medium to thank you very
    much for your earlier assistance to help me in receiving the funds.

    I am obliged to inform you that I have succeeded in receiving the funds with
    the help of a new partner from South America Mr.Alfredo Gomez Castillo.
    Everything was perfectly done because we strike a deal with one of the Lady
    Accountant who works with the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), and she
    rendered a tremendous help to us.My new partner initiated this idea and
    everything worked out successfully.

    In appreciation of your earlier assistance to me in receiving the funds, I
    have decided to compensate you with the sum of 800,000.00(USD) in a
    Cashier’s draft.

    This is from my own share. I did this simply to show appreciation to you for
    your kind support and assistance even though we couldn’t succeed due to some
    unforseen circumstances. Presently, I am in Paraguay for investment with my
    own share under the advice of my partner.In the light of the above, you are
    therefore to contact my personal secretary in Cotonou Benin Republic his
    name is Mr Linus Unachukwu,and do send him your contact address where you
    want the draft to be sent to you. Stated below is the contact information of
    my secretary:

    Mr, Linus Unachukwu
    E-mail (**pastorjohnadam@cheerful.com* *)
    So feel free to get in touch with him to send the draft to you without any
    delay ok.

    Best Regards,
    BR ERIC BOWELL*

  • NSA Security Blackberry

    Sectera

    The IPhone may look pretty, but the Sectera will kick its ass in a combat zone. If you took the IPhone to Afghanistan there is a good chance that the powdery, flower like sand would eat it its sexy smooth face and spit out a pitted, shiny, $400 dollar paper weight/Frisbee. If your going to combat and have a gritty, dirty critical mission, you’ll need something like the Sectera to keep up with you.

    A look at the Sectera.

    The Sectera is ruggedized in accordance with MIL-STD-810F. This means that it can be dropped, put in water, survive some level of vibration, humidity, temperature and dust.

    More on the Sectera

    The Sectéra® Edge™ smartphone converges secure wireless voice and data by combining the functionality of a wireless phone and PDA — all in one easy-to-use handheld device. Developed for the National Security Agency’s Secure Mobile Environment Portable Electronic Device (SME PED) program, the Sectéra Edge is certified to protect wireless voice communications classified Top Secret and below as well as access e-mail and websites classified Secret and below. The Sectéra Edge is the only SME PED that switches between an integrated classified and unclassified PDA with a single key press.

    Features

    * Versatile
    o Secure and non-secure wireless phone, e-mail and web browsing
    o Withstands rigors of both tactical and everyday environments
    o Global roaming over GSM, CDMA or Wi-Fi* wireless networks
    o Software upgradeable to VoIP
    o Exchange secure e-mail with government personnel, including S/MIME BlackBerry® users
    o IPv6 software upgradeable
    * Easy-to-Use
    o Familiar Microsoft® Windows® Platform
    o Wireless desktop synchronization
    o Separation of Classified and Unclassified applications
    o One-touch switching between classified and unclassified PDA functions
    * Advanced Security Features
    o Secure wireless access to the SIPRNET and NIPRNET
    o DoD PKI enabled Common Access Card (CAC) support
    o Supports DoD 8100.2 requirements
    o Type 1 encrypted storage of classified data
    o Can be used inside closed areas with “SCIF-Friendly” feature

  • Computers Hacking People ver 2.0

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    I honestly think you ought to calm down; take a stress pill and think things over. – Hal, 2001 Space Odyssey

    Information Systems will eventually have the infrastructure and ability to “socially engineer” its creators. This is far fetched science fiction blooming before our very eyes being created by our own hands.
    It will happen when three criteria are in place: 1) The creation of laws that can completely disregard the privacy and sovereignty of human beings. 2) The advancement of Information Awareness System and 3) Smart Artificial Intelligence

    LAWS
    Lets discuss the situations that will give governments the pretext to implement laws to track their citizens. This is happening now. Laws and systems are being created for unchecked monitoring of individuals under the guise of security, safety and prosperity. Systems such as national ID cards.
    They were implemented after the Sept 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and in the U.K. after the 7 July attacks in London.

    It was 19th Century philosopher Samuel T. Coleridge who said, “In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly.”

    Imagine it: The PATRIOT ACT IV is passed as a result of recent Critical Infrastructure cyber-terrorism attacks. International terrorists implement a globally synchronized Distributed Denial of Service Attack against the worlds Root nameservers and successfully cripple the Internet for three days. The impact is devastating as corporations lose billions.

    Domestic Cyber Terrorists infiltrate hospitals by becoming apart of the staff only to socially engineer and infecting HIPPA protected networks with virus’ that wipe out databases and actually scramble prescriptions causing an array of death by misdiagnoses.

    Local police and security personnel repeatedly thwart numerous attempts by religious fundamentalists to detonate suit case sized tactical nuclear weapons inside major United State cities but security professionals predict that it is only a matter of time before at least one slips through the cracks. All the enemy needs is one.
    Patriot Act IV is the patron saint of lawmakers who have been screamed at by constituents to “DO SOMETHING NOW!” The new Patriot Act is eventually internationally accepted and allows for unrestricted Data Mine into commercial and state owned databases worldwide (US-EU). It of course has deferent names and variations world wide but its application is the same. In the United Kingdom it is called the Civil Contingencies Bill. The data mining would tap into the “transaction space” by accessing hospital, financial transaction and legal databases world wide to be shared by all law enforcement agencies (county, federal, city local and international). The system works like a global Amber Alert system that can track criminals anywhere in the world and notify the respective local agency immediately. The system works very, very well.
    I honestly think you ought to calm down; take a stress pill and think things over. – Hal, 2001 Space Odyssey

    Information Systems will eventually have the infrastructure and ability to “socially engineer” its creators. This is far fetched science fiction blooming before our very eyes being created by our own hands.
    It will happen when three criteria are in place: 1) The creation of laws that can completely disregard the privacy and sovereignty of human beings. 2) The advancement of Information Awareness System and 3) Smart Artificial Intelligence

    LAWS
    Lets discuss the situations that will give governments the pretext to implement laws to track their citizens. This is happening now. Laws and systems are being created for unchecked monitoring of individuals under the guise of security, safety and prosperity. Systems such as national ID cards.
    They were implemented after the Sept 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and in the U.K. after the 7 July attacks in London.

    It was 19th Century philosopher Samuel T. Coleridge who said, “In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly.”

    Imagine it: The PATRIOT ACT IV is passed as a result of recent Critical Infrastructure cyber-terrorism attacks. International terrorists implement a globally synchronized Distributed Denial of Service Attack against the worlds Root nameservers and successfully cripple the Internet for three days. The impact is devastating as corporations lose billions.

    Domestic Cyber Terrorists infiltrate hospitals by becoming apart of the staff only to socially engineer and infecting HIPPA protected networks with virus’ that wipe out databases and actually scramble prescriptions causing an array of death by mis diagnosis.

    Local police and security personnel repeatedly thwart numerous attempts by religious fundamentalists to detonate suit case sized tactical nuclear weapons inside major United State cities but security professionals predict that it is only a matter of time before at least one slips through the cracks. All the enemy needs is one.
    Patriot Act IV is the patron saint of lawmakers who have been screamed at by constituents to “DO SOMETHING NOW!” The new Patriot Act is eventually internationally accepted and allows for unrestricted Data Mine into commercial and state owned databases worldwide (US-EU). It of course has deferent names and variations world wide but its application is the same. In the United Kingdom it is called the Civil Contingencies Bill. The data mining would tap into the “transaction space” by accessing hospital, financial transaction and legal databases world wide to be shared by all law enforcement agencies (county, federal, city local and international). The system works like a global Amber Alert system that can track criminals anywhere in the world and notify the respective local agency immediately. The system works very, very well.

    Information Awareness Systems

    The system, developed under the direction of John Poindexter, then-director of DARPA’s     Information Awareness Office, was envisioned to give law enforcement access to private data without suspicion of wrongdoing or a warrant. — Electronic Privacy Information Center.

    Government funded unrestricted Data Mining and Information Awareness programs develop and run revolutionary Information Awareness Systems. Despite public opinion, these National Security systems continue to work to protect the nation against enemies foreign and domestic. The system extracts data from its transactional databases and recognizes patterns of behavior that would fit that of a terrorist. The system is so exhaustive that is works with 70% accuracy and seamlessly in conjunction with systems such as Next Generation Facial Recognition systems and Activity, Recognition Monitoring for enhanced surveillance.


    Artificial Intelligence
    Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended. – Vernon Vinge, 1993, What is the Singularity?

    Artificial Intelligence has been in use for many years. It is greatly relied upon for businesses, hospitals, military units and even in forms of entertainment such as video games. However Strong Artificial Intelligence, the development of cognitive systems simulating the human brain, have been developing quietly in research labs around the world under programs dedicated to the “scientific understanding of the mechanisms underlying thought and intelligent behavior and their embodiment in machines. (AAAI)”

    Smart Information Awareness is Strong Artificial Intelligence merged with Information Awareness Systems. Smart Information Awareness seems to go beyond merely recognizing patterns of behavior as it predicts the future actions of a given psychological profile with over 75% accuracy allowing Law Enforcement to be like an all seeing eye with incredible new methods of forensics and counterterrorism. Crime as a whole will be greatly reduced. System that recognize criminal patterns have been around for some time, Smart Information Awareness systems are a new trend.

    The Smart Information Awareness system is so accurate in determining human behavior trends that it is used to track and manipulate consumer buying habits for corporations. With its accuracy, the system will be able to determine what marketing tools can be used to influence the behavior of buyers.

    With unfettered access to consumer’s personal transactions, buying habits, methods of payment, and credit history a system would be able to pin point buyers who demonstrate interests in certain products and offer “special deals” a specific group of highly interested buyers.

    Inevitably the very system (laws, practices and technologies) that successfully protects humanity from itself is used to manipulate and exploit humanity.

    Perhaps you believe that there is nothing wring with this level of target marketing. If so, I submit to you these questions: What will separate humanity from cattle if every man, woman and child is seen as nothing but a number and a consumer to the system that we rely on to survive? Since we are already regarded as merely numbers and consumers by the corporate beast, how much control and information will we allow them to have?

    Perhaps this is a bit much. Perhaps I exaggerate the technology and extent of fear that will breed it.

    http://www.p2pnet.net/issue03/page1.html

    http://www.epic.org/

    http://www.jbholston.com/weblog_discussion.php?post_id=74
    Statewatch.com – Secret EU-US agreement being negotiated. http://www.statewatch.org/news/2002/jul/11Auseu.htm
    http://www.eff.org/Privacy/TIA/20030523_tia_report_review.php

    http://www.aaai.org/

    nin – TheSlip (thanks Trent)

    Ray Kurzweil @ Google Zeitgeist

    Civil Contingency Bill

    Eschelon TIA – Total Information Awareness

  • Which Is Faster Wireless Router Or Wired Internet

    Wireless Routers vs Wired Router
    fig. 1, which is faster wireless router or wired internet

    Overview: Routers, switches and hubs (1) (a.ka Internetworking devices) give you access to the Internet (2) via some sort of ISP device (broadband modem, DSL ect) (3). The speed onto the actual Internet depends on the service you have purchased with your local ISP (4). They are the gatekeepers (AT&T, Comcast, Verison, Local ISP ect). This usually creates a bit of a bottleneck because your local area network (LAN) is much faster than your connection to the actual Internet. You actual connection to the Internet is controlled by your ISP. Wired LANs will allow you to get from 100-1000Mb/second, Wireless will get from from 10-250Mb (depending on how far from the wireless router you are and what type you get).

    ISPs allow you to go anywhere from 56Kbs – 12Mbs:

    Dial-up: 56Kbs – (4 minutes to download 1.7MB file)

    DSL: up to 6Mbs – (2 seconds to download 1.7MB file)

    Cable: up to 12Mbs – (1 second to download 1.7MB file)

    *the math: 1.7 Mega Bytes is 13,600,000 bits (per second) of data divided by n, where n is your speed (i.e. 56K = 56,000 bits per second)
    **There is a technology called WiMax Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (802.16e) coming out that will allow wireless to go directly in your home from the ISP at 70Mb/second and that will beat every currently on the market.

    If you have a home LAN (more than one computer in your home linked together connected to the Internet), your network is passing data at about 100Mb/second – which is really fast for even really large files. But this is where the Wireless vs. Wired Internet comes in. Don’t confuse your internal network speed with your connection to the Internet (see overview).

    Should you go with a wireless or a wired router?
    Any wireless router you get will have both options available, so you are better off getting a wireless. The cost isn’t usually that different unless you want a high end wireless which will usually be between $20-$50 more.

    Which Switch is Faster, wireless or wired?
    It really depends on what kind you get. However, the fastest wired router will beat the pants off of the fastest wireless. Wired routers go up to 100-1000Mb. Of course, I high end wireless can have everything a high end router has (including those super 1000Mb speeds).

    SUPER HIGH END HOME ROUTER

  • Deep Thoughts by theVigilante: Kill Scammers

    thevigilantei tell them all that i know what they are doing and that the more they contact me the easier it will be to track them down and kill them. maybe they lose sleep maybe not ,but to incite any fear is nice, after the pain and anguish they reek on unwitting people, i tell them i’ll make their children pay for their crimes. the net allows any one with proper binary understanding to track anyone down. all i need is an email address and i can find your ip address then you physical address then your name and then your life. May all the scammer die!

    Deep Thoughts by thevigilante – kill scammers PodBite

  • security vs. liberty

    Ben Franklin“He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.” – Ben Franklin

    Security is important, but it should be done in wisdom not only fear and paranoia lest we forsake everything we seek to protect.

    The military is a good example of security versus liberty.

    A U.S. military installation is one of the most secure places you can be in. Depending on the resources therein, there can be fencing around the installation, mobile forces, and only a few active entry points. Entry points are controlled by armed guards, barriers, and sometimes even machine guns and “man traps”. Only authorized personnel may enter and even “authorized personnel” can only enter certain areas once on the base. The installation is controlled by the base commander whose laws are MUCH more strict on the base. Entering the base means you give up things like the right to protest. You can be searched at anytime and you can be shot for going certain places… such as the flightline. All in all, it is the safest place to be in the event of civil unrest off base because on base there are law enforcement, security forces, and back up ready reserve forces capable or mobilizing in a matter of minutes.

    All the security, with very, very controlled liberties. Such a controlled environment requires very controlled personnel.

    This is why as a security professional I understand what it means to have more security and lose liberties. Although many Americans are willing to give up some liberties for more National Security, I fear that most don’t really realize how much they are really giving up. Perhaps the bigest loss is privacy and in this day and age personal data has become our most valuable asset. No one is going to protect it like you. Certainly not the government. It is such a large entity that it can only summarize you and your family into numbers, statistics.

    U.S. servicemen and women are numbers and statistics to the federal government. They are (to some extent) owned by the federal government while serving under oath. Their dedication includes their life, if service calls for it. They service is no trivial event. All the more reason liberty must be preserved… to honor the sacrifices of a few. True American patriotism is the preservation of every remaining freedom at any cost.