CYBER SECURITY - Cracking Online Encryption

Duh.... of course, that's what NSA is for.  Cracking the 'privacy' of those overseas who may be planning to harm the America.  Note also, the Internet is worldwide, not just in America.  The problem is the NSA cannot do their job without the tools that MAY be used domestically.  Also there's the issue of terrorists who are here in the U.S. and could be using the Internet.

As an IT Technician and Computer Specialist (retired) I have always know about this capability of the NSA.  This also means that this 'cyber-security reporter' needs to become more tech-savvy or she should have NOT said, "And what we have discovered is that, for the last two decades, the NSA has been actively working to crack or circumvent the encryption technologies that we all use," as if this was an unknown.

"Documents Reveal NSA Can Crack Online Encryption, 'Last Bastion of Privacy'" PBS Newshour 9/6/2013

Excerpt

HARI SREENIVASAN (Newshour):  Like other surveillance stories in recent weeks, the government's efforts have been led by the National Security Agency, or NSA.  And like other disclosures, the latest information comes from documents provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

In this case, the reporting was done by a partnership of The New York Times, ProPublica, and The Guardian.  Reporters found the NSA is able to crack through encryption or protective encoding tools that are used by businesses, banks, social media and other kinds of online commerce.

For example, it's often assumed that when you purchase a product online or bank online with a secured and locked HTTPS connection, you have protected your password and financial information.  But the news reports say the NSA can unlock that information.

Nicole Perlroth is a cyber-security reporter with The New York Times.  She joins us from San Francisco.