Educause Security Discussion mailing list archives
Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation
From: Tim Doty <tdoty () MST EDU>
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2013 08:27:02 -0600
On 12/10/2013 06:22 PM, Jones, Mark B wrote:
There is a difference between 'Privacy' and 'Secrecy'
You are correct that there is a difference, but they are not exclusive. While the use of authentication and no anonymity may be an approach to protecting published online information from those without access, it does nothing to preserve privacy in the face of authorized but unwanted access. Nor does it address the loss of privacy from complete tracking -- in fact, a true lack of anonymity would destroy privacy.
Case 1: I want to store information in the cloud, but I want to retain confidentiality of the data. This is a case where strong authentication/no anonymity would be a viable approach, but there is no reason to deny anonymity in a general sense. That is, strong authentication can be used to establish an access control to a data set without requiring that a person's identity be publicly disclosed.
Case 2: I desire to have some privacy in my actions. Some degree of anonymity is *required* to accomplish this. For example, if I buy some books on medieval mysticism it used to be that a simple cash transaction kept it essentially private. There are some caveats (if the seller knows my personally then they will know I bought them, but for a random person off the street it would be essentially anonymous).
It is trivial to demonstrate a connection between privacy and anonymity. Those promoting a police state are naturally against anonymity. Those promoting privacy understand the utility of strong encryption and anonymity.
Tim Doty Tor seems like it
may lean toward the latter. I have found that the following site has a useful perspective on privacy issues: http://www.privacilla.org Here are some key quotes: "Importantly, privacy is a personal, subjective condition. One person cannot decide for another what his or her sense of privacy should be." "While privacy is held up as one of our highest values, people also constantly share information about themselves by allowing others to see their faces, learn their names, learn what they own, and learn what they think. In fact, it is a desirable lack of privacy that allows people to interact with one another socially and in business. This does not mean that people should lose control over the information they want to keep private. It means that generalizations about privacy are almost always wrong." http://www.privacilla.org/fundamentals/whatisprivacy.html Also 'Privacy' is not the same as 'anonymity'. It is my opinion that strong authentication and the lack of anonymity are the keys to improved privacy online. Only with strong authentication can consumers and services be held accountable for behavior online. From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Sabin Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 2:24 PM To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU Subject: [SECURITY] TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation All, Given the wider US technology community discussions on online privacy and monitoring - this seems to be very topical. In case anyone was not aware, this story is taking place at Iowa State University with Tor being a relevant part of the discussion: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/12/10/digital-freedom-groups-road-re cognition-sparks-legal-debate-iowa-state-u <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v1/url?u=http://www.insidehighered.com/ne ws/2013/12/10/digital-freedom-groups-road-recognition-sparks-legal-debate-io wa-state-u&k=yYSsEqip9%2FcIjLHUhVwIqA%3D%3D%0A&r=o50KCUcRVN10tgtglyNVFw2kmiz yPIIFTSGui%2BBSZ5A%3D%0A&m=hnGoebKdLtnE2yvxLiQ0OlhXMu%2FRMEVn0qZFzyM2pgE%3D% 0A&s=5dcb52d50601a7d4ddc3b0479ff3aa4491e442f9a0d830ba2ff5db38ae6c9762> and https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/12/open-letter-urging-universities-encour age-conversation-about-online-privacy <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v1/url?u=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/20 13/12/open-letter-urging-universities-encourage-conversation-about-online-pr ivacy&k=yYSsEqip9%2FcIjLHUhVwIqA%3D%3D%0A&r=o50KCUcRVN10tgtglyNVFw2kmizyPIIF TSGui%2BBSZ5A%3D%0A&m=hnGoebKdLtnE2yvxLiQ0OlhXMu%2FRMEVn0qZFzyM2pgE%3D%0A&s= 75b3522379697ac135dd77ae55292b93024c9c4ab21538dc9f8faf9b4a1fd56e> Realizing that this isn't necessarily new, but given this recent story, I am curious to know what others are doing or observing as it relates to Tor and it's discussion at your particular institution. Many thanks, Jeff Jeffrey D. Sabin DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORK SERVICES oit Dial Center 2507 University Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50311-4505 Tel 515.271.2935 Fax 515.271.1938 1.800.44.DRAKE x2935 E-mail jeff.sabin () drake edu
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Current thread:
- TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Jeffrey Sabin (Dec 10)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Jones, Mark B (Dec 10)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Tim Doty (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Joel L. Rosenblatt (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Jones, Mark B (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Shalla, Kevin (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Tracy Beth Mitrano (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Joel L. Rosenblatt (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Tim Doty (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Isabelle Grey (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Joel L. Rosenblatt (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Jones, Mark B (Dec 10)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Tim Doty (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Joel L. Rosenblatt (Dec 11)
- Re: TOR and the Digital Freedom Conversation Jones, Mark B (Dec 11)