United States spooks to be let loose on the Internet [from the Australian. Any one believe this one!

[Prof. David Farber <>]

 from THE AUSTRALIAN TUESDAY 9 AUGUST 1994
May be errors. For academic research purposes only.




United States spooks to be let loose on the Internet
BY LISA ARMSTRONG in Silicon Valley


THE Central Agency, Which has long considered Public  information 
useless, is about to plunge into the Internet surf With mainstream users.


By late August, terabits of raw data, solicited through a Secret Service
gateway, will be mined for Possible leads by the CIA and five other US
intelligence units.


The CIA's Community 0pen Source Program 0ffice director Mr Joseph
Markowitz, has confirmed that the spy agencies, six-pronged Internet
connection will allow intelligence analysts "an access point to the
Internet at large".


"The information will be affordable and accessible, but electronic
filtering hasn't progressed as far as we'd like" Mr. Markowitz said.


Us intelligence agencies will use the Internet gateway to collect
commercial on-line information which is already being solicited by private
investigators, business analysts and researchers.


The Net will also provide a means of sharing data among individuals and
agencies in the intelligence sector.


But given reports that more than 100,000 intrusions have been made into US
government computers in the past few weeks, spy agencies have every right
to be concerned with Internet security.


The CIA and related bureaus  such as the US Defence Intelligence Agency
and the National Security Agency plan to install a "special hardware
device" and a commercial-grade firewall to control access to their
internal files.


"The secret hardware device is usually an optical filter," said Mr Robert
Steel, the president of Open Source Solutions Inc and a
former CIA clandestine service officer. 


"It will allow files to be taken into workstations, but no information can
get back out. It permits no interactive access."


Firewalls consist of servers with restricted-access software  and routers
which determine who can be connected.


The intelligence agencies will also employ Nike net security buffers.


When files are downloaded, the buffers check for viruses, providing an
additional obstacle against tampering.


The combination of these security devices results in an Internet
intelligence communication system which is severely restricted. Outsiders
have almost no chance of getting in.


"Using `public  information  is something the CIA should have been doing
years ago," security consultant Mr William Schwartau said.


"As long as they install and administer their firewalls correctly so their
critical internal systems are disconnected from the public Internet
access, security should be okay. 


"A highly monitored and audited access system needs to be followed."


The recent CIA interest in publicly procurable data has advanced as other
sources of US intelligence have diminished.


The Internet is a much less expensive means of obtaining information than
traditionally utilised methods.


"The creation of our office (on March 1) is a recognition that open
sources are a valuable resource," Markowitz said. 


"As we draw back in some parts the world, our office provides an
information safety net."


Mr Steel estimated it would e US intelligences agencies five to 10 years
to figure out the Internet.


The CIA is a dinosaur in decline, while the Internet is the future of
civilisation," he said.