Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By The Sleuth ​Journal
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

CryptoSeal: Another One Bites The Dust

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


San Francisco-based CryptoSeal, a provider of virtual private networks that can be used to browse the Internet anonymously, has closed its doors to users of its private VPN service. In a statement posted online, CryptoSeal announced that a key factor in the closure was the government’s recently revealed attempt to force email provider Lavabit to turn over its private encryption keys. Lavabit shut down in August as part of an effort to resist a surveillance demand believed to involve NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden, who was a Lavabit customer. Lavabit was ordered to turn over its master encryption keys in a way that could have potentially compromised thousands of users’ private data.

In an email interview Tuesday, CryptoSeal co-founder Ryan Lackey told me that the company had not received any similar government order. Rather, he decided to take pre-emptive action after reading court documents in the Lavabit case showing the government’s aggressive surveillance tactics related to so-called “pen-register” law. Pen-register orders are used to gather metadata about a communication, such as the “to” and “from” fields in an email but not the actual content. Lavabit was served with a pen register order believed to be seeking information about Snowden’s email account—but the company’s encrypted systems meant that it  could not immediately turn over the data demanded. This frustrated the feds and led them to seek a sweeping warrant demanding that Lavabit instead turn over the encryption keys. In response, Lavabit’s founder chose to shut down his website as he felt that the demand was unlawful and would have forced him to commit “massive commercial fraud.”

Thirty-four-year-old Lackey says he was comfortable with the pen-register legal standard as he previously understood it—but that has now changed. “The post-Lavabit interpretation of a pen register order being enough to compel complete turnover of the service, if that’s the most effective way for USG to get pen register data, is terrifying,” he says.

Other companies offering secure communications agree. The government’s handling of Lavabit also prompted Silent Circle to pre-emptively shut down its encrypted email service, leading to a mounting standoff between the government and sections of the American tech industry. But as the latest company to call out the feds’ snooping methods, CryptoSeal doesn’t appear to have taken the decision lightly. In fact, according to the CryptoSeal’s website, Lackey is more familiar with being an ally, not an opponent, of the U.S. government. He has done contract work for the U.S. Army, the website says, and also helped set up a satellite network serving the U.S. and coalition governments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

CryptoSeal is still offering VPNs to users of its business service because, according to Lackey, the government “already has the unilateral right to inspect traffic at any time” in the field of regulated industries. In addition, he says, system administrators at companies using VPNs want to monitor their traffic for antivirus and other malicious activity. But private users of CryptoSeal, of which Lackey says there were fewer than 1,000, will have to seek new VPN providers as the company feels it can no longer offer them a secure service. CryptoSeal is planning to work on a way to implement new technical measures that will notify its private VPN users if changes are made to configuration—giving them a heads up if there was a Lavabit-style court order in place, for instance. But the changes aren’t expected until mid- to late-2014.

“Until then,” says Lackey, “we recommend individuals use offshore services.”

The article CryptoSeal: Another One Bites The Dust published by TheSleuthJournal – Real News Without Synthetics


Source: http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/cryptoseal-another-one-bites-dust/


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.