[ale] Cablemodem problems, considering DSL - OT response to OT comments

[Bob Toxen]

The Internet is NOT "open air".  My email over this wired network is
technically almost identical to the phone network (with many components
being identical) and legally is similar.

Our Constitutional right protecting us against unreasonable searches
does include our paper mail, homes, vehicles, person, and our non-public
electronic communications and hardware.  (Btw, if a policeman or similar
ever asks for permission to search your car, home, or person the answer
almost always be should "I do not give consent to a search". Taking
a breathalyzer test or tolerating a "pad down" for weapons during a
traffic stop almost always is the only exception.)

Virtually all Internet traffic does not go over any DOD or other guvment
(sic) equipment; its almost all private vendors to the end users,
similar to the phone system.

Bob Toxen
bob at verysecurelinux.com               [Please use for email to me]
http://www.verysecurelinux.com        [Network&Linux security consulting]
http://www.realworldlinuxsecurity.com [My book:"Real World Linux Security 2/e"]
Quality spam and virus filters.
Quality Linux & UNIX security and SysAdmin & software consulting since 1990.

"Microsoft: Unsafe at any clock speed!"
   -- Bob Toxen 10/03/2002

On Tue, Jan 22, 2008 at 09:36:26AM -0500, Horwitz International, LLC wrote:
> I don't get what the big "conspiracy" theorists among you are on about.
> 
> The internet is like a large open air broadcasting podium - if you want
> privacy, don't use it and print a letter, pay for a stamp. You will be
> "entitled" to some measure of privacy graciously given to you by our ever
> loving federal government / extortion organization!
> 
> Also, don't forget, the DOD developed and paid for the internet with our tax
> $$ making it public domain and not your private secure communications
> highway! Once you hit send, your email becomes public - assume that and
> you'll be ok...
> 
> Roland Horwitz.
> Horwitz International, LLC
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of Jeff
> Lightner
> Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 8:52 AM
> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
> Subject: RE: [ale] Cablemodem problems,considering DSL - OT response to OT
> comments
> 
> You're incorrect about the libraries.  This was successfully challenged
> in court by a group of Librarians and overturned as being too broad in
> its scope.
> 
> You're also incorrect about the no warrant stuff for telecom.   The
> courts concluded that it was a violation of the law to do what was done.
> Congress has been trying to work out a deal to allow for making the
> spying "legal" and the main sticking point is that the administration is
> insisting on a section preventing people from suing the telecoms for
> what was done when it was illegal.  Not that it matters much - the one
> lawsuit regarding the spying was thrown out because the plaintiffs
> couldn't prove THEY specifically were spied on and government security
> allowed them to prevent Freedom of Information Act requests to determine
> who was.  Nice catch 22 there.
> 
> Awful Telephone & Telegraph may get away with it on a legal basis but
> there's no reason for citizens to forget who is in collusion with big
> brother.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of Jim
> Lynch
> Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 8:37 AM
> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
> Subject: Re: [ale] Cablemodem problems, considering DSL
> 
> Ken Cochran wrote:
> > Summary, 2 questions:
> >
> > 1.  What's wrong with my cablemodem Internet service?
> >
> > 2.  Would the better choice for DSL be ATT/Bellsouth or HiWaay?
> >   
> Can't comment on the first.
> 
> I'm one of the few here that have had good luck with BS/ATT dsl.  
> Outages are very rare, only 2 or 3 in 4 years.  They do block port 25, 
> but I can live with that.  Once in a great while their mail server go 
> unavailable for a period of time, maybe once every 6 months.  I suspect 
> that by now the Feds have figured out how to ask for no warrant taps 
> from anyone and require that they keep their mouths shut.  I know that's
> 
> what has happened when they go to libraries.  The libraries are 
> prohibited from ever divulging the  fact the feds asked for anything and
> 
> they cannot appeal to any court.  In fact just telling a lawyer about 
> the situation will get you jail time.  So I'm sure they have figured out
> 
> how to apply that same law to wiretaps. 
> 
> Anyway back to ATT service.  The only major outage I had was when my 
> original Modem died.  They wanted $100 for a new one and when I 
> suggested to the fellow on the phone that I'd sign a 1 year service 
> agreement if they'd toss it in for free, he sent it to be for free but I
> 
> never saw any agreement. 
> 
> I've never been a big fan of BS or ATT 'cause their service overall is 
> pretty shabby but they seemed to have gotten DSL right, at least on this
> 
> end of town.
> 
> Jim
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> ----------------------------------
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail may contain privileged or confidential
> information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are
> not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of
> the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you
> have received this electronic transmission in error, please reply
> immediately to the sender that you have received the message in error, and
> delete it. Thank you.
> ----------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale