So A Random Stranger Says "Hey I Got A Story For You, Just Install This Encryption System"

[KittyWampus]

And you just go right ahead an install an encryption system on your computer because some random stranger tells you he's got a story.

Doesn't say what the story is about, or indicate what his identity is in any way.

Greenwald really just does that sort of thing when random strangers contact him?

Does he send money to african princes too?

[Democracyinkind]

1. Apparently, he starts installing, then has second thoughts, and completes it later...

.. Just to be accurate. Not that that makes him appear any smarter/more cautious.

On the other hand, what's a journalist to do if he doesn't want to suck up to the NS apparatus and get his leaks through that route?

[OnyxCollie]

2. So a Presidential candidate says, "I will filibuster any bill providing retroactive immunity

to telecoms that illegally spied on US citizens."

Then he votes to do the opposite.

And then he gets elected after you voted for him, and expands the program he previously said was illegal, and you complain that someone is pointing out the error of your decision.

Are you gullible? Magic 8-Ball says, "Yes."

[KittyWampus]

3. So if someone ignores the traitor releasing sensitive classified info to Russia/China,

and wants to pretend it's just about a whistleblower… or the NSA…

Are you reality based? Magic 8-Ball says, "NO".

[Recursion]

8. My own best guess is that Greenwald had no idea the crazy he was releasing

But that's just a guess.

[ljm2002]

4. Greenwald is a well known reporter...

...investigative reporter or advocacy reporter, he is well known and will be contacted by people who want to get their story out there.

You have no way of knowing what precautions Greenwald may have taken before installing that encryption software. For example, Snowden could have provided him a link to a known site, that Greenwald could vet through a variety of sources. Often software like that comes with a hash key so you can check what you downloaded against the official copy at the site.

You're reaching here.

[frylock]

5. it's naivete, at best..

but we both know that it's more than that.

[Jarla]

6. Snowden used PGP Encryption

It's, like, one of the most widely used formats for encrypting email in the world, and several different companies sell software that use the PGP standard. See: http://www.openpgp.org/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Good_Privacy

It's like the equivalent of using https on certain web pages.

[Recursion]

7. In fairness, GPG is a well-known and well-audited system

Even if Greenwald is not a crypto geek, there's a multitude of publicly available information about the cryptosystem (including my Master's thesis).

(Just to clear up: GPG is the most popular implementation of PGP, which was mentioned upthread. PGP is the protocol; GPG is the implementation of it.)

[quinnox]

9. And Greenwald lives in Brazil too

That is another thing really bad since he is an American citizen. I guess he must hate America.

[longship]

10. Well, I already have an encryption system installed.

All I would say is: "Fine, give me your public key and I'll give you mine."

And we'd be good to go. Furthermore, I would know absolutely that any encrypted message was absolutely and positively sent from the same individual whose public key I took. And the same for him, or her, regarding the transmissions from me.

Public key crypto is awesome. And secure.

I don't use it very often any more, but I am retired and have little use for it here on DU and all I get via e-mail anymore is SPAM.

My choice is Gnu Privacy Guard. My keyring is protected by a long, random, unguessable pass phrase which is not written down anywhere. And knowing that will not help you break into it.

[datasuspect]

11. what's the big deal?

virtualize windows in a linux environment and you can play with all kinds of shit.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

12. the pseudo experts here are hilarious

especially the way they delight in their ostentatious celebratory display of it.