Sunday, March 25, 2012

GPG Encryption - Attention in the details

I was working the other day, after setting up a new computer. When I noticed a strange item on the mailserver...the unencrypted copy of an encrypted message I had sent.

I realized later that it was the setting inside the mail client that had set "fcc_clear" option set. There was a simple option to deactivate it. Let me explain a bit the logic.

The reason you might wish to store a clear, plain text copy of your outgoing encrypted email, is that if the message is encrypted to a key that is _not_ yours, you won't be able to decrypt it later. So to be able to see, what you wrote in your last encrypted message to someone else, it saves a copy in the clear.

The problem then enters the room. When your message is actually being saved to a network server, it is just as subject to compromise by the forces of evil as the corporate monster. So, my point being, that you should be vigilant about the software you are using and suspicious of any new or unknown computer system.

I've personally gone to signing all of my emails with gpg both personal and professional as a point of guarantee of origin. Mobile is possible, but I'm working on the easiest/best way to manage that. I would HIGHLY recommend that everyone look to make it a part of their email life. If we get a critical mass of real people signing emails, we can start making that a receipt condition and watch the spam just stop.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Tin Foil Hat Show - Episode 020


Episode 20. My audio may sound a little worse than usual,  I may need to find the right filter mix/combo that makes that sound better.  I worry that with my usb headset now producing hum no matter what I plug into that the Android phone may become the closest thing I have to a solid piece of recording gear.  Maybe will all of my google ad sense money ($0.00) I'll buy a fancy usb mixer.   Anyway, It's clean audio, it just finally started picking up the echo I have in my office where I record.  I'll work on the post production to see if I can help that.


This episode's Podcast review was for Democracy Now.  A liberal, but professional news report weekdays for an hour.  Video and audio feeds available.  I personally feel that getting a different view on the same story, or a chance to hear the voices that don't make it to the main stream media is helpful in analyzing a situation.  

The new episode should be in your favorite podcatcher for download already. If you haven't added me to your podcatcher software, please add the RSS feed on the right.

The podcast is also available to play directly online at the Fuzion Podcast Network.

For the instructions to get the show notes please see the instructions as posted in the post from the first episode. These instructions haven't changed.

Feedback as always is welcome, tinfoilhatshow@gmail.com or you can contact me by any of the other methods listed here on this blog. Please remember that the show is very new and still settling in, but constructive criticisms are always appreciated.

Enjoy and please do send me feedback and corrections, it can only make the show better. A permanent link to the show's rss feed is listed on the right side of the blog.

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CafeNinja
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