Cryptome Under Fire

John Young at Cryptome.org is reporting that its hosting provider decided to terminate their relationship on the basis of violating their Acceptable Use Policy :

"This notice of termination is surprising for Verio has been consistently supportive of freedom of information against those who wish to suppress it. Since 1999 Cryptome has received a number of e-mailed notices from Verio's legal department in response to complaints from a variety of parties, ranging from British intelligence to alleged copyright holders to persons angry that their vices have been exposed (see below). In every case Verio has heretofore accepted Cryptome's explanation for publishing material, and in some cases removal of the material, and service has continued. In this latest instance there was no notice received from Verio describing the violation of acceptable use to justify termination of service prior to receipt of the certified letter, thus no opportunity to understand or respond to the basis for termination."

Guess who'll be the first echo-cursing in an unnamed CavePlex? That'll be Osama Bin Laden feeling sorry for not making copies of key documents on how the U.S Coast Guard is vulnerable to TEMPEST attacks. Cutting out the sarcasm, Cryptome is an OSINT heaven, no doubt about it, but it's also an initiative debunking the entire concept that secrecy actually results in improved and sustained security on an international level.

The data collected at Cryptome would never be destroyed, mainly because it's all digital, it's all distributable, and it simply wants to be free. Thought of the day - The man who brought fire to the world got burned at the stake.