The latest round of Snowden leaks reveals efforts by the NSA and GCHQ to collect information on online gaming:
Spooks in the guild? Intelligence collection and online gaming (http://paxsims.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/spooks-in-the-guild-intelligence-collection-and-online-gaming/) (PAXsims)
Spy agencies in covert push to infiltrate virtual world of online gaming (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/09/nsa-spies-online-games-world-warcraft-second-life) (The Guardian)
Spies’ Dragnet Reaches a Playing Field of Elves and Trolls (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/world/spies-dragnet-reaches-a-playing-field-of-elves-and-trolls.html?_r=1&) (New York Times)
World of Spycraft: NSA and CIA Spied in Online Games (http://www.propublica.org/article/world-of-spycraft-intelligence-agencies-spied-in-online-games) (ProPublica)
Maybe I can get the NSA guys to form a guild with me in SWTOR.
Yes, but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Show of hands, how many spooks are on the forum?
OK, I admit it. I made this whole thing up to spy on you guys. Because everyone knows that Civ V is secretly a game about taking over the real world.
Quote from: Mr. Bigglesworth on December 09, 2013, 02:30:12 PM
Show of hands, how many spooks are on the forum?
points to MikeGER.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on December 09, 2013, 02:35:52 PM
Quote from: Mr. Bigglesworth on December 09, 2013, 02:30:12 PM
Show of hands, how many spooks are on the forum?
points to MikeGER.
Points to Star - key operative for the Harsh Homebrew 'n' Rotgut National Independence League
Points to Undercovergeek.
Obvious really.
Quote from: bob48 on December 09, 2013, 05:43:38 PM
Points to Undercovergeek.
Obvious really.
That'd make him an ECHELON operative, aye?
I only passed on information to the NSA twice while in character playing my mmo. For some reason asking if they are interested in destroying the Death Star is considered an act of terrorism?
I'm an ex-quasi-spook, but my spooky days are long since behind me
Quote from: Bison on December 09, 2013, 07:06:16 PM
I only passed on information to the NSA twice while in character playing my mmo. For some reason asking if they are interested in destroying the Death Star is considered an act of terrorism?
Everyone knows that "leveling up" in MMOs is code for "I got another case of C4." It's a relief to know gaming channels are being thoroughly monitored.
So what is 'Leeeeeroy Jenkins!' code for?
Quote from: Staggerwing on December 09, 2013, 09:53:04 PM
So what is 'Leeeeeroy Jenkins!' code for?
Retreat - the cell has been compromised.
Quote from: LongBlade on December 09, 2013, 10:44:28 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on December 09, 2013, 09:53:04 PM
So what is 'Leeeeeroy Jenkins!' code for?
Retreat - the cell has been compromised.
aka, the wife knows you're here and she's coming to drag your drunk poker playing ass home.
On a more serious note, does it strike anyone else that there is an element of psychosis in these massive dragnets?
The discussion in the articles posted by Rex doesn't suggest any of these agencies ever found bad guys "hiding in plain sight," but they do place a lot of emphasis on speculating that it could be done.
There is also the suggestion that the weapons accuracy in FPS games is some kind of secret - as if without the Calls of Duty in the world no one would know effective ranges of rifles or pistols.
I dunno. This all strikes me as a huge logical error in inductive reasoning: the 9/11 hijackers played Microsoft Flight Sim, therefore anyone who plays MSFS needs to be monitored. There is nothing about that kind of thinking that seems healthy, reasonable, or compatible with a free society.
oh, so now you think we're living in a healthy, reasonable, compatible and free society? does your madness know no bounds sir? next you'll be claiming Canadistanians aren't just really pale Americans!
If your going to build a data base on the people that have the potential for being the most dangerous enemies of the state I guess wargammers would most likely be the logical place to start.
I would think the "My Little Pony" or "Farmville" crowd wouldn't be seen as much of a potential threat.
That is unless your waging a war on boredom.
personally Im scared shitless by GJK and his spotlight counter corner clipper!
After 9/11 a faction inside the American government decided such an event would never be allowed to happen again. And if it meant monitoring every form of communication on the planet to accomplish this goal, then so be it.
Problem is, after throwing billions of dollars into creating this intelligence apparatus, do we feel safer? We gave the intelligence community a blank check, and they developed the most advanced monitoring system in human history. Are we really surprised that the system designed to track terrorists now watches everyone on the planet for potential threats?
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.arstechnica.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F12%2Fav_nrol39_m1-640x961.jpg&hash=ab4e25cc4daf8f404e92ecb05bbaec474f01349a)
Can't say I feel much safer with the NSA spying on Americans.
I personally feel more vulnerable.
Americans shouldn't be targets of interest and I'll bet if it was put to a vote most or at least a very strong majority of a Americans would vote this out.
This is a tool that only a totalitarian government could love or want.
Our elected officials seem to be the only ones interested in keeping this program funded and running.
I doubt any potential terrorist would find me a personal target of interest.
Makes you wonder who your enemies really are!
We have lots of cameras installed in the last couple years on all the major street corners where I live too.
Makes you wonder also what the Government is actually preparing itself for.
I fear driving on the US highway system more than terrorist.
My odds of being a victim of terrorism probably are about the same as winning the Florida Lottery.
With my luck they both would happen on the same day!
Quote from: eyebiter on December 10, 2013, 09:04:51 AM
After 9/11 a faction inside the American government decided such an event would never be allowed to happen again. And if it meant monitoring every form of communication on the planet to accomplish this goal, then so be it.
Problem is, after throwing billions of dollars into creating this intelligence apparatus, do we feel safer? We gave the intelligence community a blank check, and they developed the most advanced monitoring system in human history. Are we really surprised that the system designed to track terrorists now watches everyone on the planet for potential threats?
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.arstechnica.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F12%2Fav_nrol39_m1-640x961.jpg&hash=ab4e25cc4daf8f404e92ecb05bbaec474f01349a)
I saw a news post on that the other day.
The choice of the octopus is clever. At once it suggests the sinister menace of Cthulhu, the unlimited reach of our technology, the yummy taste of octopus as a meal, and the vulnerability of the octopus to a number of natural predators. A brilliant choice, but flawed.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on December 10, 2013, 08:47:30 AM
oh, so now you think we're living in a healthy, reasonable, compatible and free society? does your madness know no bounds sir?
I know. Call me an incurable romantic in search of the American Dream. Folks like me need to be watched closely because espousing the desire to perpetuate Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness shows just how dangerous we are.
here ya go:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fllerrah.com%2Fimages%2Fthousand_marble3.jpg&hash=6bea8c526e4f98ad87be44f19665553ac6aede29)
because Im pretty sure you lost yours.
What outrages me even more is that we can throw billions of dollars at this program to spy on Americans,yet on any given night in this country we have over 50,000 veterans living homeless on the streets of this nation and who's only crime is they can't land a job.
Nice set of priorities our elected officials have here.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on December 10, 2013, 11:13:08 AM
here ya go:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fllerrah.com%2Fimages%2Fthousand_marble3.jpg&hash=6bea8c526e4f98ad87be44f19665553ac6aede29)
because Im pretty sure you lost yours.
Thanks. This time I'm going to use the Heavy Duty tinfoil. That should hold them in.
Quote from: LongBlade on December 10, 2013, 10:52:59 AM
Quote from: eyebiter on December 10, 2013, 09:04:51 AM
After 9/11 a faction inside the American government decided such an event would never be allowed to happen again. And if it meant monitoring every form of communication on the planet to accomplish this goal, then so be it.
Problem is, after throwing billions of dollars into creating this intelligence apparatus, do we feel safer? We gave the intelligence community a blank check, and they developed the most advanced monitoring system in human history. Are we really surprised that the system designed to track terrorists now watches everyone on the planet for potential threats?
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.arstechnica.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F12%2Fav_nrol39_m1-640x961.jpg&hash=ab4e25cc4daf8f404e92ecb05bbaec474f01349a)
I saw a news post on that the other day.
The choice of the octopus is clever. At once it suggests the sinister menace of Cthulhu, the unlimited reach of our technology, the yummy taste of octopus as a meal, and the vulnerability of the octopus to a number of natural predators. A brilliant choice, but flawed.
You are saying Octopus Overlords is a tool of the NSA?
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on December 10, 2013, 11:13:08 AM
here ya go:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fllerrah.com%2Fimages%2Fthousand_marble3.jpg&hash=6bea8c526e4f98ad87be44f19665553ac6aede29)
because Im pretty sure you lost yours.
LOL, I am on conference call and I had to mute my headset... good one... (fuck you star)
Quote from: Staggerwing on December 09, 2013, 09:53:04 PM
So what is 'Leeeeeroy Jenkins!' code for?
LOL - I thought you didn't play WoW?
Quote from: bob48 on December 10, 2013, 01:46:49 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on December 09, 2013, 09:53:04 PM
So what is 'Leeeeeroy Jenkins!' code for?
LOL - I thought you didn't play WoW?
He doesn't. We just gave the code word the cell has been compromised. Fall back and reorganize on the special Moonlight Online server.
Quote from: Windigo on December 10, 2013, 12:55:50 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on December 10, 2013, 11:13:08 AM
here ya go:
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fllerrah.com%2Fimages%2Fthousand_marble3.jpg&hash=6bea8c526e4f98ad87be44f19665553ac6aede29)
because Im pretty sure you lost yours.
LOL, I am on conference call and I had to mute my headset... good one... (fuck you star)
I think I've lost some of those......
if you hit marbles with a fry pan they make a cool sound... maybe thats one of the reasons the miss'us loves you BoB
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F29.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_lj11pbouxP1qhkclwo1_500.jpg&hash=08662a800f11b5659d26ea15df3023a8382b71a6)
A friend of mine is a spook and we used to play AD&D together. That must have been the earliest legs of the program 8)
Quote from: Windigo on December 10, 2013, 04:34:49 PM
if you hit marbles with a fry pan they make a cool sound... maybe thats one of the reasons the miss'us loves you BoB
Yeah. it was love at first 'Boiiinnnggg'
Quote from: bob48 on December 10, 2013, 04:57:53 PM
Quote from: Windigo on December 10, 2013, 04:34:49 PM
if you hit marbles with a fry pan they make a cool sound... maybe thats one of the reasons the miss'us loves you BoB
Yeah. it was love at first 'Boiiinnnggg'
hmmm, I thought the sound of a fry pan hitting a marble was more like a bold glassy 'tink'
Bawb's balls do not go 'tink'!
All I can say to that is, I don't want to know how you know.
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 10, 2013, 04:53:14 PM
A friend of mine is a spook and we used to play AD&D together. That must have been the earliest legs of the program 8)
He was there for the Genesis of the entire project!
Of course, Steelie was also probably there for the Genesis of the Bible, too. ;D
Quote from: Arctic Blast on December 10, 2013, 08:28:31 PM
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 10, 2013, 04:53:14 PM
A friend of mine is a spook and we used to play AD&D together. That must have been the earliest legs of the program 8)
He was there for the Genesis of the entire project!
Of course, Steelie was also probably there for the Genesis of the Bible, too. ;D
Silly boy, that was Windy! I didn't show up until well after the first century.
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 10, 2013, 09:11:38 PM
Quote from: Arctic Blast on December 10, 2013, 08:28:31 PM
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 10, 2013, 04:53:14 PM
A friend of mine is a spook and we used to play AD&D together. That must have been the earliest legs of the program 8)
He was there for the Genesis of the entire project!
Of course, Steelie was also probably there for the Genesis of the Bible, too. ;D
Silly boy, that was Windy! I didn't show up until well after the first century.
... I remember your first encounter with the burning bush.
Eli the Medicine man told you to stay away from those Leaverite girls...
Quote from: Windigo on December 11, 2013, 09:49:27 AM
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 10, 2013, 09:11:38 PM
Quote from: Arctic Blast on December 10, 2013, 08:28:31 PM
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 10, 2013, 04:53:14 PM
A friend of mine is a spook and we used to play AD&D together. That must have been the earliest legs of the program 8)
He was there for the Genesis of the entire project!
Of course, Steelie was also probably there for the Genesis of the Bible, too. ;D
Silly boy, that was Windy! I didn't show up until well after the first century.
... I remember your first encounter with the burning bush.
Eli the Medicine man told you to stay away from those Leaverite girls...
And we all know how well I listened...................... ;D
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 10, 2013, 04:53:14 PM
A friend of mine is a spook and we used to play AD&D together. That must have been the earliest legs of the program 8)
STEELIE IS THE MOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: bob48 on December 10, 2013, 04:57:53 PM
Yeah. it was love at first 'Boiiinnnggg'
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffiles.myopera.com%2Fjobothan%2Falbums%2F15970%2FBeavis.gif&hash=d3caffb40fbd7a31595405565697e2819dd7e253)
Quote from: Bison on December 11, 2013, 10:04:08 AM
Quote from: Steelgrave on December 10, 2013, 04:53:14 PM
A friend of mine is a spook and we used to play AD&D together. That must have been the earliest legs of the program 8)
STEELIE IS THE MOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Damn....outed! And I played WoW too 8)
Now that we know this or retreat to the Twilight MMO servers is foiled.
Time for Plan C: Webkinz!
Quote from: MetalDog on December 10, 2013, 07:59:38 PM
All I can say to that is, I don't want to know how you know.
Y'know, I don't want to know how he knows, either.
deep penetrating probes is my guess.
But knowing is half the battle. The other half is bad puns about it.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on December 11, 2013, 01:47:35 PM
deep penetrating probes is my guess.
Under the circumstances, not something I want to contemplate.
we can only hope no plunging fire was needed.
I'll let you know after the biopsy :(
you'll be fine and hopefully have a cute nurse hold the boys during exams.
Knowing my luck, she'll be built like a brick outhouse and have a face like a bulldog licking crap off a thistle!
Quote from: bob48 on December 11, 2013, 02:13:30 PM
Knowing my luck, she'll be built like a brick outhouse and have a face like a bulldog licking crap off a thistle!
sooooo... British, eh?
the perfect British woman!
..you want I should fix you up with one?
Quote from: bob48 on December 11, 2013, 02:19:44 PM
..you want I should fix you up with one?
Are you kidding? Star will take three!
Quote from: LongBlade on December 11, 2013, 02:27:23 PM
Quote from: bob48 on December 11, 2013, 02:19:44 PM
..you want I should fix you up with one?
Are you kidding? Star will take three!
I dunno...does his crawlspace have any more room?
thats why Aveeno is a Grogheads sponsor.
LOL! The last dozen or so posts are a perfect example of why I'll never need to go see a stand-up comedian for my daily chuckles. :D
Perhaps, but I still sense some failure in the thread.
Let's see. What is missing here?
Got it.
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icanhasinternets.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F11%2Fsexy-santa-14.jpg&hash=118e19475ce54ccaf083befb7c06eaa9a563cefe)
Bridge, Sonar... we have a thong sighting!
Torpedo in the water, bearing 008...
Das Bewbs
Quote from: bob48 on December 11, 2013, 02:19:44 PM
..you want I should fix you up with one?
ahhhhhh Bobs old pimping days - the tales he could tell
Geek - I'll get you a discount. Then you can afford a bag 'o chips up an alleyway.
'geek, surely you've spent some time in Soho in London?
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on December 11, 2013, 02:45:19 PM
thats why Aveeno is a Grogheads sponsor.
*reads Stars post* *notices it refers to post above* *reads the otherpost*
.... *blink* *blink*
total real coffee spew ... Fuck you Star! (coffee on a good shirt)
;D