The Echelon attack

Internet activists last week tried to overwhelm National Security
Agency eavesdroppers by flooding the Echelon spy system with fabricated
messages about terrorist plots and bombs.

The idea never posed a real threat to the NSA, but the electronic
protest helped raise awareness of the fact that the government is
snooping on every man, woman and child in the country through this
system.

Organizers urged Internet users to send millions of e-mails with NSA
"keywords" designed to trigger eavesdropping programs and analysis. The
idea was to flood the powerful NSA computers with enough suspicious
traffic to crash them and disrupt the mysterious high-tech listening
system.

How serious is the threat to civil liberties posed by Echelon? A 1997
report commissioned by the European Parliament described "routine and
indiscriminate" monitoring of faxes, e-mails and telephone messages
in Europe by the global spy network, which it said was coordinated by
the NSA with the help of other nations' security organizations. Rep. Bob
Barr, R-Ga., has said he supports congressional hearings to determine
the scope of the spy network's capabilities and to prevent abuses.

Dozens of websites promoted the protest by listing some of the
keywords believed to set off the Echelon trackers. But my sources tell
me the spy network is far more sophisticated than the web protesters
anticipated. It can easily filter out communications specifically
designed to set it off with random keywords. Screening software helps
the NSA ignore communications written or spoken as "bait."

Want to see a longer list than you have ever seen before? Here it is:

Explosives, guns, assassination, conspiracy, primers, detonators,
initiators, main charge, nuclear charges, ambush, sniping, motorcade,
IRS, BATF, jtf-6, mjtf, hrt, srt, hostages, munitions, weapons, TNT,
rdx, amfo, hmtd, picric acid, silver nitrite, mercury fulminate,
presidential motorcade, salt peter, charcoal, sulfur, c4, composition b,
amatol, petn, lead azide, lead styphante, ddnp, tetryl, nitrocellulose,
nitrostarch, mines, grenades, rockets, fuses, delay mechanism, mortars,
rpg7, propellants, incendiaries, incendiary device, thermite, security
forces, intelligence, agencies, hrt, resistance, psyops, infiltration,
assault team, defensive elements, evasion, detection, mission,
communications, the football, platter charge, shaped charges, m118,
claymore, body armor, charges, shrapnel, timers, timing devices,
boobytraps, detcord, pmk 40, silencers, Uzi, HK-MP5, AK-47, FAL, Jatti,
Skorpion MP, teflon bullets, cordite, napalm, law, Stingers, RPK, SOCIMI
821 SMG, STEN, BAR, MP40, HK-G3,FN-MAG, RPD,PzB39, Air Force One, M60,
RPK74, SG530, SG540, Galil arm, Walther WA2000, HK33KE, Parker-Hale MOD.
82, AKR, Ingram MAC10, M3, L34A1, Walther MPL, AKS-74, HK-GR6, subsonic
rounds, ballistic media, special forces, JFKSWC, SFOD-D, SRT, Rewson,
SAFE, Waihopai, INFOSEC, ASPIC, Information Security, SAI, Information
Warfare, IW, IS, Privacy, Information Terrorism, Kenya, Terrorism
Defensive Information, Defense Information Warfare, Offensive
Information, Offensive Information Warfare, NAIA, SAPM, ASU, ECHELON
ASTS, National Information Infrastructure, InfoSec, SAO, Reno, Compsec,
JICS, Computer Terrorism, Firewalls, Secure Internet Connections, RSP,
ISS, JDF, Passwords, NAAP, DefCon V, RSO, Hackers, Encryption, ASWS,
Espionage, USDOJ, NSA, CIA, S/Key, SSL, FBI, Secret Service, USSS,
Defcon, Military, White House, Undercover, NCCS, Mayfly, PGP, SALDV,
PEM, resta, RSA, Perl-RSA, MSNBC, bet, AOL, AOL TOS, CIS, CBOT, AIMSX,
STARLAN, 3B2, BITNET, Tanzania, SAMU, COSMOS, DATTA, E911, FCIC, HTCIA,
IACIS, UT/RUS, JANET, ram, JICC, ReMOB, LEETAC, UTU, VNET, BRLO, SADCC,
NSLEP, SACLANTCEN, FALN, 877, NAVELEXSYSSECENGCEN, BZ, CANSLO, CBNRC,
CIDA, JAVA, rsta, Active X, Compsec 97, RENS, LLC, DERA, JIC, rip, rb,
Wu, RDI, Mavricks, BIOL, Meta-hackers, ^?, SADT, Steve Case, Tools,
RECCEX, Telex, OTAN, monarchist, NMIC, NIOG, IDB, MID/KL, NADIS, NMI,
SEIDM, BNC, CNCIS, STEEPLEBUSH, RG, BSS, DDIS, mixmaster, BCCI, BRGE,
SARL, Military Intelligence, JICA, Scully, recondo, Flame, Infowar,
Bubba, Freeh, Archives, ISADC, CISSP, Sundevil, jack, Investigation,
JOTS, ISACA, NCSA, ASVC, spook words, RRF, 1071, Bugs Bunny, Verisign,
Secure, ASIO, Lebed, ICE, NRO, Lexis-Nexis, NSCT, SCIF, FLiR, JIC, bce,
Lacrosse, Flashbangs, HRT, IRA, EODG, DIA, USCOI, CID, BOP, FINCEN,
FLETC, NIJ, ACC, AFSPC, BMDO, site, SASSTIXS, NAVWAN, NRL, RL,
NAVWCWPNS, NSWC, USAFA, AHPCRC, ARPA, SARD, LABLINK, USACIL, SAPT, USCG,
NRC, ~, O, NSA/CSS, CDC, DOE, SAAM, FMS, HPCC, NTIS, SEL, USCODE, CISE,
SIRC, CIM, ISN, DJC, bemd, SGC, UNCPCJ, CFC, SABENA, DREO, CDA, SADRS,
DRA, SHAPE, bird dog, SACLANT, BECCA, DCJFTF, HALO, SC, TA SAS, Lander,
GSM, T Branch, AST, SAMCOMM, HAHO, FKS, 868, GCHQ, DITSA, SORT, AMEMB,
NSG, HIC, EDI, benelux, SAS, SBS, SAW, UDT, EODC, GOE, DOE, SAMF, GEO,
JRB, 3P-HV, Masuda, Forte, AT, GIGN, Exon Shell, radint, MB, CQB, CONUS,
CTU, RCMP, GRU, SASR, GSG-9, 22nd SAS, GEOS, EADA, SART, BBE, STEP,
Echelon, Dictionary, MD2, MD4, MDA, diwn, 747, ASIC, 777, RDI, 767, MI5,
737, MI6, 757, Kh-11, EODN, SHS, ^X, Shayet-13, SADMS, Spetznaz, Recce,
707, CIO, NOCS, Halcon, NSS, Duress, RAID, Uziel, wojo, Psyops, SASCOM,
grom, NSIRL, D-11, SERT, VIP, ARC, S.E.T. Team, NSWG, MP5k, SATKA, DREC,
DEVGRP, DF, DSD, FDM, GRU, LRTS, SIGDEV, NACSI, MEU/SOC,PSAC, PTT, RFI,
ZL31, SIGDASYS, TDM, SUKLO, SUSLO, TELINT, fake, TEXTA, ELF, LF, MF,
SIGS, VHF, Recon, peapod, PA598D28, Spall, dort, 50MZ, 11Emc Choe,
SATCOMA, UHF, SHF, ASIO, SASP, WANK, Colonel, domestic disruption, 5ESS,
smuggle, Z-200, 15kg, DUVDEVAN, RFX, nitrate, OIR, Pretoria, M-14,
enigma, Bletchley Park, Clandestine, NSO, nkvd, argus, afsatcom, CQB,
NVD, Counter Terrorism Security, SARA, Rapid Reaction, JSOFC3IP,
Corporate Security, Police, sniper, PPS, ASIS, ASLET, TSCM, Security
Consulting, M-x spook, Z-150T, High Security, Security Evaluation,
Electronic Surveillance, MI-17, ISR, NSAS, Counterterrorism, real,
spies, IWO, eavesdropping, debugging, CCSS, interception, COCOT, NACSI,
rhost, rhosts, ASO, SETA, Amherst, Broadside, Capricorn, NAVCM, Gamma,
Gorizont, Guppy, NSS, rita, ISSO, submiss, ASDIC, .tc, 2EME REP, FID,
7NL SBS, tekka, captain, 226, .45, nonac, .li, Ionosphere, Mole,
Keyhole, NABS, Kilderkin, Artichoke, Badger, Emerson, Tzvrif, SDIS,
T2S2, STTC, DNR, NADDIS, NFLIS, CFD, quarter, Cornflower, Daisy, Egret,
Iris, JSOTF, Hollyhock, Jasmine, Juile, Vinnell, B.D.M., Sphinx,
Stephanie, Reflection, Spoke, Talent, Trump, FX, FXR, IMF, POCSAG,
rusers, Covert Video, Intiso, r00t, lock picking, Beyond Hope, LASINT,
csystems, .tm, passwd, 2600 Magazine, JUWTF, Competitor, EO, Chan,
Pathfinders, SEAL Team 3, JTF, Nash, ISSAA, B61-11, Alouette, executive,
Event Security, Mace, Cap-Stun, stakeout, ninja, ASIS, ISA, EOD, Oscor,
Merlin, NTT, SL-1, Rolm, TIE, Tie-fighter, PBX, SLI, NTT, MSCJ, MIT, 69,
RIT, Time, MSEE, Cable & Wireless, CSE, SUW, J2, Embassy, ETA, Fax,
finks, Fax encryption, white noise, Fernspah, MYK, GAFE, forcast,
import, rain, tiger, buzzer, N9, pink noise, CRA, M.P.R.I., top secret,
Mossberg, 50BMG, Macintosh Security, Macintosh Internet Security, OC3,
Macintosh Firewalls, Unix Security, VIP Protection, SIG, sweep, Medco,
TRD, TDR, Z, sweeping, SURSAT, 5926, TELINT, Audiotel, Harvard, 1080H,
SWS, Asset, Satellite imagery, force, NAIAG, Cypherpunks, NARF, 127,
Coderpunks, TRW, remailers, replay, redheads, RX-7, explicit, FLAME,
JTF-6, AVN, ISSSP, Anonymous, W, Sex, chaining, codes, Nuclear, 20,
subversives, SLIP, toad, fish, data havens, unix, c, a, b, d, SUBACS,
the, Elvis, quiche, DES, 1*, NATIA, NATOA, sneakers, UXO, (), OC-12,
counterintelligence, Shaldag, sport, NASA, TWA, DT, gtegsc, owhere, .ch,
hope, emc, industrial espionage, SUPIR, PI, TSCI, spookwords, industrial
intelligence, H.N.P., SUAEWICS, Juiliett Class Submarine, Locks, qrss,
loch, 64 Vauxhall Cross, Ingram Mac-10, wwics, sigvoice, ssa, E.O.D.,
SEMTEX, penrep, racal, OTP, OSS, Siemens, RPC, Met, CIA-DST, INI,
watchers, keebler, contacts, Blowpipe, BTM, CCS, GSA, Kilo Class, squib,
primacord, RSP, Z7, Becker, Nerd, fangs, Austin, no|d, Comirex, GPMG,
Speakeasy, humint, GEODSS, SORO, M5, BROMURE, ANC, zone, SBI, DSS,
S.A.I.C., Minox, Keyhole, SAR, Rand Corporation, Starr, Wackenhutt, EO,
burhop,
Wackendude, mol, Shelton, 2E781, F-22, 2010, JCET, cocaine, Vale, IG,
Kosovo, Dake, 36,800, Hillal, Pesec, Hindawi, GGL, NAICC, CTU, botux,
Virii, CCC, ISPE, CCSC, Scud, SecDef, Magdeyev, VOA, Kosiura, Small
Pox, Tajik, +=, Blacklisted 411, TRDL, Internet Underground, BX, XS4ALL,
wetsu, muezzin, Retinal Fetish, WIR, Fetish, FCA, Yobie, forschung, emm,
ANZUS, Reprieve, NZC-332, edition, cards, mania, 701, CTP, CATO, Phon-e,
Chicago Posse, NSDM, l0ck, spook, keywords, QRR, PLA, TDYC, W3, CUD,
CdC, Weekly World News, Zen, World Domination, Dead, GRU, M72750, Salsa,
7, Blowfish, Gorelick, Glock, Ft. Meade, NSWT, press-release, WISDIM,
burned, Indigo, wire transfer, e-cash, Bubba the Love Sponge, Enforcers,
Digicash, zip, SWAT, Ortega, PPP, NACSE, crypto-anarchy, AT&T, SGI, SUN,
MCI, Blacknet, ISM, JCE, Middleman, KLM, Blackbird, NSV, GQ360, X400,
Texas, jihad, SDI, BRIGAND, Uzi, Fort Meade, *&, gchq.gov.uk,
supercomputer, bullion, 3, NTTC, Blackmednet, :, Propaganda, ABC,
Satellite phones, IWIS, Planet-1, ISTA, rs9512c, South Africa, Sergeyev,
Montenegro, Toeffler, Rebollo, sorot, cryptanalysis, nuclear, 52 52 N -
03 03 W, Morgan,
Canine, GEBA, INSCOM, MEMEX, Stanley, FBI, Panama, fissionable, Sears
Tower, NORAD, Delta Force, SEAL, virtual, WASS, WID, Dolch, secure
shell, screws, Black-Ops, O/S, Area51, SABC, basement, ISWG, $ @,
data-haven, NSDD, black-bag, rack, TEMPEST, Goodwin, rebels, ID, MD5,
IDEA, garbage, market, beef, Stego, ISAF, unclassified, Sayeret
Tzanhanim, PARASAR, Gripan, pirg, curly, Taiwan, guest, utopia, NSG,
orthodox, CCSQ, Alica, SHA, Global, gorilla, Bob, UNSCOM, Fukuyama,
Manfurov, Kvashnin, Marx, Abdurahmon, snullen, Pseudonyms, MITM, NARF,
Gray Data, VLSI, mega, Leitrim, Yakima, NSES, Sugar Grove, WAS, Cowboy,
Gist, 8182, Gatt, Platform, 1911, Geraldton, UKUSA, veggie, XM, Parvus,
NAVSVS, 3848, Morwenstow, Consul, Oratory, Pine Gap, Menwith, Mantis,
DSD, BVD, 1984, blow out, BUDS, WQC, Flintlock, PABX, Electron, Chicago
Crust, e95, DDR&E, 3M, KEDO, iButton, R1, erco, Toffler, FAS, RHL, K3,
Visa/BCC, SNT, Ceridian, STE, condor, CipherTAC-2000, Etacs, Shipiro,
ssor, piz, fritz, KY, 32, Edens,
Kiwis, Kamumaruha, DODIG, Firefly, HRM, Albright, Bellcore, rail, csim,
NMS, 2c, FIPS140-1, CAVE, E-Bomb, CDMA, Fortezza, 355ml, ISSC,
cybercash, NAWAS, government, NSY, hate, speedbump, joe, illuminati,
BOSS, Kourou, Misawa, Morse, HF, P415, ladylove, filofax, Gulf, lamma,
Unit 5707, Sayeret Mat'Kal, Unit 669, Sayeret Golani, Lanceros,
Summercon, NSADS, president, ISFR, freedom, ISSO, walburn, Defcon VI,
DC6, Larson, P99, HERF pipe-bomb, 2.3 Oz., cocaine, $, impact, Roswell,
ESN, COS, E.T., credit card, b9, fraud, ST1, assassinate, virus, ISCS,
ISPR, anarchy, rogue, mailbomb, 888,
Chelsea, 1997, Whitewater, MOD, York, plutonium, William Gates, clone,
BATF, SGDN, Nike, WWSV, Atlas, IWWSVCS, Delta, TWA, Kiwi, PGP 2.6.2.,
PGP 5.0i, PGP 5.1, siliconpimp, SASSTIXS, IWG, Lynch, 414, Face, Pixar,
IRIDF, NSRB, eternity server, Skytel, Yukon, Templeton, Johohonbu, LUK,
Cohiba, Soros, Standford, niche, ISEP, ISEC, 51, H&K, USP, ^, sardine,
bank, EUB, USP, PCS, NRO, Red Cell, NSOF, Glock 26, snuffle, Patel,
package, ISI, INR, INS, IRS, GRU, RUOP, GSS, NSP, SRI, Ronco, Armani,
BOSS, Chobetsu, FBIS, BND, SISDE, FSB, BfV, IB, froglegs, JITEM, SADF,
advise, TUSA, LITE, PKK, HoHoCon, SISMI, ISG, FIS, MSW, Spyderco, UOP,
SSCI, NIMA, HAMASMOIS, SVR, SIN, advisors, SAP, Monica, OAU, PFS,
Aladdin, AG, chameleon man, Hutsul, CESID, Bess, rail gun, .375,
Peering, CSC, Tangimoana Beach, Commecen, Vanuatu, Kwajalein, LHI, DRM,
GSGI, DST, MITI, JERTO, SDF, Koancho, Blenheim, Rivera, Kyudanki, varon,
310, 17, 312, NB, CBM, CTP, Sardine, SBIRS, jaws, SGDN, ADIU, DEADBEEF,
IDP, IDF, Halibut, SONANGOL, Flu, &, Loin, PGP 5.53, meta, Faber, SFPD,
EG&G, ISEP, blackjack, Fox, Aum, AIEWS, AMW, RHL, Baranyi, WORM,
MP5K-SD, 1071, WINGS, cdi, VIA, DynCorp, UXO, Ti, WWSP, WID, osco, Mary,
honor,
Templar, THAAD, package, CISD, ISG, BIOLWPN, JRA, ISB, ISDS, chosen,
LBSD, van, schloss, secops, DCSS, DPSD, LIF, PRIME, SURVIAC, telex, SP4,
Analyzer, embassy, Golf, B61-7, Maple, Tokyo, ERR, SBU, Threat, JPL,
Tess, SE, EPL, SPINTCOM, ISS-ADP, Merv, Mexico, SUR, SO13, Rojdykarna,
airframe, 510, EuroFed, Avi, shelter, Crypto AG.

I know, I know. Hard to believe that such a list could be real? I
mean, if words like "Rivera" are included, every Yankee box score would
trigger an NSA alert. But, nevertheless, this is much closer to the
keyword list actually used by NSA. So, don't ask your wife to take out
the "garbage" over the phone. Don't discuss "Whitewater" with your
e-mail buddies -- unless you don't mind Big Brother listening in. And,
please, don't ask me what half this stuff means. All I know is that it
irritates the gods of government. So be careful out there.