The NSA looks to lure children with CryptoKids site
Posted by: Jon Ben-Mayor on 01/26/2014 07:49 AM
[
Comments
]
This has to be one of the all time scariest websites I have had the opportunity to land on - my IP address has been recorded by some deranged looking buck tooth rabbit. Even the soundbites sent shivers down my spine and my eyes looking over my shoulder.
So why in the world would "they" need such a site? Recruitment? Propaganda? All of the above? A spokesperson for NSA answers in standard fashion by explaining, "like many government agencies," the N.S.A. "has a special website for children."
"The site is designed to help children learn about cryptology and N.S.A.'s mission to defend the nation." The site complies with a policy memo from President Bill Clinton that called on all federal agencies to develop ways to educate children about government. Other alphabet agencies also have their own sites to try to educate children about their missions.
According to the NYTimes, the NSA started CryptoKids with seven characters, according to a news release in 2005, "to make researching America's cryptologic heritage and learning about N.S.A./C,S,S, fun."
In 2010, the N.S.A. added two more characters, the CyberTwins Cy and Cyndi, to educate children about “staying safe while enjoying cyberspace.”
Although the Internet is a "great" place, Cy advises children, "there are people out there who don’t have your best interests in mind — stop and think before sharing private information, especially on social networking websites."
That seems double-edged considering what we have learned from the Edward Snowden leaks; the fox is protecting the chickens - from the fox.
This is just my opinion and not necessarily the right one either, but mine nonetheless.
So why in the world would "they" need such a site? Recruitment? Propaganda? All of the above? A spokesperson for NSA answers in standard fashion by explaining, "like many government agencies," the N.S.A. "has a special website for children.""The site is designed to help children learn about cryptology and N.S.A.'s mission to defend the nation." The site complies with a policy memo from President Bill Clinton that called on all federal agencies to develop ways to educate children about government. Other alphabet agencies also have their own sites to try to educate children about their missions.
According to the NYTimes, the NSA started CryptoKids with seven characters, according to a news release in 2005, "to make researching America's cryptologic heritage and learning about N.S.A./C,S,S, fun."
In 2010, the N.S.A. added two more characters, the CyberTwins Cy and Cyndi, to educate children about “staying safe while enjoying cyberspace.”
Although the Internet is a "great" place, Cy advises children, "there are people out there who don’t have your best interests in mind — stop and think before sharing private information, especially on social networking websites."
That seems double-edged considering what we have learned from the Edward Snowden leaks; the fox is protecting the chickens - from the fox.
This is just my opinion and not necessarily the right one either, but mine nonetheless.
Comments
