Japanese Defense Agency Finally Decides That Staff Shouldn't Keep Nuclear Secrets On Personal Laptops In Shared Folders
from the took-'em-long-enough dept
You may recall a year and a half ago that some Japanese nuclear secrets were revealed to the world thanks to an IT contractor putting files on a personal computer that happened to have the popular Japanese file sharing app, Winny, installed. You would think that Japan would crack down on these sorts of practices, making sure that staff not be allowed to put sensitive files on personal computers or to install file sharing apps on government computers. However, instead, they just came out and publicly begged people not to use file sharing programs and to simply delete inappropriate info they might have downloaded. However, it appears that hasn't worked very well. The Japanese Defense Agency is admitting they know of at least at least 27 cases of sensitive information being exposed via Winny in the last few years -- starting not with the nuclear secrets in 2005, but fiscal data in 2002. Yes, for over four years they've known about the issue, and just now they've decided that maybe it would be a good idea to buy separate computers for Defense Agency staff, so that they don't feel the need to put confidential Agency data on their home computers. It took them this long to figure this out? Of course, the government was much faster in going after the creator of Winny and finding him guilty of helping copyright violations. Perhaps they would have been better off focusing on not revealing state secrets, rather than charging a software programmer for building a useful tool that has been misused by government employees.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Headlline
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
When the 'honor' system backfires
The tendency may have been proposing the solution that was - at face value - less costly
and
that required less bureaucracy and paperwork,
but in this case, the honor system apparently backfired.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Don't blame me!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
japan has stupid people too?
lmfao
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Low priority
Japan faces a much bigger threat from people who want to blow up Narita airport or subways.
Full-scale riots erupted in 1973, burning down many train stations in Tokyo, because passengers got fed up with the abuse of frequent strikes by railroad employees.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsJGABoziAk
In 1985, Japanese leftists simultaneously sabotaged train tracks at 33 different locations, 3274 trains were stopped.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYqsfXb_5qw
In 1970, leftists turned large stretches of Tokyo into a sea of fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOHYjhJzN3s
In 1977, leftists destroyed two newly built radar towers next to Narita, and burned the land around Narita, blocking incoming planes and killing one police officer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UHUP662Pis&NR
In 1978, leftists turned Narita airport into a sea of fire and destroyed the traffic control tower.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOHYjhJzN3s
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Low priority
And are we also supposed to believe that "stopping terrorists" of any description (be they nationals or foreigners) demands the full and complete halt to absolutely anything else the government is supposed to be doing.. like protecting their sensitive data?
Give me a break.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Low priority
Narita airport remains a smoldering political issue, and activists claiming to "stand up for the farmers" have successfully blocked its expansion. Despite Tokyo being the world's most populous metropolitan area with 35 million people, it still has only two mid-size airports at Narita and Haneda. In Japan, people are resistant to change, and are willing to put up with considerable inconveniences lasting many years to avoid rocking the boat.
If terrorists want to disrupt Tokyo, then sabotaging Narita or the subway system remains easy to do. A nuclear power plant, with its elaborate backup technologies, located in out-of-the-way places, is not worth the trouble. Terrorists have historically preferred crowded places where they can hide in the crowd.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
in their nature?
Presumably not the same crowd they're trying to blow up or gas? :)
It's strange how perceptions are distorted. I've always seen the Japanese as a highly progressive and technologically savvy nation. But I've never been there and I've only ever known one or two Japanese people.
Perhaps the issue is that at heart the Japanese are very trusting people and it would not occur to them that there was a problem with openness. Since they have been demilitarised since the war, have engaged in reconciliatory dialogue with China, and have no modern ideological enemies this homegrown disaffection is really quite minor in the scheme of things. It's something I'm sure their security police are quite well on top of.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: in their nature?
In their culture, complaining about something vs. taking action are separate issues. People whine about government corruption and crime, but no serious action is taken against it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]