Bruce Schneier

 
 

Schneier on Security

A blog covering security and security technology.

« Laptop with Trusted Traveler Identities Stolen | Main | Security Idiocy Story »

August 6, 2008

NSA Forms

They're all here:

Via a Freedom of Information Act request (which involved paying $700 and waiting almost 4 years), The Memory Hole has obtained blank copies of most forms used by the National Security Agency.

Most are not very interesting, but I agree with Russ Kick:

They range from the exotic to the pedestrian, but even the most prosaic form shines some light into the workings of No Such Agency.

Posted on August 6, 2008 at 7:26 AM23 CommentsView Blog Reactions

To receive these entries once a month by e-mail, sign up for the Crypto-Gram Newsletter.

Comments

I like the purpose of TheMemoryHole.org:

"The Memory Hole exists to preserve and spread material that is in danger of being lost, is hard to find, or is not widely known. [...] The emphasis is on material that exposes things that we’re not supposed to know (or that we’re supposed to forget)."

(from the About page)

Posted by: D0R at August 6, 2008 8:21 AM


And it's... gone....

Posted by: Gimpo at August 6, 2008 8:41 AM


Yup, it's been Schneierdotted.

Posted by: Moi at August 6, 2008 8:45 AM


I'd rather think NSA sent some spook shut the site down and have a little talk with Russ!

Posted by: D0R at August 6, 2008 9:07 AM


Great, Bruce, your DDoS-Attack against TheMemoryHole.org is a full success! ;-)

For everyone who lags patience, here is a .zip with the 3 .pdf files:

http://www.mediafire.com/?dygggxfwtgl

Posted by: Redfox at August 6, 2008 9:16 AM


Can we trust this much power in the hands of a single individual?

Posted by: Andrew at August 6, 2008 10:02 AM



Does NSA stand for No Strings Attached.... as in....

Posted by: A at August 6, 2008 10:05 AM


Bruced :(

Posted by: anonymous at August 6, 2008 10:06 AM


Hmmm -still gone!

Posted by: Jo at August 6, 2008 10:56 AM


"Bruced :("

No, Redacted.

;)

Posted by: MEP at August 6, 2008 10:57 AM


You should try getting hold of a TSA complaint form some day...

Posted by: Anonymous at August 6, 2008 11:02 AM


To call these forms "boring" or a "waste of time" is perhaps the biggest understatement of the day.

Posted by: Angel one at August 6, 2008 11:10 AM


Angel one - you mean, in that they are neither boring nor a wast of time?

Posted by: dragonfrog at August 6, 2008 11:11 AM


Thanks, Redfox!

Posted by: Anonymous at August 6, 2008 11:32 AM


@Angel One

Seconded, for sure. These are about as revealing/interesting as reading my 1040 tax forms. What a waste of $700.00...

Posted by: Anonymous at August 6, 2008 11:40 AM


@Angel One

I, for one, found some of them interesting. There are some tidbits to be had. If nothing else, various terms and acronyms used, and the redactions are interesting.

Posted by: Look carefully at August 6, 2008 12:48 PM


If you found them interesting then don't let me stop you from enjoying yourself. I'll be outside watching the grass grow.

Posted by: Angel one at August 6, 2008 1:00 PM


Someone has to send Russ Kick an T-Shirt with the inscription:

"I spend 700 Bucks and waited 4 years to get some confidential files from the NSA via the Freedom of Information Act... and all i got was a bunch of boring froms"

P.S.: Site is up again.

Posted by: Redfox at August 6, 2008 1:16 PM


Well, more important than the PDFs they obtained and the information that can be garnered from it, The Freedom of Information Act is being excersized (I can't spell it because I don't do it that often ;-)).

It's one thing to have legislation, its another to have legislation be in effect.

Nobody found the checkbox stuff interesting? How much information they want to collect about the mental health and stability of your children (for example)?

Posted by: Ross Snider at August 6, 2008 2:07 PM


I found the physical security forms fascinating and informative. Grist for future classes, certainly.

Posted by: Andrew at August 6, 2008 2:38 PM


"Have you ever been treated by a mental health professional?"

Yes -> Goodbye.
No -> Liar.

Posted by: ADHD at August 6, 2008 4:22 PM


Whàt thệ hếck wás thảt? (Spắm, I'đ bệt!)

Posted by: Dave Aronson at August 7, 2008 8:33 AM


- Board of Confusion
The fabulous cryptome.org pointed at them before...
Inded exotic thoses forms. Print them. They do a great wallpaper!

Posted by: ZaD MoFo at August 7, 2008 12:06 PM


Post a comment



Real names aren't required, but please give us something to call you. Conversations among several people called "Anonymous" get too confusing.



E-mail is optional and will not be displayed on the site.


Remember Me?


Powered by Movable Type. Photo at top by Steve Woit.

Schneier.com is a personal website. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of BT.

 
Bruce Schneier