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by jstanley 3163 days ago
There exists a system that you wouldn't trust to provide a good-enough answer to the question "Does the onion service still serve the same advertisements their website and mobile app do?" ?

What do you think an untrustworthy system is doing that would make it give a not-good-enough answer?

2 comments

That's a clever question and the answer has a few parts, mostly due to the slipperiness of "trust" as a concept: I wasn't specific enough in my description of my own threat model (which makes sense, as my aim wasn't to explain the threat model but to cultivate answers from other folks). In short, I currently only have access to systems that are too costly to replace, if the site is under active attack. That's not to say that HN's comment section isn't also a risk, but it seems less of one.

I considered these actors before deciding to ask the question instead of immediately connecting directly: available computer systems, internet pipes, the NYT website, and the bevy of third party ad-services hosted through the website.

Hey, Tom. I'll be right over with my laptop that I don't care about. You still on Green St.?
Nope, I got promoted to Wall St., 5th floor! Just leave it unattended in the Blue Room, by the donuts, and I'll pick it up in a few.
Is this conversation real? I don't know what's real anymore!
%6EY YcfI Yu0` *lAS B4k< GonA 9ZZ+ 02(#
I'm reading this from a bank workstation. Let me install Tor and see how long I can test NYTimes readability before I'm escorted out the door.