[imglorp]

> The NSA routinely hoards 0-days, preferring to use them to attack foreigners rather than disclose them to protect US citizens (and others). This short-sighted policy has led to several disasters, [...] Unless they are immediately required for a specific operation, the NSA should disclose 0-days it discovers or purchases

The author too charitably positions NSA here. When one considers the hoarding of 0-days, weakening of encryption standards, wrecking trust in US businesses by forcing compliance, failing to intervene in years of breaches, and many other malicious activities, it soundly refutes any claim of concern for protecting the country. How many billions has this cost in business terms, on top of the billions they're paid for the privilege?

So if defense isn't their actual mission, maybe it's actually population control.

https://reason.com/2014/07/11/total-population-control-is-ns...