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Edward Snowden denies that he’s a Russian spy

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Edward Snowden said he got no help from Russia in leaking US government secrets, according to the New Yorker magazine. Snowden was responding to comments made by US lawmakers.

Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden said he acted alone in leaking U.S. government secrets and that suggestions by some U.S. lawmakers he might have had help from Russia were "absurd," the New Yorker magazine reported on Tuesday.

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In an interview the magazine said was conducted by encrypted means from Moscow, Snowden was quoted as saying, "This 'Russian spy' push is absurd."

]Snowden said he "clearly and unambiguously acted alone, with no help from anyone, much less a government," the New Yorker said. "It won't stick. ... Because it's clearly false, and the American people are smarter than politicians think they are," the publication quoted Snowden as saying.

The head of the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said on Sunday he was investigating whether Snowden had help from Russia in stealing and revealing U.S. government secrets.

"I believe there's a reason he ended up in the hands - the loving arms - of an FSB agent in Moscow. I don't think that's a coincidence," Representative Mike Rogers told NBC's "Meet the Press," referring to the Russian intelligence agency that is a successor of the Soviet-era KGB.

Rogers did not provide specific evidence to back his suggestions of Russian involvement in Snowden's activities, but said, "Some of the things we're finding we would call clues that certainly would indicate to me that he had some help."

Snowden fled the United States last year to Hong Kong and then to Russia, where he was granted at least a year of asylum. U.S. officials want him returned to the United States for prosecution. His disclosures of large numbers of stolen U.S. secret documents sparked a debate around the world about the reach of U.S. electronic surveillance.

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Edward Snowden denies that he's a Russian spy

Snowden seeks extra Russian protection after U.S. threats

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MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. secrets leaker Edward Snowden will ask Moscow for extra protection after a report U.S. civilian and military spies want him dead, his Russian lawyer said.

Two officials -- one from the Pentagon and the other a National Security Agency analyst -- were quoted by BuzzFeed as saying they wanted to kill Snowden personally.

"We are concerned with the situation around Edward. We see statements made by some U.S. officials containing potential and implicit threats to his life," Anatoly Kucherena told reporters in Moscow.

The Pentagon official, who was previously a U.S. Army Special Forces officer, was quoted in the BuzzFeed article Thursday as saying, "I would love to put a bullet in his head."

"I do not take pleasure in taking another human being's life, having to do it in uniform, but he is single-handedly the greatest traitor in American history," the official was quoted as saying.

The article, titled "America's Spies Want Edward Snowden Dead," said U.S. intelligence operators bristle at the thought of Snowden.

"In a world where I would not be restricted from killing an American, I personally would go and kill him myself," an NSA analyst told the website.

"A lot of people share this sentiment," the analyst said.

"Most everyone I talk to says he needs to be tried and hung -- forget the trial and just hang him," a U.S. defense contractor said.

An Army intelligence officer was quoted by BuzzFeed as describing how Snowden could be killed swiftly yet subtly.

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Snowden seeks extra Russian protection after U.S. threats

osalt.com – Find Open Source Alternatives to commercial …

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Today the future of internet begins - and open source is ready Companies world-wide start to embrace the new standard for communication on the internet; the Internet Protocol version 6 - also known as IPv6. IPv6 will at some point replace existing IPv4 which have been used to transport our data through the internet for more than 30 years.

The main reason to switch is that IPv4 only allows around 4 billion internet addresses. In order for one device to communicate with another on the internet each of them has to have a unique internet address (IP address). With the number of devices currently on the market - computers, smartphones, smart tvs and set-top boxes - we are already out of addresses. However, clever manipulation allows some devices to share IP addresses with other devices, but this is not an ideal situation. The sharing of addresses makes it difficult for devices to communicate freely on the internet, thus limited functionality.

IPv6 solves the IP address issue simply by introducing a new type of IP address that can handle 3.4e+38 - or 4 billion times 4 billion times 4 billion times 4 billion. It a huge number - difficult for most people to understand. But lets just assume that we will not be running out of IP address ever again.

Today (6/6/12) was been chosen by the Internet Society to mark the launch of IPv6 . IPv6 has been around for many years but the deployment very limited - and mainly used for research within companies and institutions. ISP, hosting providers and other companies on the internet have been repluctant to start offering services on IPv6, primarily because of the investment required both in hardware, software and training.

The Internet Society on the other hand has tried to initiate a movement encouraging ISP, webiste and hardware vendors to take the leap to IPv6 anyway - and thus promote their businesses by using cutting-edge technology.

Another reason why IPv6 has taken such a long time to be accepted is that it is not compatible with IPv4, even though they can exist side by side. But not being compatible means that every piece of software communicating on the internet has to be re-written to support IPv6. Luckily, a lot of software already supports IPv6 - and especially open source software. The communities around each of the open source projects have a natural interest to support new features; and many projects strive to be forerunners in these areas.

On Open Source Alternative we have tagged each open source project that supports IPv6 with an IPv6 tag - making it easy to see and search for software that supports IPv6. A list of all IPv6 enabled open source projects is available here: Open source alternatives with IPv6 support

One of the most important projects is Apache - the open source web server that hosts almost 2/3 of all websites on the internet. Apache is also the web server used by Open Source Alternative to make our website available on both IPv4 and IPv6. The software, however, gets you nowhere, unless your hosting provider also supports IPv6, which is the reason why Osalt switched to Linode VPS for great hosting and IPv6 connectivity to the internet.

On the other end of a connection to an IPv6 webserver is of course an IPv6 web browser. Again, the open source community has the answer in terms of Firefox and Google Chrome.

If you want to explore the new world of IPv6 - either check if you ISP offers IPv6 or visit http://www.tunnelbroker.net/

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Bitcoin Baron Keeps a Secretive Open Source OS Alive

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One of the worlds longest-running open source software projects will live on, thanks to a Romanian bitcoin baron.

Recently, Theo de Raadt and the other engineers who oversee the OpenBSD operating system recently were hit with a $20,000 bill for the electricity that feeds the computers on which they test this venerable piece of software, and after they revealed that the bill could bring the project down, Mircea Popescu, the Romanian who runs the online bitcoin exchange MPEx, stepped in to save them.

Its another example of the bitcoin community is working to boost the fortunes of the wider world of open source software. The software that drives bitcoin across a worldwide network of machines also is open source, and because this software shares new currency with those who help run it, the project has created a new class of very rich computer geeks. We call them the bitcoin nouveau riche, and many are sharing their money with their open source brethren.

OpenBSD isnt as widely used or as famous as Linux the open source operating system that runs vast swaths of the web and the worlds smartphones but it has been a mainstay of computing for 20 years. Its one of several open source operating systems that grew from the Unix OS in the early 1990s, and its always stood out thanks to its relentless some would say paranoid focus on security.

OpenBSD is used on servers, desktop PCs, and networking gear around the globe, but because anyone can license it for free, the nonprofit OpenBSD Foundation relies on donations to cover its significant costs, including the money needed to run test servers. Late last year, de Raadt, one of the projects founders, warned that its electricity bills could bring it down, and a number of logistical reasons prevents moving to a location that might offer cheaper space and power.

Since Edward Snowdens revelations about National Security Agency internet surveillance, OpenBSD is more relevant than ever.

Initially, de Raadt hoped to find a single sponsor company to foot the electrical bills. When that failed, the OpenBSD Foundations Bob Beck took to the mailing list to ask for fresh donations. OpenBSD will shut down if we do not have the funding to keep the lights on, he warned. Since Edward Snowdens revelations about the National Security Agencys widespread internet surveillance, OpenBSD is more relevant than ever, and it would have been a shame and then some to see it shut down. Popescu swooped in with a $20,000 donation.

Popescu is a former strategic consultant and founder of the bitcoin exchange company MPEx. Although he has been described as a billionaire, hes coy about his finances. Who knows these things? Ive never made a large hole in the ground and filled it with a billion in bills, he tells WIRED. He does say that he first jumped on the bitcoin bandwagon in 2011, and that bitcoin accounts for at least part of his wealth.

MPEx uses OpenBSD, and Popescu says he likes the OS for its clamped down, security-minded approach.

He wasnt the only one who ponied up to keep OpenBSD alive. The project received strong support from corporate donors as well. In a nutshell, we have in one week gone from being in a dire situation to having a commitment of approximately $100,000 in donations to the foundation, Beck wrote in an email posted to the OpenBSD list.

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Bitcoin Baron Keeps a Secretive Open Source OS Alive

CryptoCurrency.org

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By Tim Sampson on January 03, 2014 Its a new year, which means a its time for a new revelation from National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. This time, documents revealed by Snowden show that the NSA is devoting significant resources toward the creation of a quantum computera theoretical device that, if achieved, could give the NSA the ability to bypass virtually every type of encryption currently in existence. READ THE FULL STORY

Its been a breakout year for Bitcoin, from wild crashes and spikes to the Silk Road saga and forward-thinking brothels, not to mention continued speculation about the identity of the cryptocurrencys mysterious inventor, known only as Satoshi Nakamoto. And while many people became familiar with the Bitcoin network over the past few months, its actually been in use since Jan. 3, 2009, when the first client debuted. READ THE FULL STORY

Visit the Defense Fund , this guy is a Hero! The 29-year-old Texan is currently sitting in a Brooklyn jail, accused of being behind the Deep Web black market known as Silk Road. According to his family, hes begun to teach yoga every evening to fellow inmates. He had a book by Iyengar outlining a 300 week course and started doing it in a glassed off room they have, in an area with some rugs, according to Ulbrichts official Facebook page. He was joined by five other inmates, and the group is slowly growing. READ THE FULL STORY

by Nermin Hajdarbegovic The Bank of Lebanon, the countrys central bank, has issued a bitcoin warning, the first such warning in the region. The warning was issued on 19th December 2013 and outlines a number of risks associated with digital currencies, many of which we are all too familiar with. The Bank warns of several risks: Read the FULL story

The Bitcoin saga took an unpleasant turn this December when Chinas central bank banned financial institutions from dealing in the virtual currency. Bitcoin was enjoying a surge of popularity in the country; by the end of November, Chinese exchanges were responsible for almost two-thirds of worldwide traffic. The central banks decision sent the currency tumbling. Last week, Indian regulators joined the fray. Preferring ominous warnings to outright prohibition, the Reserve Bank of India issued a public advisory on the dangers of Bitcoin. The meaning was clear enough. Indias largest exchange was promptly shut down, and its operator raided by local authorities. READ THE FULL STORY

London, UK (PRWEB) December 31, 2013 A lot has been promised by the emergence of the virtual currency Bitcoins. Founded and launched in 2008, Bitcoins is currently being circulated and used at a high level a number which is also likely to expand in the near future thanks to the hype and availability of this digital currency. This has further led to the origination of Bitcoin trading, which one could say is an innovative version of forex trade in which the currency at one end is Bitcoin which is traded or shorted in exchange of government regulated currencies like Dollar, Euro, etc. Bitcoins traders have thus found themselves in a need to be always updated by the latest happenings in the finance sector. This is the time when the worlds leading forex news online portal ForexMinute have also expanded its services by including a new Bitcoin News section which, like its many other news section, upgrades users with the latest activities and trends related to this new digital currency. Read the Full story

BitcoiN gets 67 new e-curriences; value grows to $13 bn USD As regulatory glare intensifies on bitcoins due to possible money laundering, cyber security and other risks, over five dozen other virtual currencies have come under the scanner and include a desi version by name of laxmicoin The total value of these 67 digital currencies in circulation over internet has reached nearly $ 13 billion (over Rs. 80,000 crore), out of which bitcoin alone accounts for over $ nine billion, according to market estimates. READ THE FULL STORY

by: Danny Lee danny.lee@scmp.com Tired of bank and PayPal charges, music teacher Zou Lunlun has embraced bitcoin to accept payment from students worldwide The cost of international banking for one small Hong Kong business has become so high that it has turned to the crypto-currency bitcoin for help in a snub to the financial system. Zou Lunlun, founder of the International Academy for Musical Arts (IAMA) in North Point, is the first business to accept and receive bitcoins as an alternative payment method for her online music lessons. She introduced the service in September. READ THE FULL STORY

Bitcoin miner Milly Bitcoin has done a little citizen letter-writing, and the results should make virtual currency miners breathe a sigh of relief. Milly Bitcoins mining company Atlantic City Bitcoin last June wrote to the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) requesting an official administrative ruling on whether ACB must register as a money transfer service. FinCEN has now replied, and the answer is no. ACB requested the ruling because there has been much confusion as to whether mining and spending the proceeds constituted a money transfer service. This may seem a ridiculous question to virtual currency aficionados, but the confusion arose because some businesses dealing in virtual currencies do indeed operate as money transfer services. Mining and spending virtual currency, however, is not a transfer service. Such was the ruling by FinCEN. READ THE FULL STORY

Goldman Sachs board member M. Michele Burns is joining the board of new bitcoin payment processor Circle Internet Financial, becoming the latest representative from the worlds of big finance and investing to show an interest in digital currency. The move represents a possible greater acceptance of bitcoin in the US in the financial mainstream, at a time when other large countries are attempting to block or caution against its use. READ THE FULL STORY

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