Haystack (software)
Encyclopedia
Haystack was a never-completed program intended for network traffic obfuscation
and encryption
. It was promoted as a tool to circumvent internet censorship
in Iran
. Shortly after the release of the first test version, reviewers concluded the software didn't live up to promises made about its functionality and security, and would leave its users' computers more vulnerable.
's Virtual Revolution television series featured the software in the context of attempts to bypass network blocking software in Iran. The project was composed of a single programmer, and spokesperson, Austin Heap, a software developer based in San Francisco, California
. Austin named themselves as the Censorship Research Center. Early on in the project, Heap claims to have received a manual describing Iran's filtering software, written in Persian
, from an Iranian official.
Amidst criticism from technologists, including Jacob Appelbaum
and Danny O'Brien
, on September 13, 2010, the Washington Post reported that security concerns had led to suspension of testing of Haystack. A message on the front page of the Haystack web site posted the same day confirmed the report, saying "We have halted ongoing testing of Haystack in Iran pending a security review. If you have a copy of the test program, please refrain from using it." The following day the BBC reported the same news and quoted Austin Heap of the CRC as stating that source code to the application would be released.
Afghan War Diary "Kabul War Diary" website, as it appeared on July 26, 2010. Meanwhile the WikiLeaks website itself is no longer showing the Afghan War Diary, but the recently released Iraq War Diary.
Obfuscation
Obfuscation is the hiding of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, wilfully ambiguous, and harder to interpret.- Background :Obfuscation may be used for many purposes...
and encryption
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
. It was promoted as a tool to circumvent internet censorship
Internet censorship
Internet censorship is the control or suppression of the publishing of, or access to information on the Internet. It may be carried out by governments or by private organizations either at the behest of government or on their own initiative...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Shortly after the release of the first test version, reviewers concluded the software didn't live up to promises made about its functionality and security, and would leave its users' computers more vulnerable.
History
Haystack was announced in the context of the perceived wave of Internet activism during 2009 Iranian election protests. There was a great deal of hype surrounding the Haystack project. The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Virtual Revolution television series featured the software in the context of attempts to bypass network blocking software in Iran. The project was composed of a single programmer, and spokesperson, Austin Heap, a software developer based in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Austin named themselves as the Censorship Research Center. Early on in the project, Heap claims to have received a manual describing Iran's filtering software, written in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, from an Iranian official.
Amidst criticism from technologists, including Jacob Appelbaum
Jacob Appelbaum
Jacob Appelbaum is an independent computer security researcher and hacker. He is currently employed by the University of Washington, and is a core member of the Tor project. Appelbaum is known for representing Wikileaks at the 2010 Hope conference...
and Danny O'Brien
Danny O'Brien
Danny O'Brien is an English technology journalist and civil liberties activist. He wrote weekly columns for the Sunday Times and the Irish Times; and before that for The Guardian, and acted as a consultant in helping The Guardian formulate its online strategy. He worked for the UK edition of...
, on September 13, 2010, the Washington Post reported that security concerns had led to suspension of testing of Haystack. A message on the front page of the Haystack web site posted the same day confirmed the report, saying "We have halted ongoing testing of Haystack in Iran pending a security review. If you have a copy of the test program, please refrain from using it." The following day the BBC reported the same news and quoted Austin Heap of the CRC as stating that source code to the application would be released.
Shutdown
The resignation of the only programmer on the project, Daniel Colascione, effectively ended development of the Haystack project. As of October 26, 2010, www.haystacknetwork.com is hosting a mirror of the WikiLeaksWikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
Afghan War Diary "Kabul War Diary" website, as it appeared on July 26, 2010. Meanwhile the WikiLeaks website itself is no longer showing the Afghan War Diary, but the recently released Iraq War Diary.
External links
- Haystack website defunct defunct
- Censorship Research Center defunct
- Cryptography, Iran and America: Worse than useless