In a recent hearing on Capitol Hill, lawmakers asked dozens of providers if they had used deep packet inspection and most said they had not.

Some facts:

1. 6,499,697,060 internet users as of 2006 (Pretty tough task to monitor everyone)
2. Our Homeland Security was physically hacked (Big Brother is just as vulnerable)
3. Proxies provide better privacy
4. Most ISP’s don’t perform deep packet inspection

We should all try to surf the Web without paranoia, if anyone was tracking my usage, they’d probably think I’m on technical war path gathering up as much tech news as I can. I have no issue with deep packet inspection. I would only ask that the ISP would let us know when they plan on implementing this and an option to opt-out.

Browse away all, and don’t worry about Big Brother, they have bigger fish to fry than us internet users.

The report detailed “plausible” scenarios including hacker terrorist groups taking over our national networks that control aviation and flight paths, making September 11th (or 9/11 if you’re trendy) of 2001 seem like a practical joke.

In the interests of “national security” the DHS wants stricter and tighter control of all government computer systems and more free reign to tap into private sector networks at will, without a warrant. Of course, they want to reassure that all of our “freedoms” will still be in tact.

It’s also no surprise that the NSA will have a heavy hand in this initiative, making sure that no stone goes unmonitored.

The stereotype goes that most IT people are anti-”Big Brother” and very protective of their privacy and personal data when it comes to anyone, much less the government. Other people say “If you’re not doing anything you aren’t supposed to be doing, you have nothing to worry about.”

What’s your opinion on the prospect of the National CyberSecurity Initiative? Post your feelings about “Big Brother,” the “Spooks,” and the NSA and your privacy in the comments.

-The Raging Tech