Blockchain and Networking

Tue Jan 23 20:39:12 UTC 2018

On 2018-01-23 08:17, Jimmy Hess wrote:

> The promise of blockchain is fraud-resistant recordkeeping, database
> management,  AND
> resource management maintained by a distributed decentralized network which
> eliminates or reduces the extent to which there are central points of trust
> involved in
> the recordkeeping,

Current distributed "block chain" systems are architecturally insecure,
but with the requirement of computationally intensive "proof of work",
reduce risk of someone succesfully tampering a block to near 0.

However, to put things in perspective: Hydro Québec recently revealed
that it was not interested in "bitcoin mining" operations in Québec
which consume inordinate amount of power without producing anything of
value.

> Under the current system,  they retain an Unwarranted level of trust,  for
> example:  ARIN  Could  Delete an IP address allocation or an AS number
> allocation  after it was assigned,    because  someone else told them to,

A recent case in Canada had the supreme court order Google to remove a
domain name from worldwide searches (so extra territorial court powers).

(rogue company stole product design freom real company, refused to
appear in court, so real company went to court asking Google to remove
that rogue compamy from searches).

The correct way would have been to get warrant on the registrar to take
the domain name out of the onwer's hands. Or go after the web site
provider. When the legal system starts to go after the wrong
people"/process to enforce law, you get problems.

There may be impulse to make the Internet "government proof", but this
will simply shift government actions to more inappropriate but still
avaialble methods of trying to enforce the law.

> For example:  A DNS Registrar or TLD Registry could make a change to the DS
> Key or remove
> the DS Key and confiscate a domain to intercept traffic, without even the
> permission
> of the original registrant.

Choose your registrar/regitry who will only take actiosn with valid
court orders and otherwise protect your privacy.