threat-modeling

In this chapter, Julia Angwin explores the challenge of maintaining privacy in a world of pervasive surveillance by developing a personal threat model. She reflects on the trade-offs involved in security, the importance of correctly identifying adversaries, and the practical difficulties of protecting herself and her family from indiscriminate tracking and targeted attacks on journalists. Angwin candidly assesses her own vulnerabilities and strengths, and contemplates the extreme measures suggested by privacy experts, ultimately questioning how far one can realistically go to evade surveillance.

Chapter 5 of "Dragnet Nation" explores the concept of threat modeling within computer security and surveillance contexts, illustrating how government agencies like the FBI and NSA track individuals through digital footprints. It discusses legal frameworks, surveillance practices, and real-world cases such as the Unabomber and espionage prosecutions, highlighting the challenges of privacy and security in an era of pervasive monitoring. The chapter also references expert opinions and legal statutes to underscore the complexity of protecting personal information against state and technological threats.