• news
  • SUNDAY JANUARY 1 2006 8:50 PM

NSA Bakes Cookies That Last Until 2035

Submitted by Aya

Edited by Shal

Looks like that turkeys weren't the only thing in Washington ovens this past Christmas season, as the National Security Agency has been busy making cookies to place on the computers of visitors to the agency's website.

This is in spite of strict federal rules banning most cookies.

Until Tuesday, the NSA site created two cookie files that do not expire until 2035 - likely beyond the life of any computer in use today.

Don Weber, an NSA spokesman, said in a statement Wednesday that the cookie use resulted from a recent software upgrade. Normally, the site uses temporary, permissible cookies that are automatically deleted when users close their Web browsers, he said, but the software in use shipped with persistent cookies already on.


It wasn't until a privacy activist complained catalyzing media inqueries that the cookies were removed.

"After being tipped to the issue, we immediately disabled the cookies," he said.


Tough cookies, NSA.

  • PERMALINK
  • PRINT
  • Digg This
  • Email To A Friend
 
Comments
SirLoins

sirloins

Huntington Beach, CA
October 2005

JAN 01, 2006 08:59 PM

Zoinks! Now I gotta warn my sister. She's still using the same computer she got in '96 and will most likely still be using it in 2035.

BlastProcessing

BlastProcessing

USA
OLD SKOOL

JAN 01, 2006 10:06 PM

I accidentally stabbed a bunch of people the other day, too. I didn't think the knife came with a blade already installed. Silly me.

silicon

silicon

Wallington, NJ
December 2003

JAN 02, 2006 12:35 AM

Shoes.

s5

s5

San Francisco, CA
OLD SKOOL

JAN 02, 2006 12:44 AM

I bet the real expiration date is 2037, not 2035. And the date was chosen not to be evil, but because December 31st, 2037 is the end of UNIX time. Sounds like laziness rather than conspiracy.

MrSmutty

mrsmutty

Victoria, BC
December 2004

JAN 02, 2006 01:23 AM

OH MY GOD THIS IS... oh, um, so... erm... it's a cookie.

In other news, privacy advocates exposed as attention whores!

joekuma

joekuma

The Pas, MB
August 2005

JAN 02, 2006 06:29 AM

am i the only one who for a second thought they ment they meant cookies... like oreos?

joekuma

joekuma

The Pas, MB
August 2005

JAN 02, 2006 06:29 AM

am i the only one who for a second thought they ment they meant cookies... like oreos?

apesamongus

apesamongus

Atlanta, GA
July 2002

JAN 02, 2006 06:55 AM

MrSmutty said:
OH MY GOD THIS IS... oh, um, so... erm... it's a cookie.

In other news, privacy advocates exposed as attention whores!



But, damnit, I must now spend 1/4 of a second of my life to delete them. How am I ever going to get that back?

MrSmutty

mrsmutty

Victoria, BC
December 2004

JAN 02, 2006 09:53 AM

Well, that is one way to think about it. But it is likely that they have a team of web people, and that cookies and other web related things are their goddamned jobs. wink Just saying.

I put cookies in sites I build to allow for customizable UI, and persistant login details, and to control the worlds oil reserves. Standard web practices, dontchaknow! Also, to look at your wife. Or daughter. And snoop through your phone bills. And eat your leftovers.

Cookies truely are remarkable.

Cash

Cash

USA
OLD SKOOL

JAN 02, 2006 10:01 AM

One time...I ate a brownie that made me want to party like it was 1999.

MrSmutty

mrsmutty

Victoria, BC
December 2004

JAN 02, 2006 10:16 AM

Man, in 1999, I did *everything* like it was 1999.

And this relates to this article because, well, I thought the hysteria over cookies died out by 1999.

MightyTick

MightyTick

Albany, NY
December 2005

JAN 02, 2006 11:35 PM

Tough cookies.... *groan*

Vaux

Vaux

I'm lost
January 2008

JAN 02, 2006 11:38 PM

Oh wow...their webpage really does have a kids section! That's actually kinda cool!

featured interviews