Boing Boing: NSA stops using web cookies on NSA.gov after privacy protests. This after news that whitehouse.gov also drops cookies, these from a third party tracking site. Both actions are in violation of federal directives banning the use of persistent cookies.
Especially juicy quote from security consultant Richard M. Smith of Cambridge, who reportedly “questioned whether persistent cookies would even be of much use to the security agency. They are great for news sites and others with repeat visitors, Mr. Smith said, but the agency’s site does not appear to have enough fresh content to warrant more than occasional visits.” Heh.
Interesting, btw, how many times Richard M. Smith drops a choice quote for stories like these (see his comments on the DMCA and on Sony BMG). He’s becoming the Larry Sabato of computer security stories.