The National Security Agency has access to the world ’s most unbelievably advanced undercover agent technology . But did you know that the NSA sometimes patent its own creation ?
The NSA has been granted letters patent for everything from forward-looking newspaper shredders to specific methods of location tracking on the internet . There ’s even a tiptop - secure manhole design to protect telecom equipment in cloak-and-dagger vaults .
TodayAntonio Regaladoover atMITTechnology Reviewtweeted a duo of NSA patent , which inspired us to take a spirit at on the nose what the A-one - secret undercover agent agency has in their intellectual dimension portfolio .
Secure Manhole — Patent 7,607,858
In 2009 the NSA wasgranted a patentfor a advanced and unafraid manhole . Why would the spy federal agency worry about developing such a affair ? Because , as they explain in the patent filing , telecommunications equipment is more and more being housed in hugger-mugger vaults . They ’ve got to make indisputable all thosetop secret undercover agent facilitiesthat are give suck up the world ’s data have the most secure entrances available . The world ’s most secretive agency certainly does n’t require any honest-to-goodness manhole that a common ninja turtleneck could crack .
https://gizmodo.com/check-out-the-floor-plans-for-the-nsas-huge-new-data-ce-901152509
Super-Shredder — Patent 6,820,830
The NSAdestroysa infernal region of a wad of documents . That just comes with the dominion for any spy agency . But if you thought the NSA used off - the - shelf shredder from OfficeMax , think again .
In 2004 the NSA wasgranted a patentfor a “ shredder residue dispersal system . ” The system divvies up unlike parts of the same shredded document into multiple electric pig bin to ensure that it ca n’t be piece back together . Anybody who saw the 2012 film Argo will remember the conniption where tear up document are reassemble by a crew of children tax with that incredibly unremarkable task . The patent even specifies that the resulting waste should be at long last disposed of at dissimilar times and at dissimilar locations .
Location Tracking on the Internet — Patent 6,947,978
In 2005 the NSA wasgranted a patentfor attain someone ’s strong-arm localisation via the internet . This particular system of rules narrow down a user ’s location by measuring the communicating slowdown fourth dimension between two addresses . Back in 2005 , the agencyrefused to commentto CNET about the patent . But thanks to the Snowden docs , we recognise this is just one creature in theirmassive toolboxfor geolocating .
https://gizmodo.com/can-the-nsa-really-send-a-drone-to-bomb-your-phone-1519998908
Single Use USB Port Protector — Patent 8,414,314
Last year the NSA wasgranteda patent of invention for a USB port defender . The equipment physically locks potential snoopers out of a USB - compatible twist by clogging the port . If any unauthorized exploiter tried to remove the machine from the port , it would break off at heart , still rendering the port useless for would - be spies .
Reusable Tamper-Evident Bag — Patent 8,196,442
In 2010 the NSAapplied for a patentfor a tamper - evident bag , the top of which is illustrate above . The suitcase includes a ringlet , key and multiple point to determine if your items have been messed with . If only the bad guys inTrading Placeshad known such technology was possible .
Tamper-Indicating Tube — Patent 8,177,089
Much like the tamper - plain bag , the tamper - indicating tube is speculate to make delight physical document and electronics much more unassailable . Patented by the NSAin 2009 , this machine ensures that you know if someone ’s been tampering with your tub - enthrall dust .
It also include one of the best business - speak description I ’ve date in any letters patent :
In today ’s fast paced world of business , documents are often send from one location to another and it is necessary to protect against loss , theft , and meddling .
Identifying Text Through Nouns — Patent 7,805,291
The NSA is awash in surveillance data point . So much so , that automating the undertaking of sorting through it is an absolute necessary . In 2005 the NSAfiled for a patentfor a system that would help them do that . By nail down down the cognitive content of a message to its noun , the system is suppose to more easily name what the subject of the message might be . The message is consistently break down , trying to distinguish between variable like spelling errors and curious vs. plural form versions of a noun . Then the organization presumptively spits out the content into a fussy topics folder for assessment by human eye later . For example , ground on its nouns , this web log post would probably be filed under “ manhole freedom haters . ”
image : Top gif of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper by Michael Hession ; Patent illustrations from Google Patents
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