Skip to main content

Websites, privacy groups mount “Reset The Net” campaign against NSA spying

A coalition led by Reddit, Imgur, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Amnesty International are participating in an online protest called “Reset the Net” that aims to make it harder for the NSA and other local or foreign government agencies to conduct mass surveillance over the Internet.

Reset The Net is calling on mobile apps makers and website developers to implement tighter security measures. It is hoping to convince people behind popular websites and apps to adopt security tools like Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS). The campaign, which goes live on June 5, also aims to spread the “Reset The Net” splash screen across the Internet as a sign of protest.

Recommended Videos

“The NSA is exploiting weak links in Internet security to spy on the entire world, twisting the Internet we love into something it was never meant to be: a panopticon,” the campaign’s website read.

“We can’t stop targeted attacks, but we can stop mass surveillance, by building proven security into the everyday Internet.”

The campaign is imploring mobile app makers to use SSL and cert pinning. SSL is used to send data securely over the Internet. Without it, the police, the FBI, and even people who share the same Wi-Fi connection with you can gain access to your information, according to Reset The Net.

“Some apps keep all your data safe on your phone. But if a mobile app talks to a server—to send a message to a friend, post a photo, or share your high score—that data gets sent over the open Internet. If the app doesn’t use SSL to protect that connection, anyone can spy on that data … One thing is certain: mobile apps must use SSL to protect the data they send from prying eyes,” a campaign blog post read.

The campaign also advocates cert pinning, saying that the method makes apps more secure than websites. One of the easiest attacks on the Web is the man-in-middle variety, wherein when you type “facebook.com” on your browser, someone else can intercept your request and pose as Facebook.

“On the Web, we trust the certificate authority system to tell us who’s who. If a CA (certificate authority) says “yes, this site is really Facebook” we’ll trust it,” a blog post read. “On the web, we’re a little screwed right now (though good people are working on it and it will get fixed). But on mobile, the outlook is brighter: you can stick the certificate in your app (hence “pinning”). That way, the app only trusts the certificate it’s supposed to.”

For websites, the campaign urged developers to use HTTPS, HSTS and FPS, which are said to make mass spying much more difficult.

Reset The Net is providing what it calls a privacy pack, which is a selection of software and tips that are meant to make common computers, phones and tablets “NSA-proof.” All the software in the collection is free and can run on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and GNU/Linux. You can check out the list of software, which includes private communications software like TextSecure and Redphone. You can get the privacy by making a pledge at the Reset The Net website.

Christian Brazil Bautista
Christian Brazil Bautista is an experienced journalist who has been writing about technology and music for the past decade…
OnePlus Nord 5 shows Samsung how to make the perfect Galaxy S25 FE
Rwar shell of the the OnePlus Nord 5.

About three weeks ago, a rather interesting phone landed at my doorstep. It was OnePlus’ latest budget pleaser, which neither falls in the “mid-tier” segment, nor sniffs too close to the flagship summit. Yet, the value it offers at an MSRP of around $400 redefines the whole concept of the class that we often refer to as “budget flagships.” 

The Samsung Galaxy Fan Edition phones are the quintessential definition of this honor, at least for the competition-starved US market. After using the OnePlus Nord 5, I’ve come to the realization that this is what a true Fan Edition phone should look like. One that delivers where it matters, without a confoundingly high price tag slapped on the box. I believe it's a recipe for Samsung to emulate for its next Fan Edition phone.

Read more
I’m excited for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but it could let us down in one area
Google's tipped to deny its most expensive phone a top spec
Someone holding the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, showing the back of the phone.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks set to gain a number of significant upgrades over its predecessor including a larger display, smaller hinge, bigger battery, and improved dust resistance.

The Google Pixel 10 series is tipped to arrive in the coming months - possibly as soon as August - and we're expecting to see a quartet of new devices, including the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Read more
OnePlus 13 owners get a major new AI tool for free
Plus Mind is just the beginning of OnePlus' AI ecosystem
A person holding the OnePlus 13.

Owners of the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R smartphones are receiving a software update which includes a significant new AI feature.

OnePlus has started to roll out its Plus Mind AI tool to 13 and 13R handsets around the world, giving users the ability to receive intelligently suggesting actions while also storing the information for you to search through at a later date.

Read more