| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to lack of encryption and security vulnerabilities has happened again at Yahoo. The article mentions that Yahoo has been slow in adopting encryption for both instant messaging and web-based email, exposing users to snooping and security risks. Despite warnings and previous knowledge about vulnerabilities, Yahoo only took steps to improve encryption after Snowden's revelations and public pressure [24440].
(b) The software failure incident related to lack of encryption and security vulnerabilities has also happened at other organizations. The article mentions that ICQ messages were unencrypted, exposing users to potential eavesdropping. Additionally, AOL's AIM client leaked metadata about users' conversations, which could contribute to the agencies' metadata collection efforts. This indicates that multiple organizations have faced similar issues with encryption and security in their messaging services [24440]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the case of Yahoo and ICQ failing to encrypt the content of instant messages, exposing them to eavesdropping [24440]. This failure was due to the lack of implementation of standard encryption techniques like SSL, which should have been adopted during the design and development phases to protect user data.
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the case of AOL's AIM service leaking metadata about who's talking to whom [24440]. This failure occurred during the operation of the system, where the service was not properly handling and protecting user metadata, leading to potential privacy breaches. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident discussed in the articles is primarily due to contributing factors that originate from within the system. Specifically, the failure is related to the lack of encryption in various messaging services such as Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, and AOL's AIM, leaving user data vulnerable to eavesdropping and surveillance [24440]. The articles highlight how Yahoo, for example, did not implement encryption for message delivery, exposing user communications to potential interception [24440]. Additionally, the delay in adopting encryption protocols like SSL by Yahoo and other companies was a key internal factor contributing to the software failure incident [24440].
(b) outside_system: While the software failure incident is mainly attributed to internal factors within the system, there are external factors mentioned in the articles that also play a role. For instance, the revelation of extreme Internet surveillance by US and British intelligence agencies, as exposed by Edward Snowden, served as an external trigger that brought attention to the security vulnerabilities in various messaging services [24440]. The actions of government spies and malicious snoops exploiting the lack of encryption in these services also represent external threats that contributed to the software failure incident [24440]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
- The software failure incident in the articles is primarily due to the lack of encryption in certain messaging services like Yahoo and ICQ, exposing users' messages to eavesdropping [24440].
- The failure was also attributed to the absence of SSL encryption in Yahoo Messenger, leaving the content of messages vulnerable to interception [24440].
- The incident highlighted the vulnerability of Yahoo users to surveillance due to the company's delay in adopting encryption technologies like SSL [24440].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
- The failure can be attributed to the slow response of technology companies like Yahoo in implementing encryption measures despite warnings from researchers and human rights activists [24440].
- Yahoo's chief executive, Marissa Mayer, was spurred into action to address the security hole only after Snowden's revelations about surveillance activities [24440].
- The incident also points to the delayed adoption of encryption for Yahoo Mail and instant messaging services, which was only implemented after media coverage and public pressure [24440]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The articles do not mention any software failure incident occurring due to contributing factors originating in hardware. Therefore, there is no information available regarding a software failure incident linked to hardware issues [24440].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The software failure incident discussed in the articles is primarily related to software issues. Specifically, the failure is attributed to the lack of encryption in various messaging services such as Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, and AOL's AIM, exposing user data to eavesdropping and surveillance [24440]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident mentioned in the articles is primarily non-malicious in nature. It involves failures related to the lack of encryption and security measures in various messaging services like Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, and AOL's AIM. These failures were not intentional acts to harm the system but rather a result of negligence or slow adoption of security protocols [24440]. The incidents highlight how these companies failed to implement encryption properly, leaving user data vulnerable to eavesdropping and surveillance by government agencies and malicious actors. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles can be attributed to poor decisions made by Yahoo in terms of not implementing encryption for their messaging services. Despite repeated warnings from researchers and human rights activists, Yahoo failed to prioritize security and confidentiality for its users' communications [24440]. Yahoo lagged behind rivals like Google and Microsoft in adopting encryption techniques like SSL, which left their users vulnerable to eavesdropping and surveillance by government agencies [24440]. The delay in implementing encryption and security measures was only addressed after the revelations by Edward Snowden, indicating a lack of proactive decision-making in safeguarding user data [24440]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the case of Yahoo's failure to implement encryption for their instant messaging services. Despite warnings from researchers and human rights activists, Yahoo lagged behind rivals like Google and Microsoft in adopting encryption techniques like SSL to protect user data [24440]. This lack of professional competence in prioritizing user security and implementing necessary encryption measures showcases a failure due to development incompetence.
(b) The accidental software failure incident can be seen in the case of WhatsApp, where encryption flaws were discovered by an information security firm Praetorian. These flaws were described as something "the NSA would love," indicating unintentional vulnerabilities in the software that could potentially be exploited by malicious actors [24440]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident discussed in the articles is more aligned with a temporary failure rather than a permanent one. This temporary failure was due to contributing factors introduced by certain circumstances but not all. The articles highlight how Yahoo, ICQ, and AOL's AIM service initially transmitted instant messages in unencrypted form, exposing users to eavesdropping [24440]. This lack of encryption was a known vulnerability for Yahoo users for at least a decade [24440]. However, following the revelations by Edward Snowden and increased scrutiny, Yahoo's CEO Marissa Mayer announced plans to offer users an option to encrypt all data flow by a certain deadline [24440]. This indicates that the failure was temporary and could be addressed through specific actions taken by the company in response to external pressure. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The articles do not mention any specific instances of a crash occurring within the software systems discussed.
(b) omission: The software systems discussed in the articles omitted to perform their intended functions securely by failing to encrypt user data properly. For example, Yahoo Messenger did not use encryption for message delivery, exposing user communications to potential eavesdropping [24440].
(c) timing: The software systems discussed in the articles did not exhibit failures related to timing issues.
(d) value: The software systems exhibited failures related to the incorrect performance of their intended functions. For instance, Yahoo Messenger did not encrypt the content of communications, leaving them vulnerable to interception [24440].
(e) byzantine: The software systems did not display behaviors indicative of byzantine failures.
(f) other: The software systems demonstrated a failure to prioritize security and encryption measures, leaving user data vulnerable to interception and surveillance [24440]. |