Is U.S. law enforcement's fondness of the Harris StingRay running wild? How often are such mobile location and interception devices, broadly known as "IMSI catchers," used, and under what (if any) legal authority? These are not idle questions. They form the basis of a written summons to a public hearing by Senators Patrick Leahy and Charles Grassley, respectively the … [Read more...]
FBI Seeks Hackers for Ethical Geek Squad
If you thought FBI Director James Comey was blowing hot air in his Brookings Institute attack on Apple/Google encryption last Fall, snap out of it: As a first step toward regaining the upper hand, the FBI seeks hackers interested in working for the agency as full-time special cyber agents. Applicants must be certified as "ethical hackers" and meet the FBI's usual requirements … [Read more...]
The BT and SS8 Connection: GCHQ Intrusion on Demand
At a recent U.S. conference BT and SS8 co-exhibited -- an unusual move that may well reveal their relationship in a unique area: malware. The sight of an outsized trade show banner featuring the logos of BT and SS8 against a London panorama gets one’s attention. It is virtually unheard of for a communications service provider to make a public display of its involvement with … [Read more...]
Vupen Security: The “Golden Boys” of Malware
In the broader landscape of intrusive technology, where players are damned by the media, privacy advocates and occasionally court systems, one company remains above the fray and invariably comes off looking squeaky clean: Vupen Security, the “golden boys" of malware used by government agencies to combat terrorism. They may also be the very best in the business. Based in … [Read more...]
Product Shootout: Lawful Malware
With the recent flap over iOS 8 and Android encryption, law enforcement and intelligence agencies may well wonder whether the “lawful malware” they’ve bought from the world’s top intrusive surveillance companies is about to become iJunk. How, they well may ask, can agents get past smart device encryption so strong that even manufacturers can’t help? Let the Right One … [Read more...]