Once again the FBI is raising the alarm on Capitol Hill, citing surveillance laws so outdated that law enforcement is “Going Dark” in the fight against crime and terrorism. Officials paint a world where evildoers leverage encryption and P2P services to get away without a trace. Confined by laws designed in bygone pre-Internet days, frustrated agents watch cases go cold. It’s … [Read more...]
Fortress Apple: Does it Really Repel FinFisher and The Hacking Team?
When it comes to “lawful malware,” no two players are better known -- or more frequently vilified -- than FinFisher and The Hacking Team. The dynamic duo is widely recognized for pioneering the field of malware used by law enforcement and intel agencies to penetrate and take over targets’ communications devices. Not to mention spreading the technology around the globe in … [Read more...]
India’s Aglaya: Cracking Apple iOS Without a Jailbreak?
Good news (or bad if you own one) for those who think Apple systems are impervious to malware -- India’s Aglaya says it can crack any iOS device without a jailbreak. That’s an eyeopener for law enforcement and intel agencies following last year’s revelation that FinFisher and Hacking Team are just airware when it comes to penetrating and taking over an iPhone or iPad. If 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...]
Best Electronic Surveillance Companies of 2014
The vote is in for the Best Electronic Surveillance Companies of 2014. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first effort to examine surveillance companies side-by-side and pick winners that provide superlative value to "customers" -- law enforcement and intelligence agencies, the military, and of course, communications service providers that must meet compliance … [Read more...]