Governments turn to hacking techniques for surveillance of citizens

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/nov/01/governments-hacking-techniques-surveillance


Italy's Hacking Team offers 'an offensive solution for cyber investigations'

In a luxury Washington, DC, hotel last month, governments from around the world gathered to discuss surveillance technology they would rather you did not know about. The annual Intelligence Support Systems (ISS) World Americas conference is a mecca for representatives from intelligence agencies and law enforcement. But to the media or members of the public, it is strictly off limits.

Gone are the days when mere telephone wiretaps satisfied authorities' intelligence needs. Behind the cloak of secrecy at the ISS World conference, tips are shared about the latest advanced "lawful interception" methods used to spy on citizens – computer hacking, covert bugging and GPS tracking. Smartphones, email, instant message services and free chat services such as Skype have revolutionised communication. This has been matched by the development of increasingly sophisticated surveillance technology.

Among the pioneers is Hampshire-based Gamma International, a core ISS World sponsor. In April, Gamma made headlines when Egyptian activists raided state security offices in Cairo and found documents revealing Gamma had in 2010 offered Hosni Mubarak's regime spy technology named FinFisher. The "IT intrusion" solutions offered by Gamma would have enabled authorities to infect targeted computers with a spyware virus so they could covertly monitor Skype conversations and other communications.

The use of such methods is more commonly associated with criminal hacking groups, who have used spyware and trojan viruses to infect computers and steal bank details or passwords. But as the internet has grown, intelligence agencies and law enforcement have adopted similar techniques.

[OnyxCollie]

1. K&R. nt

[Arctic Dave]

2. The biggest spy tool they have is your smart phone.

The Stasi's wet dreams never had anything so powerful to watch their subjects.

[leveymg]

3. These are "criminal hacking groups." They've been doing this since before 9/11.

After 9/11, it just got unlimited funding. "The Program" = Universal Surveillance + Universal Profiling.

You are suspect, you are monitored, 24/7/365, you pay for it.

What's your algorithm?