Category: eavesdropping

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ToTok Is an Emirati Spying Tool

Posted on By infossl
apple, eavesdropping, google, malware, phones, privacy, Security technology, smartphones, spyware, surveillance, unitedarabemirates

The smartphone messaging app ToTok is actually an Emirati spying tool: But the service, ToTok, is actually a spying tool, according to American officials familiar with a classified intelligence assessment and a New York Times investigation into the app and its developers. It is used by the government of the United Arab Emirates to try … Read More “ToTok Is an Emirati Spying Tool” »

Scaring People into Supporting Backdoors

Posted on By infossl
childpornography, crime, cryptowars, eavesdropping, encryption, fear, lawenforcement, nationalsecuritypolicy, Security technology

Back in 1998, Tim May warned us of the “Four Horsemen of the Infocalypse”: “terrorists, pedophiles, drug dealers, and money launderers.” I tended to cast it slightly differently. This is me from 2005: Beware the Four Horsemen of the Information Apocalypse: terrorists, drug dealers, kidnappers, and child pornographers. Seems like you can scare any public … Read More “Scaring People into Supporting Backdoors” »

Eavesdropping on SMS Messages inside Telco Networks

Posted on By infossl
eavesdropping, encryption, espionage, malware, Security technology, sms

Fireeye reports on a Chinese-sponsored espionage effort to eavesdrop on text messages: FireEye Mandiant recently discovered a new malware family used by APT41 (a Chinese APT group) that is designed to monitor and save SMS traffic from specific phone numbers, IMSI numbers and keywords for subsequent theft. Named MESSAGETAP, the tool was deployed by APT41 … Read More “Eavesdropping on SMS Messages inside Telco Networks” »

Homemade TEMPEST Receiver

Posted on By infossl
eavesdropping, Security technology, spyware, tempest

Tom’s Guide writes about home brew TEMPEST receivers: Today, dirt-cheap technology and free software make it possible for ordinary citizens to run their own Tempest programs and listen to what their own — and their neighbors’ — electronic devices are doing. Elliott, a researcher at Boston-based security company Veracode, showed that an inexpensive USB dongle … Read More “Homemade TEMPEST Receiver” »

iPhone FaceTime Vulnerability

Posted on By infossl
apple, eavesdropping, iphone, Security technology, vulnerabilities

This is kind of a crazy iPhone vulnerability: it’s possible to call someone on FaceTime and listen on their microphone — and see from their camera — before they accept the call. This is definitely an embarrassment, and Apple was right to disable Group FaceTime until it’s fixed. But it’s hard to imagine how an … Read More “iPhone FaceTime Vulnerability” »

Evaluating the GCHQ Exceptional Access Proposal

Posted on By infossl
backdoors, computersecurity, crime, cryptowars, eavesdropping, essays, gchq, lawenforcement, Security technology, vulnerabilities

The so-called Crypto Wars have been going on for 25 years now. Basically, the FBI — and some of their peer agencies in the UK, Australia, and elsewhere — argue that the pervasive use of civilian encryption is hampering their ability to solve crimes and that they need the tech companies to make their systems … Read More “Evaluating the GCHQ Exceptional Access Proposal” »

Security Vulnerabilities in Cell Phone Systems

Posted on By infossl
cellphones, eavesdropping, economicsofsecurity, lawenforcement, nationalsecuritypolicy, Security technology, securityengineering, vulnerabilities

Good essay on the inherent vulnerabilities in the cell phone standards and the market barriers to fixing them. So far, industry and policymakers have largely dragged their feet when it comes to blocking cell-site simulators and SS7 attacks. Senator Ron Wyden, one of the few lawmakers vocal about this issue, sent a letter in August … Read More “Security Vulnerabilities in Cell Phone Systems” »

Cell Phone Security and Heads of State

Posted on By infossl
china, eavesdropping, essays, iphone, nationalsecuritypolicy, phones, russia, Security technology

Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that the Russians and the Chinese were eavesdropping on President Donald Trump’s personal cell phone and using the information gleaned to better influence his behavior. This should surprise no one. Security experts have been talking about the potential security vulnerabilities in Trump’s cell phone use since he … Read More “Cell Phone Security and Heads of State” »

Five-Eyes Intelligence Services Choose Surveillance Over Security

Posted on By infossl
backdoors, eavesdropping, intelligence, nationalsecuritypolicy, privacy, Security technology, securitypolicies, surveillance

The Five Eyes — the intelligence consortium of the rich English-speaking countries (the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand) — have issued a “Statement of Principles on Access to Evidence and Encryption” where they claim their needs for surveillance outweigh everyone’s needs for security and privacy. …the increasing use and sophistication of certain … Read More “Five-Eyes Intelligence Services Choose Surveillance Over Security” »