There are two kinds of people in the world: those who know they’re being spied on, and those who refuse to believe it. I don’t know which you are, but since the FBI has been caught manufacturing its own spyware, if you’re a denier, it’s time to take a second look.
I’ll save you some time if you’re lazy. Here’s the important part:
In an affidavit seeking a search warrant to use the software, filed last month in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Washington, FBI agent Norman Sanders describes the software as a “computer and internet protocol address verifier,” or CIPAV.
Sanders wrote that the spyware program gathers a wide range of information, including the computer’s IP address; MAC address; open ports; a list of running programs; the operating system type, version and serial number; preferred internet browser and version; the computer’s registered owner and registered company name; the current logged-in user name and the last-visited URL.
The CIPAV then settles into a silent “pen register” mode, in which it lurks on the target computer and monitors its internet use, logging the IP address of every computer to which the machine connects for up to 60 days.
Oh, that won’t happen to me — I have McAfee anti-virus!
Bull chips. Spyware isn’t a virus, and even if you have an anti-spyware program, it’s likely that the company that makes it has beens strong-armed into ignoring CIPAV or the Magic Lantern (logs your keystrokes) or any of the other spyware the government has deployed. Don’t believe what you read in the press, because the companies know exactly what to say when reporters call. Most of them, anyway. Some are refusing to answer, which means their PR bimbos haven’t been trained to give full denials. Don’t be fooled; these companies are under full control.
Add this up with the Bush’s abolishment of the Fifth Amendment this week — he can now seize your property if he doesn’t like what you say about his war — and you might just sense a theme emerging.
Update: I’m not the type to get involved with a bunch of Mickey-Mouse reporters having a slapfight, but apparently the CNET articles I linked to borrowed from some work done by Wired. Credit where it’s due.
Tags for this post: anti spyware, big brother, bush, computer, Conspiracy, fbi, fbi agent, fbi spyware, george w bush, government, internet, magic lantern, mcafee, mcafee anti virus, norman sanders, pgp, privacy, search warrant, spies, spying, spyware, target computer virus
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