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Blackberry "Spy" Software Released
Noryungi writes "Maybe the French were on to something after all. It turns out that there is a software available to easily spy on Blackberries, recording voice conversations and all messages (emails or SMS text message) that transmit through the portable device. Of course, the software has to be installed by the owner of the Blackberry, but it would not be surprising to find out that someone has found a way to silently auto-install that software on RIM devices. ZDNet reports that RIM isn't concerned: 'Ian Robertson, senior manager of security and research at RIM, said users need not be particularly worried about the capability of FlexiSPY. "While it's the subject of some debate, I don't consider it a virus nor a Trojan, as it does require conscientious effort from the user to load the program," he said. Robertson said an average user that maintains good [gadget] hygiene would never see the software loaded onto their device without their knowledge.'"
A small technical obstacle such as "requiring physical access" is hardly enough to stop a government from spying. Remember that:
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1. The US government covertly installed a spying system on the entire AT&T network.
2. Software can be sent through a network by the provider to the end-user.
3. Laws don't seem to be obstacles to government efforts to "protect us." Especially not this millennium.
4. Data storage is so cheap now that anything and everything can be archived for later mining.
Paranoid much? Well, heck yeah. There is a "War on Terror," which suspends our liberties... just until all the terrorists are dead. That is to say, they managed to find a simple way to completely suspend liberties forever. Why should that make me nervous?
If you really want to have freedom from government intrusion, your only hope is an open source government:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source_governan
http://www.metagovernment.org/
After all, it's about time we thought for ourselves, isn't it?