Will Security Firms Detect Police Spyware?

cnet-declan writes "A recent appeals court case dealt with Drug Enforcement Administration agents using a key logger to investigate a suspect using PGP and Hushmail. That invites the obvious question: Will security companies ever intentionally overlook police spyware? There were somewhat-muddled reports in 2001 that Symantec and McAfee would do just that, so over at News.com we figured we'd do a survey of the top 13 security firms. We asked them if it is their policy to detect policeware. Notably, Check Point said it would 'afford law enforcement' the courtesy of whitelisting if requested. We've also posted the full results, with the companies' complete answers. Another question we asked is if they have ever received a court order requiring them to overlook police key loggers or spyware. Symantec, IBM, Kaspersky, and others said no. Only Microsoft and McAfee refused to answer."

Comments

Re:Security

[keraneuology]

Gerbils singing Streisand would you anti-Bush parrots give it a rest and start caring about actual government abuses for a change?

Spying on Americans is NOT a Bush innovation no matter how much you wish it to be. Yes, Bush is a major screwup who probably represents the greatest threat to the Constitution this nation has ever seen, but from the way you portray things Clinton never pushed for the clipper chip and MS never got caught with an NSA hook in Windows (also under Clinton).

The FBI has been abused by dems and republicans alike, yet you people only whine about Bush and hint that this time the dems will be the bastions of civil liberties who won't keep people locked up indefinitely without being charged (which Clinton did), won't be greedy, corrupt troglodytes (no more cash in the freezer?), and won't spy except on those who REALLY deserve it (Echelon spying for Boeing, anybody? Also under Clinton's watch.)