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FBI Used Spyware for Online Search

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the not-surprised-here dept.

juct writes "The FBI has used PC spyware for the first time to reveal the identity of an offender who sent bomb threats to a high school in Washington state. According to heise Security, a declaration from the FBI official who applied for the search warrant describes the mode of operation of the spyware which the FBI is using under the abbreviation CIPAV (Computer and Internet Protocol Address Verifier)."

3 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. How long will it be before... by bconway · · Score: 5, Insightful

    the FBI (and some if-it-will-save-one-child-it-is-worth-it legislators) demand all the OS vendors to install backdoors so that it can come in and install whatever spyware it wants to be installed?

    --
    Interested in open source engine management for your Subaru?
  2. More Firefighters Needed! by garcia · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It would seem that there's a kink in the Firehose again .

  3. Interesting speculation by bconway · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The Feds would have the $$$ and be able to hire the skilled labor to build some pretty sophisticated spyware tools. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised to find out Microsoft included a back door in Windows. That rumor has surfaced before.

    The problem with either of those options is if they get out in the wild. How many people have access to those tools and how is their deployment managed? Who wouldn't be tempted to do a little sideline testing if they had those goodies in their tool chest.

    --
    Interested in open source engine management for your Subaru?