Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Surveillance Backdoor Enabled Chinese Gmail Attack?

Posted by Soulskill on from the let's-blame-the-government-now dept.

Major Blud writes "CNN is running an opinion piece on their front page from security technologist Bruce Schneier, in which he suggests that 'In order to comply with government search warrants on user data, Google created a backdoor access system into Gmail accounts. This feature is what the Chinese hackers exploited to gain access.' His article is short on sources, and the common belief is that a flaw in IE was the main attack method. Has this come up elsewhere? Schneier continues, 'Whether the eavesdroppers are the good guys or the bad guys, these systems put us all at greater risk. Communications systems that have no inherent eavesdropping capabilities are more secure than systems with those capabilities built in. And it's bad civic hygiene to build technologies that could someday be used to facilitate a police state.'"

8 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. really... by duanco · · Score: 2, Funny

    a back door to a hosted email service....and this fellow is an expert? Guess he was never an admin anywhere......

    1. Re:really... by flyingfsck · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hmmm, a hosted email system is a bazaar, not a cathedral. There are no doors or walls to speak of, much like Haiti after the earthquake...

      --
      Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  2. At least Google wasn't running IE 6 by Greg+Hullender · · Score: 3, Funny
    This item makes me feel better about Microsoft AND Google! :-)

    Seriously, it really does make a lot more sense. How could anyone at Google still be running IE 6?

    --Greg (Now I just need to find something to make me feel better about our government)

    1. Re:At least Google wasn't running IE 6 by The+FBI · · Score: 1, Funny

      Now I just need to find something to make me feel better about our government

      The FBI has just removed your linkedin.com profile to protect your privacy and make you feel better about our government. We hope that helps.

  3. Re:I wonder what the password was by Felix+Da+Rat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oddly enough, it was 'Bruce Schneier'.

  4. Hmm... by antifoidulus · · Score: 3, Funny

    How come when I type "backdoor entry" into google, I don't get any sites related to this attack, just massive amounts of material on anal sex. It's a cover up I tell you!

    --
    Monstar L
  5. Re:Careful There, Schneier by Glonoinha · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hah. I don't believe anything until it's been unequivocally denied.

    --
    Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
  6. Mr. Potato Head! Mr. Potato Head!! by samgman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Backdoors are not secrets.