American Targeted By Digital Spy Tool Sold To Foreign Governments

An anonymous reader points out a report in Wired of an American woman at a "renowned academic institution" who received targeted malware from what was most likely a foreign government. "... analysis of [the downloader] showed that it was the same downloader that has been used in the past to install Remote Control System (RCS), a spy tool made by the Italian company Hacking Team and sold to governments." What's significant about this malware is that it is made by an Italian firm who claims they sell it only to government and law enforcement bodies, and it isn't of much use to your standard botnet operator. "The RCS tool, also known as DaVinci, records text and audio conversations from Skype, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk and MSN Messenger, among other communication applications. It also steals Web browsing history and can turn on a computer’s microphone and webcam to record conversations in a room and take photos. The tool relies on an extensive infrastructure to operate and therefore is not easily copied and passed to non-government actors outside that infrastructure to use for their own personal spy purposes, according to a Hacking Team spokesman." There's no solid proof indicating who is responsible, but the malware email contained a link to a website in Turkey. "Turkey is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance. If authorities there were behind the hack attack, it would mean that a NATO ally had attempted to spy on a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, presumably without the knowledge or approval of U.S. authorities, and for reasons that don't appear to be related to a criminal or counter-terrorism investigation."

Comments

Don't be so goddamn sanctimonious

[Anonymous Coward]

The poor USA is getting spied on. The audacity! A country that's always on its best behavior and has NEVER spied on allies, ever! Besides, are you sure that this isn't rebound spying, where the US lets others spy on US citizens to get information that they wouldn't be allowed to acquire directly themselves?

Davinci? Hack the Gibson!

[Anonymous Coward]

Hack the Planet!

"If ... would ... presumably ... don't appear to"

[QuasiSteve]

There's no solid proof indicating who is responsible

Thanks, all we really needed to know, I guess.

but the malware email contained a link to a website in Turkey.

Let me send you one with a link to a website in Mexico. Sorry, make that Sweden. Germany? Italy? Take your pick.

"Turkey is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance. If

And there the subject line finds its origin. I love a good tinfoilhat story, but this is not even that. This is pretty much wild guesses.

Editors, bang up job.

[Taibhsear]

Came here wondering how an American woman got sold to a foreign government. Great job as always, editors.

Hmmm ...

[gstoddart]

If authorities there were behind the hack attack, it would mean that a NATO ally had attempted to spy on a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, presumably without the knowledge or approval of U.S. authorities, and for reasons that don't appear to be related to a criminal or counter-terrorism investigation.

I'm pretty sure the US already does this -- possibly not for reasons other than criminal or counter-terrorism though.

But, really, since we know with Carnivore and pretty much everything else the US spies on NATO allies as well.

Unless we're meant to believe the US only does this on NATO allies with their express approval and oversight. Because, a t a minimum, we know the CIA has kidnapped people in Italy, a NATO member, without telling anybody.

Does anybody really think countries don't actively spy on their allies if they feel the need?

Re:Spies Exist ?!?!! *clutches pearls*

[OolimPhon]

Is Turkey now the new China?

I don't know. Why don't you try making me a pot of tea in a turkey and tell me how it tastes?