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CEO of Spyware Maker Arrested For Enabling Stalkers
An anonymous reader writes: U.S. authorities have arrested and indicted the CEO of a mobile software company for selling spyware that enables "stalkers and domestic abusers." The U.S. Department of Justice accuses the man of promoting and selling software that can "monitor calls, texts, videos and other communications on mobile phones without detection." The agency pointed out this is the first criminal case based on mobile spyware, and promised to aggressively pursue makers of similar software in the future. Here's the legal filing (PDF). The FBI, with approval from a District Court, has disabled the website hosting the software.
"The indictment alleges that StealthGenie's capabilities included the following: it recorded all incoming/outgoing voice calls; it intercepted calls on the phone to be monitored while they take place; it allowed the purchaser to call the phone and activate it at any time to monitor all surrounding conversations within a 15-foot radius; and it allowed the purchaser to monitor the user's incoming and outgoing e-mail messages and SMS messages, incoming voicemail messages, address book, calendar, photographs, and videos. All of these functions were enabled without the knowledge of the user of the phone."
"The indictment alleges that StealthGenie's capabilities included the following: it recorded all incoming/outgoing voice calls; it intercepted calls on the phone to be monitored while they take place; it allowed the purchaser to call the phone and activate it at any time to monitor all surrounding conversations within a 15-foot radius; and it allowed the purchaser to monitor the user's incoming and outgoing e-mail messages and SMS messages, incoming voicemail messages, address book, calendar, photographs, and videos. All of these functions were enabled without the knowledge of the user of the phone."
Double standards... gotta love'em
It's not an arrest for enabling stalking. It's an arrest for enabling *unapproved* stalking.
...is there a link to this useful software?
I'd love to be able to do all those things on my phone.
I already record all of my calls.
Can't we find something better of DoJ to do. Start with bankers please.
I'm not sure about this legally. The software does not infect devices, nor does it get installed through deception. It is purchased and installed by someone who has access to the device. The person who installed the software without the owner's permission (assuming that person doesn't own the phone in the first place) would be responsible for any illegal actions. An analogy is trying to bring a lawsuit against a company that produces baby monitors, because someone put a baby monitor in someone else's home without permission or notification in order to stalk them. There are legitimate uses for the software, for example a parent wanting to monitor their minor child's use of the phone. Or I might would put it on my own phone in case my phone is stolen or lost.
Better known as 318230.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/allte...
You can't be ahead of the curve, if you're stuck in a loop.
Name any government law enforcement agency which would have even a moment's hesitation before using that.
The company's only issue was a failure of marketing - they were trying to sell it to the wrong audience.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
That'd be the American public you're asking about.
When congress decided to shove the PATRIOT act up everyone's colon, lubricated only by a healthy dose of TSA, all the American public did was enquire how far they should bend over. They're still bent over. The majority likes it that way. Because fear. Unreasonable, agit-prop and ignorance based fear.
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
The company's only issue was a failure of marketing - they were trying to sell it to the wrong audience.
Or just that the government hates competition.
Why don't you think of the children.
Seriously, this should have been marketed as a way to keep tabs on your precious little gem. There are already products out there that do similar functionality like nanny cams, locator watches and so on.
What kind of idiot would approve of someone stalking them?
Voters.
You could argue that there are several legitmate uses for the software. ... How is this software marketed? Is it strictly to stalkers? I kind of doubt it. It's just a technology that can be used for nefarious purposes.
Kim Dotcom and Megaupload made it clear that having a lawful, substantial use is not a defense. Not for todays Department of Justice.
It is hard to see how they FBI can prove their case.
Why would they need to? Threaten 35 years under the CFAA and plea bargain them.
It's the law of the jungle for software and the internet -- don't be small or slow or you might become prey.
No one is saying that. We are saying that there is commericial software that is basicly an invitation for abuse, that for a couple bucks lets anyone play NSA, law enforcement at their most depraved and stalk, harrass and intimidate people by hi-jacking their devices. somehow its about feminism. are you fucking daft?
Next we should go after Apple and Microsoft. It's well established that 98.28% of all electronic stalkers, harassers, and domestic abusers used either Windows or osx to do it.
What the fuck is wrong with the world that the seller of a tool can be arrested because some customer chooses to use it for nefarious purposes. I sure hope people don't start using cars to commit crimes because I like having a car. Oh wait...
There is something offensive about saying these kinds of activities are perfectly fine for representatives of the State, yet illegal for the citizens of the State.
When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
As an IT tech who has been REQUESTED to install this software on clients' childrens' devices the summary seems to leave out one vital fact: It does need Administrative rights to install in the first place. That means access to the iTunes account and/or administrator access on Android. This typically will mean physical access to the device in the first place. It *IS* marketed to paranoid parents and bosses for monitoring children/employees. So unless your stalker is STEALING your phone to install it, you only have to worry about family members..