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Hacking Team and Boeing Subsidiary Envisioned Drones Deploying Spyware

Posted by samzenpus on from the making-a-plan dept.

Advocatus Diaboli writes: Email conversations posted on WikiLeaks reveal that Boeing and Hacking Team want drones to carry devices that inject spyware into target computers through WiFi networks. The Intercept reports: "The plan is described in internal emails from the Italian company Hacking Team, which makes off-the-shelf software that can remotely infect a suspect's computer or smartphone, accessing files and recording calls, chats, emails and more. A hacker attacked the Milan-based firm earlier this month and released hundreds of gigabytes of company information online. Among the emails is a recap of a meeting in June of this year, which gives a "roadmap" of projects that Hacking Team's engineers have underway. On the list: Develop a way to infect computers via drone. One engineer is assigned the task of developing a "mini" infection device, which could be "ruggedized" and "transportable by drone (!)" the write-up notes enthusiastically in Italian. The request appears to have originated with a query from the Washington-based Insitu, which makes a range of unmanned systems, including the small ScanEagle surveillance drone, which has long been used by the militaries of the U.S. and other countries. Insitu also markets its drones for law enforcement."

3 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Great, the Republicans are now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Get used to saying this: PRESIDENT TRUMP

  2. Re:Sad... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    It is sad that such a brilliant and innovative company was destroyed by a bunch of envious losers.

    They were in the business of exploiting. Then someone exploited them.

    If I'm ethically consistent I shouldn't smirk at smart people getting out smarted...

    grin

  3. That makes sense by Demonoid-Penguin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Boeing is a military contractor. When considering providing a service to the military or one of their contractors the first step is to ask "How much?".
    "Can we deliver?" comes later.

    There are exceptional companies, but Hacking Team is not one of them - a personal opinion based on reading much of the leaked data (without questioning it's authenticity).

    "You want the moon? Didn't you see page 27 of our latest brochure [sound of keyboard, then printer] I'll send you another copy in a minute".