New Big Brother Cyber Weapon Can Turn on Your Computer’s Microphone, Record Communications

[oyarde]

I wonder how the government feels about all of the porn I watch.

send 'em an e mail and ask them

 

[John F Kennedy III]

When I am fortunate to get a time card. Sometime as a gift (Birthday,Christmas) or just cause someone loves me.

I have a free account (limits to level 20) that I play with sometimes.

That's awesome. I used to play ALOT as an Orc Warrior tank and Troll Hunter. Sounds like you've found a way to enjoy it without spending a ton of time on it. All the higher level stuff takes FOREVER.

I haven't played in 2 years.

 

[Endgame]

Hackers have had this capability for at least a decade, and its been assumed and sometimes confirmed that law enforcement and intelligence organizations do as well. They're called remote access trojans. You can find videos on YT of hackers spying on a dozen people at a time through their webcams. They are installed like any other kind of malware. They also log keystrokes, can upload and download files, open and modify files, and even control the screen remotely and do essentially anything someone sitting in front of the computer could do, all with a user-friendly interface.

 

[Xhin]

The difference with this one is that it isn't caught by antiviruses (antiviri?)

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Oh no, someone will waste all their time to listen to my singing and laughing as I write songs or watch my favorite tv shows.They can always save my mic channel ,I play good tunes too.

 

[John F Kennedy III]

Where's DamianTV at? I'm sure he can explain how they can still spy on you without a cam or mic.

 

[Endgame]

The difference with this one is that it isn't caught by antiviruses (antiviri?)

Very few custom-designed ones that haven't been released into the wild on a large scale will be detected. Some trojan writers even offer to build custom versions for a price for this purpose.

I find this article alarmist. It should be assumed government agencies have this capability, as they have had bugging devices as long as microphones have been around, wiretapping as long as there have been telephones.

 

[John F Kennedy III]

Very few custom-designed ones that haven't been released into the wild on a large scale will be detected. Some trojan writers even offer to build custom versions for a price for this purpose.

I find this article alarmist. It should be assumed government agencies have this capability, as they have had bugging devices as long as microphones have been around, wiretapping as long as there have been telephones.

But not everyone knows. For whatever reason.

 

[NoOneButPaul]

New my balls... they only release the info once they realize it doesn't matter.

Odds are they've been doing this for 10 years but will only admit to the existence now, which begs the question... What do they have now that is so much better?

 

[pcosmar]

Questions and Answers.


FAQ: The Flame/Skywiper Virus and How to Protect Yourself
http://www.technewsdaily.com/4354-flame-skywiper-faq-virus-protect.html

Q: What sort of computers does Flame/Skywiper infect?

A: It infects machines running Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Q: Which countries are affected?

A: Iran has been the most affected, with nearly 200 machines infected, according to Kaspersky's figures, which also show about 100 machines are infected in Israel and the Palestinian territories, with lesser numbers in Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Q: Who would want to create Flame/Skywiper?

A: Flame/Skywiper was almost certainly created by a national government with the resources to devote months, if not years, of expert programming and millions of dollars in expenses to create extremely sophisticated, multipurpose spyware. (Cybercriminals don't have that much money or time.)

In the Middle East, which Flame/Skywiper clearly targets, the only countries with such capabilities are Iran and Israel.

 

[maskander]

only thing this computer is gonna record is me singing call me maybe all day erryday

 

[pcosmar]

Best response. from another forum

Whilst it is easy to imagine the usual suspects who may
have created this thing, I still hate that The Press
calls it a "Computer Virus".

The killer is that Kaspersky Labs says "No one is safe" or
words to that effect. Of course, I do not give it much
credence since I do not run that "Other" OS and I do not,
nor do I plan to live in The Middle East anytime soon...

AussieBear.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

If it is a Mac it is not running the wondoze Operating System. (with it's inherent flaws.)

This bug exists due to the FLAWS in the OS.

Hackers are already learning how to hack MacOS. Using the right software to protect yourself is more important than the OS

 

[pcosmar]

Hackers are already learning how to hack MacOS. Using the right software to protect yourself is more important than the OS

I am sure that they are.. or are attempting to..
The simple fact is that Mac, or any UNIX type system does not have the HUGE Security holes that windoze does.

Which is why every script kiddie can get into windows,, but few (some, but few) true experts can get into other systems.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I am sure that they are.. or are attempting to..
The simple fact is that Mac, or any UNIX type system does not have the HUGE Security holes that windoze does.

Which is why every script kiddie can get into windows,, but few (some, but few) true experts can get into other systems.

I agree. One of these days when I find the time, I'm going to move to Linnux or something like that.

 

[Lishy]

If Kaspersky identified the virus... Why is it they cannot protect against it? Smells kinda fishy.

And infecting computers of certain regions only? That should only happen if middle eastern sites they visit themselves are infected...

Let's assume Mr. Middle East dude uses Adblock+, NoScript, a basic firewall, and he does NOT use cracks! So if he can't get potentially malicious ads targeting middle eastern users, and he does not use cracks, then where is it coming from to specifically infect their region? Computers don't really work that way, unless he's visiting hacked websites or just plain bad websites. So where is it coming from?

This doesn't smell right.

 

[pcosmar]

This doesn't smell right.

You didn't read anything did you?

It is not from "visiting sites".
And it was not discovered by Kaspersky.

It is Cyber Warfare. It was created by a Government and Targeted at another Government.

http://www.technewsdaily.com/4354-flame-skywiper-faq-virus-protect.html

Q: Is there any chance that my computer could be infected?

A: It's not likely, unless you're a government official or weapons researcher in the Middle East.

 

[ShaneEnochs]

Ever wonder just how many government lists people like us are on?

 

[DXDoug]

sounds expected

 

[pcosmar]

Ever wonder just how many government lists people like us are on?

I don't wonder. I'm sure.
My first known contact was in the mid 70s (CIA, Military Intel)
Then FBI in 1980,, My arrest and prison records.
Some contacts in Florida

I am pretty much known to be "Not Sheep".

This is why I avoid any connection to the Official Campaign.