How Spying Software Can Be Abused By Governments

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This Powerful Spy Software Is Being Abused By Governments Around The World -- Business Insider

A new report presents overwhelming evidence that sophisticated spying software is being abused by governments around the world.

The findings by The Citizen Lab, a digital research laboratory at the University of Toronto, detail how the software marketed to track criminals is being used against dissidents and human rights activists.

Titled "For Their Eyes Only: The Commercialization of Digital Spying," the report focuses on a type of surveillance software called FinSpy that can remotely monitor webmail and social networks in real time as well as collect encrypted data and communications of unsuspecting targets.

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My Comment: A heads up on how the surveillance society is evolving.

Pentagon Accelerates It's Cyber Weapons Program

Pentagon creating new-generation cyberweapon. (Reuters / Rick Wilking)

U.S. Accelerating Cyberweapon Research -- Washington Post

The Pentagon is accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of cyberweapons capable of disrupting enemy military networks even when those networks are not connected to the Internet, according to current and former U.S. officials.

The possibility of a confrontation with Iran or Syria has highlighted for American military planners the value of cyberweapons that can be used against an enemy whose most important targets, such as air defense systems, do not rely on Internet-based networks. But adapting such cyberweapons can take months or even years of arduous technical work.

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More News On the Pentagon Accelerating It's Cyber Weapons Program

US to fast-track cyber weapons -- New Age
Pentagon creating new-generation cyberweapon -- RT
US to fast-track cyber weapons -- Sydney Morning Herald
Pentagon goes on offense with new cyber weapons -- The Hill
Pentagon ramping up cyberweapon development -- Nextgov

Britain Embraces The Use Of Cyber Weapons

The Cabinet Office and the Cyber Security Operations Centre at GCHQ (above) have taken the lead on cyber weapons Photo: PA

Cyber Weapons 'Now Integral Part Of Britain's Armoury' -- The Telegraph

Cyber weapons are being developed by the Government to counter the growing number of internet-based threats to national security, ministers have disclosed.

A "toolbox" of offensive cyber weapons is being assembled to fight hackers targeting military facilities, secret databases, critical emergency services and Whitehall departments.

Nick Harvey, the Armed Forces minister, acknowledged the existence of the programme and admitted that cyber weapons were "an integral part of the country's armoury" in an interview with the Guardian newspaper.

He said: "Action in cyberspace will form part of the future battlefield. We need a toolbox of capabilities and that's what we are currently developing.

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My Comment: Like most stories that expose government efforts to developing cyber weapons .... this one does not go into specifics. Unfortunately .... I suspect that if they do go into specifics and details .... this information will be ultimately used against us.