p2pnet - rss feed: FBI drops Carnivore spy tool
p2pnet.net News:- The FBI’s Carnivore Net surveillance tool has been all-but replaced by commercial software designed for online spying, says EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center).
One of the reasons for this is: ISPs are now plugged directly into the US government as information providers, obviating the need for Carnivore, EPIC states.
“Through the Freedom of Information Act, EPIC has obtained FBI reports to Congress stating that the agency did not use its DCS 1000 Internet monitoring system - formerly known as Carnivore - during fiscal years 2002 (pdf) and 2003 (pdf),” it says.
“According to the reports, the FBI used commercially available software to conduct court-ordered surveillance twelve times during the two-year period.”
The reports suggest the FBI’s need for Carnivore-like Net spy tools is decreasing, probably, “because ISPs are providing Internet traffic information directly to the government”.
The existence of the FBI Net ‘monitoring system’ was publicized in July, 2000.
Although public details were sketchy, it was suggested Carnivore was installed at an ISP’s facilities and could monitor all traffic moving through that ISP, says EPIC, going on:
“The FBI claims that Carnivore ‘filters’ data traffic and delivers to investigators only those ‘packets’ that they are lawfully authorized to obtain. Because the details remain secret, the public is left to trust the FBI’s characterization of the system and - more significantly - the FBI’s compliance with legal requirements.”
January 18th, 2005 at 2:21 pm
I’d like to know which ISP’s are providing the data to the FBI, which log files, what information each log file contains and what are the requirements for disclosure. Maybe proxies will have to become the norm.
January 18th, 2005 at 9:25 pm
What commercially available software are the Feds using instead? Given we have heard nothing about this until now, it appears the FBI has told certain entities to keep their mouths shut about who is buying their products. On the other hand, might those entities fear a consumer backlash for providing the Feds that software? In doing so, could there also be possible conflicts of interests?
For example, would you want Symantec selling to consumers software designed to scan/update their systems, but at the same time using much of that same basic knowledge to assist the FBI in scanning their e-mail or hard drive contents? Would you then buy from Symantec not knowing just how much the government may have influenced their business decisions and products, what things their software should scan for and report, the exact nature of updates to which you have subscribed, or what data or files to overlook during system scans for some “national security” reason?
I, for one, would have very serious doubts about buying the products of any firm that had access to my computer (as their virus and malware software/updates have), and also worked directly with the government to assist in scanning consumers’ computers without their knowledge. I would love to see an expose of those firms providing this “commercial software for online spying.” I am willing to bet there might be a few surprises.
January 19th, 2005 at 12:05 pm
perhaps you do not understand..
the fbi monitors the lines.
they see what you do before you ever connect to a proxy
January 19th, 2005 at 9:57 pm
Proverbs 28, verse 1:
The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.