- SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -
An FBI spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that the U.S. government is working
on a controversial Internet spying technology, code-named "Magic
Lantern",
which could be used to eavesdrop on computer communications by suspected
criminals.
-
- "It is a workbench project" that has not yet
been deployed, said FBI spokesman Paul Bresson. "We can't discuss
it because it's under development."
-
- The FBI has already acknowledged that it uses software
that records keystrokes typed into a computer to obtain passwords that
can be used to read encrypted e-mail and other documents as part of
criminal
investigations.
-
- Magic Lantern reportedly would allow the agency to plant
a Trojan horse keystroke logger on a target's PC by sending a computer
virus over the Internet, rather than require physical access to the
computer
as is now the case.
-
- Malicious hackers have been known to use e-mail or other
remote methods for installing spying technology, security experts
said.
-
- When word of Magic Lantern leaked out in published
reports
in November, civil libertarians said the program could easily be abused
by overzealous law enforcement agencies.
-
- When asked if Magic Lantern would require a court order
for the FBI to use it, as existing keystroke logger technology does,
Bresson
said: "Like all technology projects or tools deployed by the FBI it
would be used pursuant to the appropriate legal process."
-
- Major anti-virus vendors this week said they would not
voluntarily cooperate with the FBI and said their products would continue
to be updated to detect and prevent viruses, regardless of their origin,
unless there was a legal order otherwise.
-
- Doing so would anger customers and alienate non-U.S.
customers and governments, they said, adding that there had been no
requests
by the FBI to ignore any viruses.
-
- The FBI set a precedent in a similar case by asking
Internet
service providers to install technology in their networks that allows
officials
to secretly read e-mails of criminal investigation targets.
-
- While the FBI requires a court order to install its
technology,
formerly called "Carnivore," some service providers reportedly
comply voluntarily, while court orders are relatively easy to get, civil
libertarians argue.
-
- Given the hijacking attacks of Sept. 11, it is also
conceivable
that the U.S. government would enlist the aid of private companies to
combat
terrorism and help its war effort, said Michael Erbschloe, vice president
of research at Computer Economics, which analyzes the impact of
viruses.
-
- "In previous wars, including World War II, the
government
had the power to call on companies to help; to commandeer the
technology,"
said Erbschloe, author of "Information Warfare: How to Survive Cyber
Attacks."
-
- "If we were at war the government would be able
to require technology companies to cooperate, I believe, in a number of
ways, including getting back door access to information and computer
systems."
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