FBI-Ware
On June 12th the FBI received a court order to send spyware to a MySpace account in order to investigate a bomb-threat. They call it a Computer and Internet Protocol Address Verifier, or CIPAV. “The exact nature of these commands, processes, capabilities, and their configuration is classified as a law enforcement sensitive investigative technique, the disclosure of which would likely jeopardize other ongoing investigations and/or future use of the technique,” wrote FBI agent Norm Sanders in an 18 page affidavit filed in a federal court last month. As a result Josh Glazebrook of Timberline High School was sent to juvie for 90 days.
Is the FBI finally catching up to the times? Or have they employed such tactics before? In 2001 the FBI admitted they were working on a virus called Magic Lantern.
While I can see the benefits of using such tools, I have to wonder about the ethics involved. First of all there’s the invasion of privacy issue. Of course this is the same issues with wire-taps, or using cell-phones as remote listening devices. Now I do see the need for such things in certain circumstances, but spyware and viruses on my computer!?! I suppose I just have such an aversion to such things since I have to spend so much time cleaning this crap up. So federally funded viruses and spyware, is it a good thing or a bad thing? What do you think?
