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Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

washingtonpost.com

51–60 of 172 posts

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#51

It would be really nice if I could own my phone to the point where I could install an outgoing firewall or harden the os to my abilities instead of blind trust into the diligent but not infallible vendor.

https://grapheneos.org/

Cat and mouse game. The foundations of computing must be completely reworked if we are to ever have any real security.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#52

Aren't these private hacking companies breaking the law though? Does anyone know why no one has sued them or arrested them or something? From what I understand in most cases, any attempts to reverse engineer or exploit any system is against terms of service with the offender held liable. Some teenager who comes up with a game hack can be slapped with a massive fine, but these hacking companies aren't even breaking th…

Rule of law is a joke. If you work for your government and don't anger the politicians you can workout sweetheart deals that will shield you from the law completely, unless you fall out of political favour.

But they are breaking the law. Same as many security agencies. It just doesn't matter.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#53
post #33

> The investigation by the Guardian and 16 other media organisations suggests widespread and continuing abuse of NSO’s hacking spyware, Pegasus, which the company insists is only intended for use against criminals and terrorists. (from the Guardian inquiry about the same topic). Every time we allow special laws or special tools to fight "terrorism" or "child abuse" or other evils that get people worked up, they end u…

How do I allow laws? Or rather what does it mean to not “allow” a law?

You are right. Terrorism and cp are commonly used excuses to enable even more surveillance.

When you talk about “allowing laws” it makes it sound as if we somehow got conned into letting them have these laws. In reality powerfull people want these tools. Powerfull people get these tools. Where does the allowing happen exactly?

And don’t tell me that all would be well if only we would vote for the other guy.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#54

It would be really nice if I could own my phone to the point where I could install an outgoing firewall or harden the os to my abilities instead of blind trust into the diligent but not infallible vendor.

https://grapheneos.org/

Yes but no. Quite frankly I love iOS and my apps and the camera etc. The big disappointment is really that there is no power user mode for the rest of us. The computer/phone is really an extension of the mind at this point and we gave up control so easily. It is as if we let corporations lock down our pleasure center.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#55
post #22

Aren't these private hacking companies breaking the law though? Does anyone know why no one has sued them or arrested them or something? From what I understand in most cases, any attempts to reverse engineer or exploit any system is against terms of service with the offender held liable. Some teenager who comes up with a game hack can be slapped with a massive fine, but these hacking companies aren't even breaking th…

Why would anyone sue or arrest them? They develop the software, they do not break into the phones of journalists. The article says that the governmental agencies are breaking into the phone. These hacking companies just license their software to these governmental agencies.

Try to sell ransomware programs and sell support contracts and then see what happens.

It is illegal to provide assistance in the commitance of a crime even if you're not the one that pulls the trigger.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#57
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is it different? They are tools that can be used for both legal and illegal means. If you put legal responsibility on one toolmaker to ensure their tools are not used in an illegal fashion, why wouldn't you do the same for other toolmakers?

Isn't that obvious? An exploit is to encryption as a sword is to a shield. We don't regulate shields.

A shield can inflict damage just like a sword can. Encryption hiding the details of a murder plot can be just as crucial as an exploit that reveals a murder target's location.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#58
post #40

I know it's not a foolproof solution but perhaps there should be a greater focus on ethics in Computer Science curricula? The Israeli developers who wrote this software may not even have been exposed to the moral and ethical questions writing such software ought to raise. Perhaps there should be trade associations for developers that calls out software companies that writes immoral software? With great power comes gr…

It's also possible that the developers who wrote this software are very aware of the ethical questions surrounding it and have decided that the benefits to society in combatting crime and terrorism outweigh the harms from misuse of the technology. While I don't personally agree, I can see how someone could hold such an opinion.

One of the things you'll learn in an ethics class is that ethical values are heavily influenced by culture and circumstance, and there are vast differences in what different groups of people believe is ethical and not.

Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists

#60
post #40

I know it's not a foolproof solution but perhaps there should be a greater focus on ethics in Computer Science curricula? The Israeli developers who wrote this software may not even have been exposed to the moral and ethical questions writing such software ought to raise. Perhaps there should be trade associations for developers that calls out software companies that writes immoral software? With great power comes gr…

Ethics that is not enforced is a joke. You only need one guy not to give a fuck.
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