Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
1–10 of 172 posts
Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
#2I hate to say it, but if what you're communicating could risk your life or that of someone else you might want to avoid using computers to communicate it altogether.
Old-school techniques such as physically smuggling microdots[1] seem much safer than relying on any computer technology, which can always be hacked.
Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
#3I hate to say it, but if what you're communicating could risk your life or that of someone else you might want to avoid using computers to communicate it altogether. Old-school techniques such as physically smuggling microdots[1] seem much safer than relying on any computer technology, which can always be hacked. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdot
If these hacking firms succeed in chasing journalists off digital communication, I think the totalitarian regimes they serve will consider that "a win."
Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
#4I hate to say it, but if what you're communicating could risk your life or that of someone else you might want to avoid using computers to communicate it altogether. Old-school techniques such as physically smuggling microdots[1] seem much safer than relying on any computer technology, which can always be hacked. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdot
If these hacking firms succeed in chasing journalists off digital communication, I think the totalitarian regimes they serve will consider that "a win."
It's arguably an even bigger "win" for them if they kill off or imprison those journalists.
Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
#5Earlier post on this story from a different consortium member:
Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
#6Earlier quoted context omitted.
If these hacking firms succeed in chasing journalists off digital communication, I think the totalitarian regimes they serve will consider that "a win."
It's arguably an even bigger "win" for them if they kill off or imprison those journalists.
They're doing that too... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Jamal_Khashog...
These firms are helping authoritarian regimes kill and imprison journalists. The journalists who survive by being paranoid will be made less effective by having to use less effective methods of communication, which likely aren't understood by the people journalists talk to (whistleblowers, witnesses, etc.)
Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
#7I hate to say it, but if what you're communicating could risk your life or that of someone else you might want to avoid using computers to communicate it altogether. Old-school techniques such as physically smuggling microdots[1] seem much safer than relying on any computer technology, which can always be hacked. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdot
Journalism is already a profession running on fumes (literally, in the past. More metaphorically, today). It's just not feasible to do without technology.
People sometimes seem to imagine some world inhibited by security-conscious professions that is more akin to a slick movie than real life. Witness the common believe that, say, blocking websites at DNS levels has zero impact on crime because it's easy to circumvent.
Real-life criminals, journalists, or activists prefer Telegram over code tattooed on a messenger's scalp for the same reason we all do: hair grows too slow and nobody is getting on international flights right now. I know it's fun to imagine all these activities involving "threat actors" and steganographic key exchanges via Pornhub (Alex and Bob getting on?). But that road leads to busywork that doesn't get any corrupt politician's name on that white page.
Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
#8Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
#9Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/revealed-leak-...
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Re: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists
#10I hate to say it, but if what you're communicating could risk your life or that of someone else you might want to avoid using computers to communicate it altogether. Old-school techniques such as physically smuggling microdots[1] seem much safer than relying on any computer technology, which can always be hacked. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdot
I think if you sell an exploit and it's used in a crime you should be held accountable as if you sold a weapon to an enemy.