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GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

theguardian.com

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Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#121

Post by aric »

user24 wrote: post #3

This is why I have a piece of cardboard hanging over my webcam. That would have seemed extremely paranoid last year.

Only completely ignorant people[1] would have called you paranoid. Any device left to the mercy of such vulnerable software cannot be trusted. Even if societies pushed back against this surveillance machine and there were someday open, transparent modes of government -- even then -- still only fools would mock others who act out of caution and practical wisdom. RATting alone is reason enough, nevermind basic hacks that lead to total compromise. Webcams and mics have been easy targets since they've first existed in the mainstream (mid 90s). Further, if one's rightly concerned, unplug XBOX One and such devices when they're not in use. Built-in mics are the truly annoying part to counteract.

[1] only the vast majority of people (both computer savvy and illiterate)

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#122

Post by Asparagirl »

bsilvereagle wrote: post #4

Wow. It concerns me that the latest Snowden leaks are more privacy invasive than the first ones. What's next?

The logical end result of the government's collecting people's calls and texts and web visits and nekkid photos is that the government will later use that data. So I would assume that one of the aces up Snowden's sleeve is documents with the specifics about how all this data was (is) used to blackmail people, including politicians -- although that would probably be something that the CIA actually carries out, whereas the NSA merely grabbed the data that makes it possible.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#123

Post by tripzilch »

joyeuse6701 wrote: post #100
nobbyclark wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also something more tangible for non-geeks than other revelations so more likely to provoke a public reaction. "GHCQ has pics of your teenage daughter ..."

now THAT would rile up the public.

Well, it's probably true, so let them get riled.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#124

Post by acqq »

From one of the comments there:

"if someone (...) could explain why the line has always been "the metadata" when it is obvious that mass interception of content has always been part of the equation i would be grateful.

i would also be grateful if from now on every article relating to the NSA scandal will mention that fact that there is bulk collection of content.

i would also be grateful if from now on every time a public official is questioned or quoted the fact that content is collected in bulk is at the forefront.

every article should contain the fact that these agencies collect nude webcam images in bulk from people who are not suspected of any crime."

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#125

Post by tripzilch »

UnoriginalGuy wrote: post #110
TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh wow. That's a good point. And my MacBook lights an LED when my webcam's active, but it doesn't for the microphone. Perhaps it should?

The LED light on the webcam is bypass-able. On many cheap laptops it is controlled in software (at the kernel level), but even on Macs where it is meant to be hardware enforced it can be bypassed: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/12/18... Disabling the camera LED is a fairly standard feature in malware suites. Even a lot of USB webcams control the LED from software. The LED is just a feel-good f…

my laptop (Asus EEE 1215B) happens to have a physical slider that goes in front of the webcam (it also happens to be a bit loose and the tendency to slide to the "open" position if I pack it in my bags .. hmmmm ...).

however the point about the mic stands.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#126

Post by acqq »

StefanKarpinski wrote: post #19

This really isn't any worse than the other invasions of privacy that have been revealed – but it's much easier to point at it as an egregious and visceral violation of privacy. Even though webcam stills may be the least important (or useful) spying the US and UK have been doing, this may be some of the best fodder for arguments to limit such activities. So thank you, UK, for being so dumb.

Wrong. It is worse. It's the first confirmation of

Bulk, large scale collection

Of Content, moreover the visual and explicit

Of people not suspected of any crime.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#127

Post by mendelk »

forgotAgain wrote: post #98
StefanKarpinski wrote: post #19

This really isn't any worse than the other invasions of privacy that have been revealed – but it's much easier to point at it as an egregious and visceral violation of privacy. Even though webcam stills may be the least important (or useful) spying the US and UK have been doing, this may be some of the best fodder for arguments to limit such activities. So thank you, UK, for being so dumb.

This really isn't any worse than the other invasions of privacy that have been revealed I think you're incorrect on this. The level of intrusion here is much greater. There is a reason why video phones never really replaced voice: they are too revealing. This borders on voyeurism. Remember the stories of TSA agents joking about what they saw on full body scanners? I don't believe it is credible to think that these ty…

Re TSA, see [0].

[0] http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7158786

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#128

Post by tripzilch »

acqq wrote: post #124

From one of the comments there: "if someone (...) could explain why the line has always been "the metadata" when it is obvious that mass interception of content has always been part of the equation i would be grateful. i would also be grateful if from now on every article relating to the NSA scandal will mention that fact that there is bulk collection of content. i would also be grateful if from now on every time a p…

it was paced like this to make the nay-sayers claiming "there's no such thing, no bulk collection, just metadata, no proof otherwise" over the past few months lose their face.

which includes quite a few HN commenters, btw.

Re: GCHQ intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users worldwide

#129

Post by sequoia »

Wait a sec- is Yahoo Messenger video chat a common means of communication between terrorists?

"Sidney, get on yahoo we have to discuss the subway bombing. Alright. Is your webcam on? Come on we have to use the webcams- so much communication is nonverbal! I just read this story on time.com about the importance of face to face communication- it was really fascinat-- what? Oh alright back to the bombing. But first turn your webcam on."

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