[sacw] BBC News: Internet spies' new tactics

[Harsh Kapoor]

FYI
Harsh Kapoor
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BBC News | SCI/TECH | Internet spies' new tactics
Friday, 26 November, 1999, 10:32 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_537000/537520.stm

INTERNET SPIES' NEW TACTICS
Computer users could be at risk from spies

Computer users are being warned by industry experts to beware of secret
codes which could be used to record their conversations.

Emails, screensavers, and electronic greeting cards can carry a secret
code which is able to switch on the computer's microphone, make a
recording, and forward it to someone else without the user's knowledge.

In fact any attachments sent to a computer, be it a game of Space
Invaders, or a moving image, can potentially be used to spy.

Experts say people should always think twice about opening attachments
because - although rare - bugging by computer can, and has been done.

Malicious code

Bill Lyons, head of the internet security company Finjan, said: "Military
people in the United States have tested this and you can be sure, if people
in general are aware of it, then computer hackers are aware of it.

"The frightening thing is, there are tools on the internet which people,
using a simple search engine, can find which will enable them to bind this
malicious code to simple attachments."

Experts have also confirmed that what can be done with a computer's
microphone could also be done with a webcam - allowing pictures to be taken
of people near a computer terminal.

Carl Saran, from Computer Weekly magazine, said: "I don't think this is
scaremongering - it is potentially possible.

"I'm sure there are clever people who are thinking about how they can use
this feature to look at what people are doing on their computers."