Archive for the 'Surveillance' Category
Facial Recognition Software Moves From Overseas Wars to Local Police
August 12th, 2015The countries that run ECHELON, the largest civilian communications surveillance program in the world, have developed unified standards for biometric identification. See how this might look in the future by looking at Iraq. That’s the beta testing phase for what’s in store for the rest of us. —Cryptogon, 2007 Via: New York Times: Facial recognition […]
Windows 10 Is Possibly the Worst Spyware Ever Made
August 8th, 2015Via: Network World: The usual bumps of an OS launch are understandable and forgivable, but some of the terms of the end user service agreement for Windows 10 put the NSA to shame. Microsoft is already getting heat after it was found that Windows 10 was being auto-downloaded to user PCs without warning, and more […]
The No Download List
August 8th, 2015Via: The Register: Software export controls are being applied to blacklisted people as well as countries: and these controls apply to routine security packages such as freebie antivirus scanning software, as well as more sensitive technologies, El Reg has concluded. We’ve come to this way of thinking after investigating why Reg reader Hasan Ali was […]
Electronic Frontier Foundation: Privacy Badger
August 6th, 2015Looks good. Via: EFF: How is Privacy Badger different to Disconnect, Adblock Plus, Ghostery, and other blocking extensions? Privacy Badger was born out of our desire to be able to recommend a single extension that would automatically analyze and block any tracker or ad that violated the principle of user consent; which could function well […]
China to Plant Internet Police in Top Online Firms
August 5th, 2015Via: PC World: China’s control over the Internet is set to expand. In a bid to better police local websites, the country’s security forces are establishing offices at the biggest online firms in the country. The country’s Ministry of Public Security announced the new measures on Tuesday, at a time when authorities have been increasingly […]
Facebook’s Solar-Powered Internet Plane Looks Like a Stealth Bomber
July 30th, 2015Pics at the link. Woh. Via: The Verge: Facebook’s plans to become a flying internet service provider for the developing world are coming to fruition. The company today introduced Aquila, a high-flying, long-endurance plane that will bring basic internet access to the developing world. A working model of the plane is now ready for testing, […]
Windows 10 Delivers Updates to Other Users on the Internet Via Peer-to-Peer by Default
July 30th, 2015Update: Windows 10 Default Privacy Settings: “Vague and Bordering on Scary” — By dumb luck, I just found a setting that indicates that Windows 10 delivers updates to other computers over the Internet via peer-to-peer networking. Not good if you’re like most people in New Zealand on metered Internet connections! Once I got over my […]
Deep Neural Nets Can Now Recognize Your Face in Thermal Images
July 28th, 2015Via: MIT Technology Review: One problem with infrared surveillance videos or infrared CCTV images is that it is hard to recognize the people in them. Faces look different in the infrared and matching these images to their normal appearance is a significant unsolved challenge. The problem is that the link between the way people look […]
Google Eavesdropping Tool Installed on Computers Without Permission
June 23rd, 2015Via: Guardian: Privacy campaigners and open source developers are up in arms over the secret installing of Google software which is capable of listening in on conversations held in front of a computer. First spotted by open source developers, the Chromium browser – the open source basis for Google’s Chrome – began remotely installing audio-snooping […]
Controversial GCHQ Unit Engaged in Domestic Law Enforcement, Online Propaganda, Psychology Research
June 23rd, 2015via: First Look: The spy unit responsible for some of the United Kingdom’s most controversial tactics of surveillance, online propaganda and deceit focuses extensively on traditional law enforcement and domestic activities — even though officials typically justify its activities by emphasizing foreign intelligence and counterterrorism operations. Documents published today by The Intercept demonstrate how the […]
