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FinFisher Mobile Spyware Tracking Political Activists
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RetiredUser
RetiredUser,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/29/2016 | 7:13:24 AM
Marquis-Boire and Marczak Classic
Kudos to Marquis-Boire and Marczak for all their work over the years.  In reviewing older news related to the work they have done, this is one of my favorite pieces.  It reminds the industry to look to their work in the context of the world stage and to remember that code is easily repurposed.  We have a responsibility to protect the work that is done for good such that it is no easy task to repurpose it for evil.  I know many programmers have a sense of "the work is the work" and to let it loose, taking no responsibility for the uses it is put to.  While I wouldn't go so far as to say programmers should be held accountable for evil done using their software (just as I don't think we should go after gun manufacturers as the responsible party for the death of innocent victims of shootings), I will say that when you program something intended for good use, it's important to do all that can be done to protect that tool from use by the very people you are fighting against.  This is no easy task, but one that must be attempted, nonetheless.
Andrew Hornback
Andrew Hornback,
 User Rank: Apprentice
9/1/2012 | 10:55:42 PM
re: FinFisher Mobile Spyware Tracking Political Activists
Figured this would be coming any day now, looks like it's already here.

With the ubiquity of mobile devices, and the stories of how they are used in various movements around the world to rally supporters, etc. it only makes sense that those who want to bring an end to those movements would seek to spy on the members.

I just have to wonder if anything like that is going on in the US, given that it's an election year, hotly contested and any advantage would be a bonus to either side. But no, that couldn't happen here, could it?

I wonder if there are any packet analyzers on the market that can watch traffic into and out of mobile devices to help determine if these things are onboard. I'd actually be somewhat flattered if there was an organization out there who wanted to go to such levels to spy on me. But, I get the feeling that there are others who wouldn't share that feeling.

Andrew Hornback
InformationWeek Contributor


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