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Do Antivirus Companies Whitelist NSA Malware?
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brianmooreDR
50%
50%
brianmooreDR,
 User Rank: Apprentice
5/7/2014 | 5:05:51 AM
NSA uses some antivirus software to spy thousands of computers
Things are easiest :  NSA uses some antivirus software to spy thousands of computers.


When you have access to the antivirus software, you have full admin access to the whole computer : files, network, USB, ...

Antivirus software watches all processes on the computer but nobody watches antivirus software ..

Antivirus software can read file and send data to distant server.

Users cannot distinct normal antivirus scan process and updates and data spying ...

 

 
Michelle Schenker
50%
50%
Michelle Schenker,
 User Rank: Apprentice
2/6/2014 | 7:16:31 PM
Re: Good news/bad news
I too am impressed but not surprised that the Europeans were quicker to jump on board before the Americans. BItdefender always seems to be ahead of the game from all the research we've conducted over the years. Glad to see they are doing their part to keep the NSA as honest as possible. If anyone wants to read more about what sets Bitdefender apart, here's a helpful review that we put together with our findings: http://www.asecurelife.com/bitdefender-reviews/  And, if you find anything that needs updating, I'd love the heads up on that too. Thanks! 
Marilyn Cohodas
50%
50%
Marilyn Cohodas,
 User Rank: Strategist
12/6/2013 | 12:49:16 PM
Re: Good news/bad news
It's great to see Avira and Bitdefender respond to the  transparency question about NSA malware from Dutch digital rights foundation Bits of Freedom. Now its your turn, Microsoft, Symantec, and McAfee!
Mathew
50%
50%
Mathew,
 User Rank: Apprentice
12/6/2013 | 12:37:33 PM
Re: Good news/bad news
Update: two more AV vendors have come forward -- and we've updated the story accordingly. Avira's CEO has sent Trail of Bits a letter saying it hasn't, and won't, block any malware, full stop. Ditto for the CEO of Bitdefender, who said that his firm first learned of the open letter via the press, saying he'd never received a written inquiry from Bits of Freedom. 

Do any other AV vendors who haven't responded want to make their views known?
DREGstudios01
50%
50%
DREGstudios01,
 User Rank: Apprentice
12/4/2013 | 2:51:59 PM
Re: Good news/bad news
The dystopian fantasies of yesteryear are now a reality.  We've allowed the coming of an age where the civil liberties our forefathers fought so hard for are being eroded by the day.  Freedom of Press, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly are mere ghostly images of their original intent.  We've woken up to an Orwellian Society of Fear where anyone is at the mercy of being labeled a terrorist for standing up for rights we took for granted just over a decade ago.  Read about how we're waging war against ourselves at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/09/living-in-society-of-fear-ten-years.html
Marilyn Cohodas
50%
50%
Marilyn Cohodas,
 User Rank: Strategist
12/4/2013 | 1:24:37 PM
Good news/bad news
Kudos to the six AV vendors who responded to the Bits of Freedom request. As the for the silence from  McAfee, Microsoft, Symantec and the other holdouts, it's deafening to say the least.  At the very least, they should justify their lack of transperncy with their reasons why.


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