Friday, September 16, 2016

Why the director of the FBI to cover your webcam with tape (and recommend you to do) – BBC World

James ComeyImage copyright AFP
Image caption James Comey says that all the world should worry about their own safety and to cover up the camera of your laptop.

a long time Ago that began to spread the rumor.

One of the first responsible was the exanalista of intelligence Edward Snowden, who said in 2013 that the National Security Agency U.S. (NSA, for its acronym in English), have programs that allow you to access the cameras from the computers and cellphones of citizens.

The fear of feeling spied rose among a large number of users of digital devices around the world, who decided to cover the lens of their cameras with stickers, or adhesives.

The same thing happened with the microphones: the hacker could see you and hear you, so better make it as difficult as possible.

Some manufacturers defended themselves by creating safer technologies.

But a photo that the creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, published in June of this year, put the issue back on the fore: in it one could see a silver ribbon covered the camera of his laptop.

And another blocked the entrance of your microphone.

Image copyright Mark Zuckerberg/Twitter
Image caption The founder of Facebook also covers the camera and microphone of your laptop.

Some media dismissed it as paranoid.

But now the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation united States (FBI, according to its acronym in English), James Comey, has reiterated: there is that to cover up the camera, ensures.

And this is not the first time you do it.

“personal Security”

The first time that Comey caused controversy by advising users that the cover the camera was in April of this year.

Many did not give credit to the head of one of the intelligence agencies most advanced in the world were to recognize this habit and recommend it, although it could perhaps go against the practices of the own Bureau Research.

And some users of Twitter made fun of him.

But this week Comey went back to raise blisters. This time, during a conference in Washington, D. C, in front of an audience for a laboratory of ideas.

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Edward Snowden said in 2013 that the NSA used the cameras to spy on its citizens.

Comey said that cyber attacks are “unavoidable” and that all people have to be careful with your own safety anddo not assume that someone will be so by them.”

“do you Still use a piece of masking tape to cover the cameras in the house?” will asked.

“Yes, of course”, he replied without hesitation.

“it is Not so crazy that the director of the FBI to be concerned also for their personal safety”, added Comey.

To Comey, it is a question of reasonableness.

“In the government offices, we all have those cameras that are placed on top of the screen, and all of them have a small cover that is lowered over the lens”.

“That is done to people who do not have the authority, don’t watch“.

what Double standard?

Some devices to cover the camera as they take time in the market.

For example, the security system, “Lock&Lock“, an accessory that, as explained in the blog of Xataka, provides a lock more powerful than that of the adhesive tape.

Image copyright Thinkstock
Image caption how hackers Use the cameras on our laptop and cell phones for espiarnos?

Others, such as “Nope 2.0“, to hide the objective with a piece of magnet.

But how necessary is to plug the camera? are actually Used the hackers our cameras and microphones to espiarnos? And what about the government agencies?

For some analysts, the comments of Comey are hypocrites and involve “double standards”.

they Allege that contradict their claims in terms that technology companies should not manufacture appliances that hinder the work of the agency.

An example was the controversial case of unlocking the iPhone of one of the attackers of San Bernardino.

Image copyright EPA
Image caption The legal fight between the FBI and Apple were made public in mid-February, when Apple published an open letter on why he refused to give course to the request of the FBI.

In that case, the FBI said that it had not availed itself of the help of Apple to access the phone.

The technical and activist Christopher Soghoian, of the Union American Civil Liberties (ACLU ,for its acronym in English) accused the director of the FBI to bring a double standard in regards to your own privacy.

“The public should ask to know how the government conducts its surveillance and how they monitor, how they limit themselves and how to operate these devices,” said Soghoian.

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Some accused Comey of double standards.
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