FC: McAfee sides with FBI against customers on "Magic Lantern"

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Mon Nov 26 2001 - 08:01:19 PST

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    Security software, including PGP and anti-virus ware, is either looking out 
    for your interests or those of the government. It can't do both, and now we 
    know where McAfee stands. I invite McAfee to reply; I will distribute any 
    response unedited.
    
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1436-2001Nov22.html
        At least one antivirus software company, McAfee Corp., contacted the
        FBI on Wednesday to ensure its software wouldn't inadvertently detect
        the bureau's snooping software and alert a criminal suspect.
    
    http://www.politechbot.com/p-02822.html
    "FBI reportedly creating "Magic Lantern" anti-crypto virus"
    
    -Declan
    [Below posts forwarded from Dave Farber's IP list]
    
    ---
    
    >Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2001 14:06:47 -0700
    >To: David Farber <daveat_private>
    >From: Brett Glass <brettat_private>
    >Subject: Re: IP: Detecting Magic Lantern?
    >
    >At 01:31 PM 11/24/2001, David Farber wrote:
    >
    >>At 01:52 PM 11/23/2001, Henry E. Schaffer wrote:
    >>
    >> >"At least one antivirus software company, McAfee Corp., contaced the FBI
    >> >on Wednesday to ensure its software wouldn't inadvertently detect the
    >> >bureau's snooping software and alert a criminal subject."
    >> >
    >> >http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1436-2001Nov22.html
    >
    >I have just removed all Network Associates products from my workstations
    >and network servers, and will no longer recommend them to my clients
    >or readers.
    >
    >I have taken this position because Network Associates, by rigging its
    >products not to detect tampering by specific parties of its choosing, has
    >betrayed users' trust and started a descent down a perilous, slippery
    >slope. Will the company next change its PGP ("Pretty Good Privacy")
    >software so that it contains back doors as well? Will its "Sniffer"
    >products be configured to ignore certain types of attacks and allow
    >selected parties onto customers' networks undetected, possibly hiding
    >illegal searches by freewheeling law enforcement personnel? Will its
    >"Magic Solutions" products, which allow remote control and maintenance
    >of user workstations, become a vector for the installation of spying
    >software by government snoops?
    >
    >Just as disturbing as the company's breach of trust with its customers
    >is the prospect that others will exploit the back doors installed for
    >the benefit of government agencies.
    >
    >Network Associates has shown that it is willing to compromise its
    >integrity by selling intentionally faulty products. For this reason,
    >it is no longer appropriate or wise for those concerned about the
    >security of their networks, systems, or confidential data to use them.
    >
    >--Brett Glass
    
    ********
    
    >Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2001 12:47:23 -0800 (PST)
    >From: Lauren Weinstein <laurenat_private>
    >To: daveat_private
    
    >Dave,
    >
    >The latest very short "Fact Squad Radio" audio commentary deals with the
    >risks of the FBI's reported "Magic Lantern" project and similar systems.
    >The piece is called "The Spy in Your Computer?" and is available via:
    >
    >    http://www.factsquad.org/radio
    >
    >Thanks much.
    >
    >--Lauren--
    >Lauren Weinstein
    >laurenat_private or laurenat_private or laurenat_private
    >Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
    >Co-Founder, Fact Squad - http://www.factsquad.org
    >Co-Founder, URIICA - Union for Representative International Internet
    >                      Cooperation and Analysis - http://www.uriica.org
    >Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
    >Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
    
    ********
    
    
    
    
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