[I've never liked the term "web bug" -- all we're talking about, I believe, is an HTML email message that includes an <img> tag to import a graphic image from a remote site. That remote site then has some information about what IP address or proxy you're using to read the email. The solution is to disable importation of <img> tags or use a text-based mail reader, like the one I'm using to write this message. Unfortunately for him, this (alleged) Best Buy extortion artist didn't know any better. --Declan] --- From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms@private> To: "Declan McCullagh" <declan@private> Subject: Is the FBI using email Web bugs? Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 11:12:44 -0500 Hi Declan, Hmm, is an "Internet Protocol Address Verifier" just an email Web bug? If so, the suspect should have been using Outlook 2003 which blocks 'em. ;-) Richard Feds thwart extortion plot against Best Buy http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/4304797.html The federal search warrant was obtained the morning of Oct. 24 and allowed the FBI, with Best Buy's cooperation, to use an Internet device known as an Internet Protocol Address Verifier. It contained a program that automatically sent back a response to Best Buy after the company sent a message to the e-mail address. The response allowed investigators to identify Ray as the sender of the e-mail threats, according to the government. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Luehr said the address verifier was one of several investigative tools the government used to track Ray down. "It was a tool that helped us confirm that other leads were moving in the same direction," said Luehr, who declined to discuss details of the investigation. Ray faces a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine for property and reputation extortion. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for threats to damage computers. _______________________________________________ Politech mailing list Archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Moderated by Declan McCullagh (http://www.mccullagh.org/)
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