[Politech] Is the FBI using email Web bugs? [priv]

From: Declan McCullagh (declan@private)
Date: Wed Jan 07 2004 - 09:09:16 PST

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    [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.
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