Tag: surveillance
220 articles
Spyware Exploits Intimate Partner Abuse Globally
The dark side of technology has enabled a staggering 14,500 people across 128 countries to allegedly buy and use commercial spyware, giving them unrestricted access to intimate details of others' lives. This invasive software can track locations, activate microphones, and even compromise devices without a single click.
Zero-Knowledge Proofs Evolve to Bypass Age-Verification Checks
As the digital landscape continues to shift, it's only a matter of time before you'll have to face the music - and the cameras - when it comes to age verification checks. But what's really behind these on-camera checks: protecting kids or creating a way for governments to control access to online platforms?
Meta Reverses Instagram Encryption Stance
Meta has backtracked on its plan to introduce end-to-end encryption for Instagram messages, leaving direct messages stored and transmitted in plaintext, giving the company access to user conversations. This move reverses years of promotion for enhanced messaging security.
UK Age-Gating Plans Threaten Internet Openness, Privacy Groups Warn
Privacy groups, including EFF and Mozilla, are warning that UK age-gating plans could threaten the openness and freedom of the internet, stifling opportunities for individuals, businesses, and society as a whole. The proposed measures have sparked a joint public pushback from leading advocates for civil liberties and online rights.
Stalkerware Breach Exposes Risks for Executives
A shocking stalkerware breach has exposed a treasure trove of sensitive information, including 86,859 images - seemingly screenshots from a single victim's device - used to secretly stalk a high-profile European entrepreneur and media personality. The alarming leak highlights the very real risks executives face in the digital age.
FTC Bars Kochava from Selling Location Data Without Consent
The Federal Trade Commission is taking a stand against Kochava, proposing an order that would require the company to obtain explicit consent from Americans before selling their precise location data, and only use it for services they directly requested. This move aims to put an end to the sale of sensitive location information without users' knowledge or consent.
Supreme Court Weighs Limits on Geofence Warrants
The Supreme Court is set to tackle a pressing question: do geofence warrants, a relatively new law enforcement tool, overstep constitutional boundaries? This high-stakes case, Chatrie v. The United States, could have far-reaching implications for digital privacy and police power.
UK Judges Uphold Police Use of Live Facial Recognition in London
The High Court has ruled that the Metropolitan Police Service can continue using live facial recognition in London, confirming that the technology is lawful and effective in keeping the public safe. This decision is a major win for the MPS, which has been using LFR to tackle crime and protect Londoners.
Mexican Surveillance Firm Expands into US Market
A Mexican surveillance company is setting its sights on the US market, raising important questions about the intersection of technology, law, commerce, and civic values. Grupo Seguritech's expansion into new territory sparks a complex conversation about the implications of increased surveillance.
Satellite Firms Blur Military Tracking with Hybrid Constellations
As commercial satellite companies like Vantor merge high and low-resolution imaging in hybrid constellations, the boundaries between what's hidden and what's observable are rapidly shifting. This game-changing approach enables armed forces to rethink their secrecy in a world where the skies are increasingly transparent.
India-Tied Hack-for-Hire Group Targets MENA Journalists
Meet the shadowy hack-for-hire group with ties to India that's targeting journalists and activists in the Middle East and North Africa, silencing voices and stifling free speech. Their sinister operations have been uncovered by security researchers, revealing a chilling espionage trade where reporters, officials, and dissenting voices are prime targets.
RQ-180 Stealth Drone Spotted Flying Over Greece in Broad Daylight
A top-secret stealth drone, the massive RQ-180, has been spotted flying in broad daylight over Greece, revealing new details about its design and presence. The unusual daytime sighting of this covert aircraft is providing fresh insights into its configuration and capabilities.
Congress Probes ICE's Use of Paragon Spyware
House Democrats are pushing back against Immigration and Customs Enforcement's use of Paragon spyware, demanding more answers after the agency's explanations fell short. The lawmakers' concerns highlight growing tensions over law enforcement's use of controversial hacking tools.
Zoom Meetings Exposed by Rogue Web Service
Meetings meant to be private, ended up being public. A rogue web service called WebinarTV has been exploiting Zoom meeting security by searching for publicly available invites, joining and secretly recording sessions, and publishing them online.
WhatsApp Exposes Italian Users to Spyware via Fake iOS App
WhatsApp has alerted around 200 users, mostly in Italy, about a sneaky spyware attack that hit them after they downloaded a fake version of the app for iOS. This alarming incident raises a crucial question: how can you trust that the app on your phone is genuine?
Critical Camera Alert: Apple's Indicator Light Shields Users from Devastating Malware Risks
Imagine being able to trust that your camera isn't being secretly used - Apple’s camera indicator lights offer a simple yet powerful solution, giving you peace of mind with a reassuring glow that alerts you when your camera is in use. This clever feature is a game-changer in the fight against malware and hacking, empowering you to take control of your digital security.
Xi Jinping Exclusive: Damaging Joke on Xiaomi Backdoors
Xi Jinpings offhand joke about Xiaomi backdoors — met with a laugh from South Koreas president — turned a light moment into a diplomatic ripple, reigniting real doubts about device security and supply‑chain vulnerabilities.
Digital ID Exclusive: Risky Shift to Drawer Surveillance
Is the new Digital ID a handy shortcut or a stealthy surveillance tool? We unpack how the switch to a “convenience” pitch masks unresolved technical, legal and governance choices that will determine whether one credential empowers people—or hands the state unprecedented visibility.
Shield AI Exclusive Stunning Affordable VTOL Combat Drone
Shield AI’s jet-powered VTOL autonomous fighter drone could free airpower from runways, offering fighter-like speed, range and payload from streets, ships or improvised strips. Affordable and dispersible, it promises greater resilience and a whole new way to project strike and ISR.
Digital ID Exclusive: Dangerous Drawer-Style Privacy Risks
Think one tap, instant access — the UKs Digital ID is being sold as pure convenience. But that simplicity could hand the state a master key to private lives, concentrating power and inviting mission creep.
insider risk: Essential Defenses Against Costly Breaches
Insider risk is now a frontline threat—77% of organizations have suffered data loss—so prioritize least-privilege access, zero-trust IAM, and integrated DLP/UEBA/SIEM while building a people-first culture that balances privacy with protection. These must-have defenses stop costly breaches before trusted channels become exit ramps.
social media surveillance: Shocking Risk to Free Speech
Imagine a government tool meant to spot foreign threats quietly sweeping up Americans’ posts and using those snippets to deny visas, jobs, or the right to return — now three unions, backed by the EFF, are suing to stop a program they say chills speech, lacks transparency, and lets algorithms punish dissent without due process.
Rewiring Democracy: Must-See Cambridge Events Best
Join Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. Sanders in Cambridge and online as they unpack Rewiring Democracy—three public events (a Harvard book talk, an evening signing at Cambridge Public Library, and a Data & Society virtual conversation) that turn technical diagnosis into practical civic solutions.
social media surveillance: Stunning, Risky Threat
Imagine losing a visa over a tweet: a new Brookings report reveals how AI-driven social-media surveillance for visa enforcement risks chilling speech, making costly errors, and turning public expression into grounds for punishment. It’s a wake-up call to ask who watches the watchers and demand clearer rules, transparency, and safeguards.