Leaked Docs Offer Win 8 Tip: FinFisher Spyware Can't Tap Skype's Metro App

mask.of.sanity (1228908) writes "A string of documents detailing the operations and effectiveness of the FinFisher suite of surveillance platforms appears to have been leaked. The documents, some dated 4 April this year, detail the anti-virus detection rates of the FinFisher spyware which German based Gamma Group sold to governments and law enforcement agencies. The dump also reveals Windows 8 users should opt for the Metro version of Skype rather than the desktop client because it cannot be tapped by FinFisher."

Irrelevant

[Anonymous Coward]

Skype belongs to Microsoft, Microsoft is in the US, the US records your calls.

Re:Metro Skype is useless

[jtwiegand]

This is probably why it's more difficult to exploit; it's a simpler program.

What about security against Microsoft?

[Anonymous Coward]

"People are aware that Windows has bad security but they are underestimating the problem because they are thinking about third parties.

What about security against Microsoft? Every non-free program is a 'just trust me program'. 'Trust me, we're a big corporation. Big corporations would never mistreat anybody, would we?' Of course they would! They do all the time, that's what they are known for. So basically you mustn't trust a non free programme."

"There are three kinds: those that spy on the user, those that restrict the user, and back doors. Windows has all three. Microsoft can install software changes without asking permission. Flash Player has malicious features, as do most mobile phones."

"Digital handcuffs are the most common malicious features. They restrict what you can do with the data in your own computer. Apple certainly has the digital handcuffs that are the tightest in history. The i-things, well, people found two spy features and Apple says it removed them and there might be more""

From:

Richard Stallman: 'Apple has tightest digital handcuffs in history'
www.newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2012/12/05/richard-stallman-interview/

Re:Irrelevant

[Anonymous Coward]

Which is absolute 100% nonsense. We killed people based on metadata. Paul Revere could have been found with metadata. Furthermore, people letting telecoms use their metadata is their choice; that doesn't mean they also opt to let the government use it. Their logic is, "You let one person see your metadata, so everyone in the world, including the government, should be able to do so."