UK spy agency intercepted webcam images of millions of Yahoo users

[Openmindedskeptic]

Britain's surveillance agency GCHQ, with aid from the National Security Agency, intercepted and stored the webcam images of millions of internet users not suspected of wrongdoing, secret documents reveal.

GCHQ files dating between 2008 and 2010 explicitly state that a surveillance program codenamed Optic Nerve collected still images of Yahoo webcam chats in bulk and saved them to agency databases, regardless of whether individual users were an intelligence target or not.

In one six-month period in 2008 alone, the agency collected webcam imagery – including substantial quantities of sexually explicit communications – from more than 1.8 million Yahoo user accounts globally.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/27/gchq-nsa-webcam-images-internet-yahoo

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

One case where some red tape might come in handy! :P

http://us.norton.com/yoursecurityresource/detail.jsp?aid=webcam_hacking


In the end, your best bet is to use a decidedly low-tech solution, say the experts. “The ultimate security control is to cover the lens,’’ Fox says. If your webcam doesn’t come with a lens cover, use an adhesive bandage or even a yellow sticky note to cover it up. (Just make sure nothing sticky is touching the lens itself, so you don’t damage it.) “It sounds silly, but it gives you positive feedback that no one is spying on you,” says Stiennon.

they can still use the mic, but it's nice to have SOME privacy :(



http://harvestzhang.com/2012/11/14/taping-up-your-webcam-is-like-sticking-your-head-in-the-sand/


Within weeks, I set up unique, complex passwords for every Web site, enabled two-step authentication for my e-mail accounts, and even covered up my computer’s Web camera with a piece of masking tape — a precaution that invited ridicule from friends and co-workers who suggested it was time to get my head checked.

But recent episodes offered vindication. I removed the webcam tape — after a friend convinced me that it was a little much — only to see its light turn green a few days later, suggesting someone was in my computer and watching.

commercial webcam cover: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21g%2Bop3AZBL.jpg

also:

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/young%20kids/online-safety/cover-your-webcam.aspx


Webcams are a great way to stay in touch with friends and family who are far away. Know when you’re on show and use webcams only with people you know in the day to day world. Make sure that mum or dad say it’s ok too.

Hector and his friends have created some webcam covers so that you know when you’re on show.

With mum or dad’s help you can print, colour and assemble them. Then you’re ready to cover up your webcam until you know it’s ok to be on show! You can even take the webcam cover to school and show your class.

Download and print a free webcam cover to use with computers at home or school.
- See more at: http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/young%20kids/online-safety/cover-your-webcam.aspx#sthash.BIyxaN31.dpuf

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/young%20kids/online-safety/~/media/Cybersmart/Young%20Kids/Images/Tama-Image6.ashxhttp://www.cybersmart.gov.au/young%20kids/online-safety/~/media/Cybersmart/Young%20Kids/Images/Hector-Image1.ashx
http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/young%20kids/online-safety/~/media/Cybersmart/Young%20Kids/Images/Sprat-Image5.ashxhttp://www.cybersmart.gov.au/young%20kids/online-safety/~/media/Cybersmart/Young%20Kids/Images/Ming-Image3.ashx
http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/young%20kids/online-safety/~/media/Cybersmart/Young%20Kids/Images/Ranjeet-Image4.ashx

@_@*
those guys are almost are creepy as the London Olympics camera-eyeball mascot thingy.

[Cidersomerset]

Yeah I was looking at this story just now wondering wether to post it
then I noticed your thread and that was my answer..LOL


http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/2.60.1/desktop/3.5/img/blq-blocks_grey_alpha.png

27 February 2014 Last updated at 15:27

UK spies 'intercepted webcam images of Yahoo users'Webcam

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73260000/jpg/_73260603_115779819(1).jpg
Almost 2 million users' images were stored in a six-month period, the report said Continue reading the main story
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British spy agency GCHQ intercepted webcam images from millions of Yahoo users
around the world, according to a report in the Guardian.

Yahoo denied prior knowledge of the alleged programme, describing it as
a "completely unacceptable" privacy violation.

According to leaked documents, sexually explicit images were among those
gathered - although not intentionally.

In a statement GCHQ has said all of its actions are in accordance with the law.

The operation, which was called Optic Nerve and was aided by the US National
Security Agency, is alleged to have stored images between 2008 and 2010. In one
six-month period in 2008, images from 1.8m users were gathered.

The report originated from documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

It suggested that sexually explicit content would be captured by the system.

"Unfortunately … it would appear that a surprising number of people use webcam
conversations to show intimate parts of their body to the other person," it read.

"Also, the fact that the Yahoo software allows more than one person to view a
webcam stream without necessarily sending a reciprocal stream means that it
appears sometimes to be used for broadcasting pornography."

'Whole new level'

"We were not aware of nor would we condone this reported activity," Yahoo said in
an emailed statement.

"This report, if true, represents a whole new level of violation of our users' privacy
that is completely unacceptable and we strongly call on the world's governments to
reform surveillance law consistent with the principles we outlined in December.

"We are committed to preserving our users' trust and security and continue our
efforts to expand encryption across all of our services."

A statement from GCHQ said it would not comment on matters of intelligence, but
added: "All of GCHQ's work is carried out in accordance with a strict legal and
policy framework which ensures that our activities are authorised, necessary and
proportionate, and that there is rigorous oversight, including from the secretary of
state, the interception and intelligence services commissioners and the
Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee.

"All our operational processes rigorously support this position."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26367781

[Openmindedskeptic]

It really bothers me when skeptics claim that even though all this data is collected the Intelligence Agencies don't have time to go through it for abuse. That's simply rubbish and I speak from first hand experience being a victim of government directed overzealous surveillance here in the United States.

[mountain_jim]

I have admired the work of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (Defending Your Rights In the Digital World) for many years.

This story, and Glenn's twitter feed links, prompted me to support the EFF in a small way yesterday by buying their Laptop Camera Cover Set:

https://supporters.eff.org/shop/laptop-camera-cover-set