WyzGuys Tech Talk

In addition to the traditional malware problems that we face from the cyber-criminals that are after your computer, your money, and your identity, we are now faced with a similar threat from governments both foreign and domestic.  How do you know if your computer is under government surveillance? Software developer Claudio Guarnieri, with the support of Amnesty International, the  Electronic Frontier Foundation,  Privacy International and Digitale Gesellschaft has created a new product called Detekt that he claims will help uncover government sponsored spyware.  The Detekt website explains the problem this way:

In recent years we have witnessed a huge growth in the adoption and trade in communication surveillance technologies. Such spyware provides the ability to read personal emails, listen-in Skype conversations or even remotely turn on a computers camera and microphone without its owner knowing about it.

Some of this software is widely available on the Internet, while some more sophisticated alternatives are made and sold by private companies based in industrialized countries to state law enforcement and intelligence agencies in countries across the world.

There is little to no regulation currently in place to safeguard against these technologies being sold or used by repressive governments or others who are likely to use them for serious human rights violations and abuses.

So if you are an activist or political dissident, or are otherwise concerned that are the target of government surveillance, this product may be for you.