PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => General Tech Discussion, News & Q&A => Topic started by: sam on January 24, 2010, 18:20

Title: Surveillance Backdoor Enabled Chinese Gmail Attack?
Post by: sam on January 24, 2010, 18:20

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/01/24/1518213/Surveillance-Backdoor-Enabled-Chinese-Gmail-Attack

Quote

CNN is running an opinion piece on their front page from security technologist Bruce Schneier, in which he suggest that 'In order to comply with government search warrants on user data, Google created a backdoor access system into Gmail accounts. This feature is what the Chinese hackers exploited to gain access.' His article is short on sources, and the common belief is that a flaw in IE was the main attack method. Has this come up elsewhere? Schneier continues, 'Whether the eavesdroppers are the good guys or the bad guys, these systems put us all at greater risk. Communications systems that have no inherent eavesdropping capabilities are more secure than systems with those capabilities built in. And it's bad civic hygiene to build technologies that could someday be used to facilitate a police state

Title: Re: Surveillance Backdoor Enabled Chinese Gmail Attack?
Post by: Rik on January 24, 2010, 18:25

It's always worried me that BT have ordered so much of their infrastructure from China, Sam. Who knows what might be lurking.

Title: Re: Surveillance Backdoor Enabled Chinese Gmail Attack?
Post by: sam on January 24, 2010, 18:33

exactly and I bet the average tech person has no real clue as to what is under the hood.

Title: Re: Surveillance Backdoor Enabled Chinese Gmail Attack?
Post by: Rik on January 24, 2010, 18:35

Indeed. The average BT person will have even less idea.  :devil:

Title: Re: Surveillance Backdoor Enabled Chinese Gmail Attack?
Post by: Clive on January 24, 2010, 18:57

I can vouch for that!   ;D

Title: Re: Surveillance Backdoor Enabled Chinese Gmail Attack?
Post by: Rik on January 24, 2010, 18:58

 ;D

Title: Re: Surveillance Backdoor Enabled Chinese Gmail Attack?
Post by: sam on January 24, 2010, 18:59

Quote from: Clive on January 24, 2010, 18:57

I can vouch for that!   ;D

They should setup call centres in China...

Title: Re: Surveillance Backdoor Enabled Chinese Gmail Attack?
Post by: Rik on January 24, 2010, 19:05

 ;D

I'm not entirely convinced they haven't...