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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Google developing eavesdropping software

The idea is to use the existing PC microphone to listen to whatever is heard in the background, be it music, your phone going off or the TV turned down. The PC then identifies it, using fingerprinting, and then shows you relevant content, whether that's adverts or search results, or a chat room on the subject.

And, of course, we wouldn’t put it past Google to store that information away, along with the search terms it keeps that you've used, and the web pages you have visited, to help it create a personalised profile that feeds you just the right kind of adverts/content. And given that it is trying to develop alternative approaches to TV advertising, it could go the extra step and help send "content relevant" advertising to your TV as well.

We suspect that such a world would be rather eerie, with a constant feeling of déjà vu every time anyone watched TV.

Source: www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/03/google_eavesdropping_software/

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I'm sure webcams will be used too. I always turn them away....including my cell phone camera...

[Bryant]

I'm not sure I understand.. so using your PC's microphone, it picks up whatever sound there is, be it some loud punk rock music or a conversation, and translates it into a google search?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Bryant,

I think that Google using the fingerprint technology, will listen in, grab your IP number and when you do a search know it's you and will pop up revelant ads that it thinks you might like.

Those with broadband connections, that means your connection with the outside world is always on, and ergo...your household sounds...all of them. We are a noisy species, arn't we...some more than others.

A simple on and off switch on routers would do wonders.

[Bryant]

Ah, another one of those relevant advertising type of things... haven't we seen a million of those? Interesting what lengths people will go to just to try and sell their product.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Superintendent Trojan

VoIP to be listened to...and more

Whilst listening in on normal telephone calls over landlines or mobile phone networks has become a routine procedure, Voice over IP connections frequently present a problem for investigators, especially when the persons being monitored use Skype via foreign servers or call direct from PC to PC and encrypt their data. The Swiss Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) is therefore examining the use of spy software to allow it to listen in on conversations on PCs.


The software comes from Swiss security company ERA IT Solutions, which intends to supply it solely to investigation agencies. This should also prevent antivirus manufacturers from incorporating it into their databases and having their tools recognise it. According to the manufacturer, firewalls do not present a problem.

Installation of the software wiretap is to be carried out on the instructions of a judge only. The ISPs of the persons under investigation will then slip the program onto their computers. The program will save overheard conversations and send them to a server in small, inconspicuous packets. If the computer is turned off before all the data has been transmitted, the program will continue transmission when it is restarted.

The wiretap has some additional functions. For example, the built in microphone on a laptop can be turned on to monitor a room or webcams can be activated. As the latter is usually indicated by an LED, this is unlikely to be useful in practice. Once wiretap activities have been completed, the software can be programmed to uninstall itself at a given time.

Until now the project had been carried out in secret, but it has now been reported in the SonntagsZeitung. It quotes Charles Gudet, the head of the Special Services Department of the UVEK, who admits that there is no clear legal basis for the use of Trojans in the Federal Post and Telecommunications Surveillance Act. In contrast, canton and federal criminal proceedings regulations permit the use of software wiretaps in accordance with the regulations governing surveillance using technical surveillance equipment.

Source: www.heise-security.co.uk/news/79212

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I understand that presently - cell phones can act as listening devices/viewers as well without the owner aware of it...

[Maddad]

I keep my cell phone in my front pants pocket. I'm not sure any snoop would get a thrill out of what he sees.