A report shows the FBI uses hacking techniques for spying purposes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the US is using tools and tactics routinely used by computer hackers for spying purposes.
FBI agents have been using hacking tools such as spyware delivered to computers and phones through email and Web links in order to spy on their targets, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
According to the WSJ, FBI agents have been increasingly using hacking tools under court order because their targets have been Å“going dark” by using new communications technology, like online chat and encryption tools, making it impossible for the FBI to wiretap their communications.
One of such hacking tactics used by the FBI is to secretly activate the microphone on Android phones and laptops.
The WSJ repot comes as massive US spying programs have recently come under spotlight after several reports and leaks shed some light on the extent of these programs run by US spy agencies.
New Zealandâ„¢s Sunday Star Times has reported that US spy agencies had been helping New Zealand spy on journalist Jon Stephenson while he was reporting on the war on Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Britainâ„¢s Guardian newspaper reported on Thursday that documents leaked by American whistleblower Edward Snowden show the US has paid some $150 million to Britainâ„¢s biggest spy agency over the past three years in order to gain access to the UKâ„¢s intelligence gathering programs.
Documents provided by Snowden, a former contractor with the US National Security Agency, has blown the lid on other secret programs run by the US government for collecting information on Americansâ„¢ phone calls and data about Internet activities of all people around the world.
Linh Dinh, a political analyst and writer, told Press TV on Thursday that the main goal of the US governmentâ„¢s massive spying programs is to intimidate political activists and dissidents and blackmail politicians.
Å“By knowing what everyone is up to, organized dissent can be snuffed out before it becomes a threat to the status quo, and by compiling files on all politicians and judges, the US can ensure that these public officials toe the line, because if they ever rock this Fascistic boat too aggressively, their private crimes, sins or transgressions can be exposed,” Dinh said.
ISH/ISH
Republished from: Press TV