Update [2005-10-20 13:37:26 by shirlstars]: Thanks to those in the know, we find out this is a hoax. But there are some good comments in the comment section that you might want to read anyway.]
I came across this article from a newsletter that I subscribe to. This is generally a very reliable source of information.
I am not a techie by any stretch of the imagination. But those of you who are may be able to asses this information and let us know if it is a probable or likely situation we should all be aware of.
Frankly, I am so suspicious and skeptical of this administration that I have no reservations in believing it is true.
Keystroke Loggers Installed In New Laptops!!!
Elizabeth Carr-Allen carrallen@adelphia.net
===========GOVERNMENT AND COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS CAUGHT INSTALLING HARD-WIRED KEYSTROKE LOGGERS INTO ALL NEW LAPTOP COMPUTERS!
More below the fold
Devices capture everything you ever type, then can send it via your ethernet card to the Dept. of Homeland Security without your knowledge, consent or a search warrant each time you log onto the internet!
Freedom Of Information Act Requests For Explanation From DHS, refused.
I was opening up my almost brand new laptop, to replace a broken PCMCIA slot riser on the motherboard. As soon as I got the keyboard off, I noticed a small cable running from the keyboard connection underneath a piece of metal protecting the motherboard.
I figured “No Big Deal,” and continued with the dissasembly. But when I got the metal panels off, I saw a small white heatshrink-wrapped package. Being ever-curious, I sliced the heatshrink open. I found a little circuit board inside.
I apologize for copying the entire article here, but I have no link to offer you. It continues:
Being an EE by trade, this piqued my curiosity considerably. On one side of the board, one Atmel http://www.atmel.com/ AT45D041A http://www.atmel.com/atmel/postscript/first_page/doc1496a.gif four megabit Flash memory chip.
On the other side, one Microchip Technology http://www.microchip.com/ PIC16F876 http://www.microchip.com/10/Lit/PICmicro/16F87X/30292/index1.htm
Programmable Interrupt Controller, along with a little Fairchild Semiconductor http://www.fairchildsemi.com/ CD4066BCM
http://www.fairchildsemi.com/pf/CD/CD4066BC.html quad bilateral switch.Looking further, I saw that the other end of the cable was connected to the integrated ethernet board.
What could this mean? I called the manufacturer’s tech support about it, and they said, and I quote, “The intregrated service tag identifier is there for assisting customers in the event of lost or misplaced personal information.” He then hung up.
A little more research, and I found that that board spliced in between the keyboard and the ethernet chip is little more than a Keyghost http://www.keyghost.com/ hardware keylogger.
The reasons a computer manufacturer would put this in their laptops can only be left up to your imagination. It would be very impractical to hand-anylze the logs, and very CPU-intensive to do so on a computer for every person that purchased a laptop. Why are these keyloggers here? I recently almost found out.
It continues:
I called the police, as having a keylogger unknown to me in my laptop is a serious offense. They told me to call the Department of Homeland Security. At this point, I am in disbelief. Why would the DHS have a keylogger in my laptop? It was surreal.
So I called them, and they told me to submit a Freedom of Information Act request. This is what I got back:
Under the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) the only items exempt from public disclosure are items relating to “law enforcement tools and techniques” and “items relating to national security.”
The real life implications of this are plain: Computer manufacturers appear to be cooperating with the Department of Homeland Security to make every person who buys a new computer subject to immediate, unrestricted government recording of everything they do on those computers! EVERYTHING!
This information can be sent to DHS, online, without your knowledge or consent, without a search warrant or even probable cause! That’s why this device is hard-wired directly into the ethernet card, which communicates over the internet!
I am not certain how long this information will be permitted to remain online for all the world to see before the government takes some type of action to attempt to have it removed from public view. I URGE you to take copy of this page immediately and spread this information to everyone you know immediately! The more people who find out about this, the more can protect themselves and raise a HUGE outcry to force government and computer manufacturers to immediately CEASE installing these devices in new computers!
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME GET THESE CRIMINALS OUT OF OFFICE!!!!! NOW!!!!
Okay, my rant is over now. . .I feel a little better. I will be glad to hear from all you techie and brilliant tribbers as to what you think of this. Everyone is invited to join in. Tell me I’m crazy or share in my continuing outrage at these type of things.
Have I been Hoaxed, or is this real?
