The CIA has been trying hijack Apple's encryption and developer tools

March 10, 2015 by Paul Spoerry 1 Comment

iSpy: The CIA Campaign to Steal Apple’s Secrets
Researchers working with the Central Intelligence Agency have conducted a multi-year, sustained effort to break the security of Apple’s iPhones and iPads.

The Central Intelligence Agency researchers have been waging a multi-year campaign to break the security systems used by Apple on its devices.

The Intercept claims to have received documents outlining methods the CIA has considered to access data on Apple products. The usual talk of decrypting and vulnerabilities is present, but there's one technique in particular that seems especially nefarious. Reportedly, the CIA went as far as creating a modified version of Xcode (an Apple tool that developers use to make apps). The hijacked Xcode would unwittingly include code in the final app without the developer knowing. The Intercept's sources also claim OS X's updater (that automatically installs the latest version of OS X) was targeted with a modification that would install a keylogger onto your Mac. Fun. No word on if they're already trying to get into the shiney new AppleWatch.

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CIA torture tactics: What the terms really mean

December 10, 2014 by Paul Spoerry 23 Comments

CIA torture tactics: What the terms really mean
From “rough takedown” to walling, a breakdown of the torture tactics that CIA agents used on prisoners after 9/11.

In case you're still on the fence wondering if it was really torture… read through this list compiled by Mashable.

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UN and human rights groups seek prosecutions following CIA torture report

December 10, 2014 by Paul Spoerry 69 Comments

Oh wait you mean a government can't just do whatever it wants and say it's OK?

Waterboarding, sexual threats and sleep deprivation were among the torture tactics CIA agents used after 9/11, according to a much-anticipated Senate report, a summary of which was released on Tuesday.

The Senate Intelligence Committee compiled a 6,000-page "torture report," detailing how the CIA handled its prisoners during the so-called 'war on terror.' The report also said the tactics did not aid in locating and killing Osama bin Laden. The torture practices began during the presidency of George W. Bush, though the CIA hid its methods, the breadth of the torture programs and the effectiveness of torture from the Bush White House, according to the report.