Police State

Secret backdoors found in firewall, VPN gear from Barracuda Networks

"A variety of firewall, VPN, and spam filtering gear sold by Barracuda Networks contains undocumented backdoor accounts that allow people to remotely log in and access sensitive information, researchers with an Austrian security firm have warned. The SSH, or secure shell, backdoor is hardcoded into 'multiple Barracuda Networks products' and can be used to gain shell access to vulnerable appliances, according to an advisory published Thursday by SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab. A timestamp and version relevant for the code that enables the backdoor bears a date from 2003, suggesting it may have existed in the Barracuda appliances for a decade." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSecret backdoors found in firewall, VPN gear from Barracuda Networks

Google stands up for Gmail users, requires cops to get a warrant

"American government agencies (including federal, state, and local authorities) made over 8,400 requests for nearly 15,000 accounts—far exceeding India, the next largest country in terms of information requests. It's unclear how many of the subpoenas or warrants Google complied with—the company has only said it complied in part or in full to 88 percent of total requests from American authorities. While relatively few tech companies publicly disclose how many government requests they get, Google appears to be one of the few e-mail providers that is challenging law enforcement agencies to produce a warrant to access users’ e-mail." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle stands up for Gmail users, requires cops to get a warrant

Law-enforcer misuse of driver database soars

"Florida's driver-and-vehicle database, the system that can help law enforcement identify victims of fatal crashes and decipher the identity of a suspect, can be a useful tool for cops. But at least 74 law enforcers were suspected of misusing D.A.V.I.D. in 2012, a nearly 400 percent increase from 2011, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Officers who needlessly pull information or photographs from D.A.V.I.D. that would otherwise be private could face criminal charges, sanctions or disciplinary action. And yet the temptation of looking up a relative, a celebrity's address or a romantic interest is too great for some law enforcers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLaw-enforcer misuse of driver database soars

SEC Bars Egan-Jones From Rating The US And Other Governments For 18 Months

"It is refreshing to see that the SEC has taken a much needed break from its daily escapades into midgetporn.xxx and is focusing on what is truly important, such as barring outspoken rating agency Egan-Jones from rating the US and other governments. From the SEC: 'EJR and Egan made a settlement offer that the Commission determined to accept. Under the settlement, EJR and Egan agreed to be barred for at least 18 months from rating asset-backed and government securities issuers as an NRSRO. EJR and Egan also agreed to correct the deficiencies found by SEC examiners in 2012." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSEC Bars Egan-Jones From Rating The US And Other Governments For 18 Months

Google reports ‘steady increase’ in gov’t requests for user data

"Google on Wednesday reported a 'steady increase' in government requests to hand over data from Internet users in the second half of 2012. The Web giant’s semiannual 'transparency report' showed the most requests came from the the United States, with 8,438 requests for information about 14,868 users. In releasing details of requests in the United States, Google said 68 percent of the requests it received from government entities were through subpoenas, which 'are the easiest to get because they typically don’t involve judges,' according to Salgado." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle reports ‘steady increase’ in gov’t requests for user data

The Pentagon Targets the “Far Right”

"A paper published by West Point’s Combatting Terrorism Center suggests that the Pentagon considers the Posse Comitatus Act to be a dead letter. The paper claims that people who 'espouse strong convictions regarding the federal government, believing it to be corrupt and tyrannical,' are potential terrorists akin to al-Qaeda. Similar assumptions were woven into a recent homeland security drill in Portsmouth, Ohio, in which elements of the Ohio National Guard’s 52nd Civil Support Unit play-acted an incident in which two school employees angered by the government’s crackdown on gun rights plotted a terrorist attack." Continue reading →

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Ex-cop accused of groping women gets two-year sentence

"Former Metro police officer John Norman is going to prison for two years. Norman was in court this morning to face his punishment after pleading guilty to charges of coercing women to expose their breasts after stopping them on the road. One woman says she still suffers from panic attacks. The other says she’s afraid of male officers pulling her over again." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEx-cop accused of groping women gets two-year sentence

Police Leave Explosive On Airplane

"Transit police who were using explosives to train bomb-sniffing dogs left one of the bombs aboard an Air Canada 767 that later carried passengers, a taxpayers group reported this week. The incident happened about two years ago, in January 2011, and was only confirmed after the group filed a Freedom of Information request. The dog handler noticed the device was missing two days after the training session, and reported it. Air Canada inspected the airplane 14 times, but the bomb was never found." Continue reading →

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Police Shoot, Kill Dog When Going To A Home By Mistake

"Jeff Fisher said deputies went to his house by mistake. He said when they forced their way through the door his dog Ziggy ran outside and an Adams County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed him. '(He went to the door) to see who it was and the police officer shot him three times,' Fisher said. 'They killed my dog for no reason.' Fisher said he wants that deputy to be held accountable. 'I’m on the ground crying hysterically and the police officer says, ‘You need to calm down, you can get a new dog,'' said Fisher." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Shoot, Kill Dog When Going To A Home By Mistake

Washington greets the New Year by assaulting your rights

"Fortunately, at least 15 local governments, in addition to four states, have passed resolutions opposing the domestic military detention provisions of the NDAA. The local coalitions that have secured these resolutions continue to gather momentum and build a national voice to restore the Bill of Rights. Find a local campaign to join today, or contact us for help starting one in your town!" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWashington greets the New Year by assaulting your rights