Trojans for wiretapping (10/08/06 5:11 pm)
The Swiss Department for Environment, Traffic and Communications (UVEK) is testing the use of trojan programs for monitoring PC communications such as VoIP, Skype, or directly from PC to PC. Since it's still problematic to tap these types of communications this trojan is supposed to save the monitored data and transmit small, inconspicuous data packets to a server. Also, it should be able to activate a built-in microphone which are commonly found in laptops as well as webcams for room monitoring. This could happen without the user's notice if the webcam doesn't have a recording light. In addition, the program is capable of uninstalling itself (time controlled) after surveillance is terminated.
The Swiss security company ERA IT Solutions is developing the trojan program and intends to sell it exlusively to investigation authorities to avoid the trojan being saved in antivirus databases that would enable antivirus programs to notify the user when the computer is infected.
The internet service provider (ISP) is supposed to apply the file stealthily to the user's computer. Acoording to the company, firewalls won't be a problem to the trojan.
The SonntagsZeitung now gave account on this project which was operated secretly until then. According to the head of Services For Special Tasks in the UVEK, Charles Gudet, there be no legal basis for putting Trojans into action for surveillance, at least not for the Swiss federal law for surveillance of mail and telecommunications. However, the cantonal as well as the federal code of criminal procedure for surveillance by technical monitoring devices allow the use of trojan programs.