http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/report-web-monitoring-devices-made-by-us-firm-blue-coat-detected-in-iran-sudan/2013/07/08/09877ad6-e7cf-11e2-a301-ea5a8116d211_story.html
By Ellen Nakashima
The Washington Post
July 8, 2013
American-made devices used for Internet monitoring have been detected on
government and commercial computer networks in Iran and Sudan, in apparent
violation of U.S. sanctions that ban the sale of goods, services or
technology to the autocratic states, according to new research.
Several of the devices, manufactured by California-based Blue Coat
Systems, were also discovered in Syria. Although Blue Coat tools have been
identified in Syria in the past, the new research indicates that the
government of President Bashar al-Assad has more of the monitoring devices
than previously known.
Experts say that in Syria, Blue Coat’s tools have been used to censor Web
sites and monitor the communications of dissidents, activists and
journalists. In Iran and Sudan, it remains unclear exactly how the
technologies are being used, but experts say the tools could empower
repressive governments to spy on opponents.
“These devices are turning up in places they’re not supposed to be,” said
Morgan Marquis-Boire, a project leader at the University of Toronto’s
Citizen Lab, which detailed the findings in a new report provided to The
Washington Post. “The human rights implications of finding these
surveillance technologies in these countries are extremely worrying. It’s
a systemic problem.”
[...]
--
Visit the new and improved InfoSec News website
http://www.infosecnews.org/
