Amnesty Releases Free Tool to ‘Detekt’ Government Spyware on Computers and Phones
Sick of being tracked without your consent or knowledge by the National Security Agency and its ilk? Amnesty International has an app for that.
Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Sick of being tracked without your consent or knowledge by the National Security Agency and its ilk? Amnesty International has an app for that. The human rights group has spent two years working with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Privacy International and Digitale Gesellschaft to develop Detekt, a program that will find government spying software without triggering security alerts.
And the best part is it’s totally free of charge.
The Guardian:
Human rights experts and technology groups have launched a new tool allowing members of the public to scan their computers and phones for surveillance spyware used by governments.
Amnesty says Detekt is the first tool freely available that will allow activists and journalists to find out if their electronic devices are being monitored without their knowledge.
Marek Marczynski, head of military, security and police at Amnesty, said: “Governments are increasingly using dangerous and sophisticated technology that allows them to read activists’ and journalists’ private emails and remotely turn on their computer’s camera or microphone to secretly record their activities. They use the technology in a cowardly attempt to prevent abuses from being exposed. Detekt is a simple tool that will alert activists to such intrusions so they can take action.”
—Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata
WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Activism
There is nothing right about a legal system that protects those hurting animals and punishes those trying to save them.
Politics
Advocacy organizations are pushing for new policies on voting rights, finance reforms, and judicial accountability.
Truthdiggers
Friends and mentees remember the mother of the disability rights movement.
Activism
The mission of Indigenous activists continues through their children and grandchildren.
World
Yemeni refugees say they are being abused by border guards and left to die.
Opinion
Let’s also honor those who traveled with Dr. King on his journey.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.