Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Update on high school laptop scandal

cNet has an interesting insight into the software used to peep through the webcams that high school dispensed to its students. Check it out here:
But for anyone with a Webcam (and Webcams are now built in to many laptops and desktops), the question is whether you are vulnerable to having your Webcam remotely turned on. The answer is yes, though the newest version of the software used by the district to monitor its computers can no longer be used to activate Webcams or even track stolen computers.
Embedded in the article is a link to an investigation into the software and some really horrifying kid/parent stories about the tech guy, his connections to the company that created the software AND his various postings around the web bragging about what he was doing. Read it here:

What's the purpose of shutting down a camera for the user of the laptop but still making it available to network administrators? Ask yourself: if you wanted to convince someone that a webcam blinking was a glitch, would disabling the cameras help make your case?
We Found the Glitch, Mrs. Buttle
The truly amazing part of this story is what's coming out from comments from the students themselves. Some of the interesting points: 

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