Symantec Discovers New Govt Backed Spyware

[GhostShip]

It seems theres no such thing as responsible Govt anymore 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30171614

A leading computer security company says it has discovered one of the most sophisticated pieces of malicious software ever seen.
Symantec says the bug, named Regin, was probably created by a government and has been used for six years against a range of targets around the world.

Once installed on a computer, it can do things like capture screenshots, steal passwords or recover deleted files, experts say computers in Russia, Saudi Arabia and Ireland have been hit most.

I am very suspicious of this newly found but 6 year old spyware being announced by Symantec immediately after Amnesty International release a tool to detect such things, this looks very much like a reputational damage limitation exercise, by announcing at this time they wont be asked any questions over just why they haven't detected it in the last 6 years, or maybe their detection engines been crap all this time, food for thought eh.

[White Stripes]

...the one thing that gets me about this... considering paranoid government is par for the course nowadays... is why ireland? what did they do?

[GhostShip]

A lot of companies hide their headquarters or data centers in Ireland due to the lavish tax breaks on offer and so those seeking to access data from large companies such as Google, Apple etc would do well to work on local employees in such a location, it only needs one slip up for  "a Govt"  to enlarge the chink in the armour.