FierceUgly.com

Security concerns grew last week when it was suspected that the computer of the Dalai Lama was infiltrated with a new development that allows hackers to hear and see what is going on through other people’s computers. The theory that an espionage network based in china had hacked into the Dalai Lamas computer was outlined in a security experts report released on Sunday.  A Foreign diplomats’ staff were believed to have been contacted by the Chinese government about a proposed visit by the Dalai Lama, a possibility that had only just been discussed in an email moments before.  These networks of Malware (malicious software) are believed to not be exclusive to China, with a number of countries allegedly capable of using Ghost net to infiltrate unsecured computers. The computers of the priminister of Laos and NATO were also stated to have been affected.
This Ghost network is said to be able to take control of extra attachments such as microphones and cameras and use them to listen and observe in private premises. The hackers gain access by sending cleverly designed emails disguised to look like they are from contacts. Once accepted, other emails can be hijacked having their attachments deleted replaced by other contaminated files.

This is an amazing development in computer technology, email bugs have been a problem for a long time, however the progress of this type of computer access is scary. Everyone now knows not to open strange emails titled “your uncle john, or Hi its me” especially when the email addresses always look so strange.  Hackers need to get way smarter if they want to access my living room.
I doubt anyone would be interested in what is going on in my house anyway…. but what if they were?.  I assume keeping up with computer espionage is an essential part of most government’s security measures.
This type of hacking is considered cyber crime by many governments .If this technology fell into the hands of the wrong people it will be used for fraud and become a huge risk to our privacy.  The idea of web cams being used to watch us in our own home is the stuff of creepy movie scripts so I hope governments and computer companies are designing appropriate anti virus software to thwart such problems.   So maybe in the mean time its time to throw a towel over you web cam if your planning to pick your nose at your desk, as you never know who will be watching.