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TECHNOLOGY Thursday 9 March 2017

WikiLeaks fallout: Should you worry about alleged CIA hacks?

MAE ANDERSON are “unbreakable” by law
TALI ARBEL enforcement. Younger
BARBARA ORTUTAY people were more likely to
AP Technology Writers support strong encryption,
NEW YORK (AP) — So, you as were Democrats.
use messaging apps like If they’re authentic, the
WhatsApp or Signal or leaked CIA documents
have smart TVs and PCs. frame one stark reality:
Should you worry that the It may be that no digital
CIA is listening to your con- conversation, photo or
versations? other slice of life can be
The short answer is no. The shielded from spies and
long answer is maybe, other intruders prying into
though it’s still unlikely you smartphones, computers
need to be too concerned. or other devices connect-
WikiLeaks revelations de- ed to the internet.
scribing secret CIA hack- Another reality: Many may
ing tools allegedly used not care.
to break into computers, “People have fatigue in this
mobile phones and even area, especially when talk-
smart TVs could certainly ing about data breaches,
have real-life implications and to a degree, hacking,”
for anyone using internet- This Feb. 19, 2014, file photo, shows WhatsApp and Facebook app icons on a smartphone in said Eva Velasquez, presi-
connected technology. New York. So, you use messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal or have smart TVs and PCs. dent of the Identity Theft
In particular, the WikiLe- Associated Press Resource Center, who
aks documents suggest says it’s difficult to imagine
the CIA has attempted to hacking and surveillance, the FBI and with other do- “At this point, I am so used what kind of abuses would
turn TVs into listening de- Marshello says he won’t mestic law enforcement to reading stories about force them to abandon
vices and to circumvent — cut his iPhone or modern agencies that could em- accounts getting hacked their smartphones. “People
though not crack — mes- messaging apps out of his ploy them domestically. that it is to be expected,” love their fun toys and de-
sage apps that employ life. But he doesn’t have a Ed Mierzwinski, consumer Matt Holden, an editor and vices,” she said.
protective data scram- smart TV and doesn’t plan program director at con- social media coordinator in THE INTERNET OF SPYING
bling. to get one, he keeps his mi- sumer advocacy group Dallas, Texas, said via email. THINGS
But for people weary of a crophone unplugged and U.S. PIRG, said the news Holden worries about the “We don’t know about the
seemingly constant revela- camera covered when should alert consumers to safety of personal informa- CIA role, but we do know
tions of hacks, government he’s not using his PC and how vulnerable internet- tion like his social security anything with a chip in it
spying and security worries, he has voice recognition connected devices are. number and financial de- that is connected to the
the news came as no sur- turned off on his phone. “You shouldn’t be too tails, but says he’s less con- Internet is vulnerable to
prise. He’s not alone. Last year, concerned about the CIA cerned about the security hacking,” said Gartner se-
“Today’s leaks definitely Facebook CEO Mark Zuck- hacking you unless you’re of his messaging apps. curity analyst Avivah Litan.
concern me, but at this erberg was photographed doing something illegal,” “So long as I conduct my- A hacking attack last Oc-
point I have accepted with his laptop camera and he said. “But this should be self in a way that would tober that disrupted sites
that security risks are an microphone covered with a wakeup call for the aver- mean I have nothing to such as Amazon and Net-
inherent part of our mod- tape. Some online called age consumer.” hide, then I’m not worried flix, for instance, originated
ern technology,” Andrew him paranoid; others sug- He recommended chang- about the government tak- on internet-connected de-
Marshello, a soundboard gested he was just being ing passwords on smart TVs, ing a look,” he said. vices such as home video-
operator from Queens, smart. cameras and other con- In a recent Pew survey , cams.
New York, said by email. WHY IT MATTERS nected devices as often conducted in the spring “Basically the ‘Internet
“Since that tech is so inte- “What everybody should as you change computer of 2016 and released this of things’ is vulnerable
grated into our society, it’s be asking is whether any passwords. “Whether it’s January, 46 percent of re- and has been deployed
hard to take the reason- of this was shared with lo- your refrigerator, smart spondents thought the without thinking of secu-
able step — cutting out cal law enforcement,” said lights you program from government should be rity first,” Litan said. Anyone
smart devices, messaging Scott Vernick, a partner at your phone or your baby able to access encrypted with reason to think some-
apps, etc. — without sacri- the law firm Fox Rothschild monitor, the security sys- communications when in- one might be spying on
ficing a part of social life.” who focuses on data priva- tems in most ‘internet of vestigating crimes. Only them “should think twice
While he’s “definitely wor- cy and security. Meaning, things’ products are actu- 44 percent thought tech about a connected car or
ried” about deeper impli- whether the CIA shared ally dumb, not smart.” companies should be able a connected camera.”q
cations of governmental any of the techniques with PRIVACY FATIGUE to use encryption tools that