According to TechNewsDaily.com, last week Google implemented a new update to its Chrome browser. The update has a new feature called WebRTC (real time communication). This new standardized feature allows for websites and applications to use your system’s camera and microphone.

 

If you think your privacy is safe with Google- think again. According to Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who is co-chairman of the Congressional Privacy Caucus, “The new Google privacy policy is: You have no privacy.” Combine this with Google recently handing over more than 11,000 individuals’ personal information to the government, and you can probably see how this new standard feature could become a go to tool for those seeking to see and hear you without you knowing.

 

Previous to the new update, apps and websites had to use a browser plug-in for audio and visual correspondence with a user. A user could easily disable, or choose not to install one of these plug-ins if they so happen to be concerned. However, users who try and disable the feature on Chrome will not be allowed to do so. Furthermore, you cannot refuse the automatic update either, unless you have the know-how to turn off automatic updates on chrome. Chrome does require websites and apps to “ask for permission” to use the feature. However, anyone with even limited computer technology can bypass this in moments.

 

“The risk isn’t really larger than having Flash installed,” Ullrich told SecurityNewsDaily via email. “Flash already had the ability to access the camera and microphone, and had some vulnerabilities that allowed websites to trick the user into enabling the camera/microphone via clickjacking.” However, users can choose whether or not to have flash, or disable it.

 

Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer are working on including WebRTC in future versions.

 

http://benswann.com/google-update-turns-phone-into-possible-tool-for-others-to-spy-on-you/

While it is definitely a bit more exploitable than Flash due to the fact that you can just disable or not install Flash, I wonder if it is a bit of an over exaggeration. This stuff has been possible for some time now.

 

It's already available in Chrome and Firefox, Opera looks like it's coming soon (more relavent to my interests). From what I read of it on their site, it enables these capabilities with JavaScript APIs... uh yeah.

 

Not sure what could be done about it though apart from having some obscure browser or just putting blu-tac on top of your webcam and microphone, seeing as it looks to be becoming standard

 

I am grump that this dude's reference to a critique of Google's new privacy policy is a paid article, I was interested on an elaboration. -_-

You better turn your phone off, and remove the battery, stop prism 2 locating you and spying on your location ;)

Are you okay with all the spying?

If you've got nothing to hide, nothing to fear. Although the spying is annoying, but Prism2 is everywhere.

 

Even Apple got caught a few years ago keeping a log of everywhere iPhones went.

If you've got nothing to hide, nothing to fear.

 

gj buying into political rhetoric there

If you've got nothing to hide, nothing to fear.

 

Worst argument ever.

The government just needs to butt the hell out of it's citizen's business. And saying that "If you've got nothing to hide, nothing to fear," is one of the weakest, naivest arguments I've heard in a long while...

If you've got nothing to hide, nothing to fear.

 

Wow I was beginning to think people like you were a myth drummed up by spin machines. You actually think the issue is so self-centred and basic as that?!

 

Though I don't know why I'm so surprised.

If you've got nothing to hide, nothing to fear. Although the spying is annoying, but Prism2 is everywhere.

 

Even Apple got caught a few years ago keeping a log of everywhere iPhones went.

 

That depends what you're doing. What if what you do now at some point becomes illegal and then you have something to hide? I don't know enough about you to make a personal example. We'll say for arguments sake, what if something goes crazy and being a Muslim or gay is illegal. Then extreme spying can be used to violate an ordinary citizens rights. Just because you're not doing something wrong now, doesn't mean it will stay that way.

But you can't get away from being spied on.

 

Every call you make, every email you send is monitored for any key words. Phones track your phone using GPS or cell towers.

 

When driving ANPR cameras track your car going on/off main roads.

 

So still think you can hide from Prism2?

There's a difference between recording when key words come about, rather than storing everything including passwords so they can potentially have access to anything. Then if anything did happen where you ended up on the wrong side of the government (for something as trivial as protesting or trying to make a positive change, perhaps, you know, something innocuous), given the amount of laws there are, it is likely that you will have broken one, no matter how clean you think you are. Alongside the powers of being able to hold people indefinitely, it's not a good combo.

 

Obviously that's an extreme scenario, but it's possible and could happen to anybody.