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Magic Lantern
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Magic Lantern
 

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Magic Lantern (software)




Unlike previous keystroke logger programs used by the FBI, Magic Lantern can reportedly be installed remotely, via an E-mail Attachment or "by exploiting common operating system Vulnerabilities ". It has been variously described as a Virus and a Trojan Horse . It is not known how the program might store or communicate the recorded keystrokes.

In response to a Freedom Of Information Act request filed in 2000 by the Electronic Privacy Information Center , the FBI released a series of un Classified documents relating to Carnivore , which included the "Enhanced Carnivore Project Plan". Sullivan's confidential source said that redacted portions of that document mention "Cyber Knight",

Spokesmen for the FBI soon confirmed the existence of a program called Magic Lantern. They denied that it had been deployed, and they declined to comment further. Article in the '' Village Voice '', 24 May 2002

The public disclosure of the existence of Magic Lantern sparked a debate as to whether anti-virus companies could or should detect the FBI's keystroke logger. Birdis reported that at least some Anti-virus companies, including Network Associates (maker of McAfee anti-virus products) had contacted the FBI following the press reports about Magic Lantern, to ensure its anti-virus software would not detect the program. AP story about Magic Lantern , 22 November 2001

Network Associates issued a statement denying this kind of cooperation with U.S. legal authorities within a week, fueling speculation as to which anti-virus products might or might not detect government trojans. Article in '' Wired '', 29 November 2001 CNET news has just asked security companies if their software would detect keystroke loggers too.
CNET News - Security firms on police spyware, in their own words , 17 July 2007

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REFERENCES


  • Amanda So and Christopher Woo. "The Case for Magic Lantern: September 11 Highlights the Need for Increased surveillance," ''Harvard Journal of Law and Technology''. v15, p521. (discusses the legal framework surrounding the use of keystroke loggers in law enforcement)



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