-Caveat Lector-
The following excerpt was taken from Paul Sommerson's
"PC Computing" (magazine) column (with the title:
"Bombshell") published in the (hardcopy) April, 1999,
issue of the magazine. The entire article (originally
dated March 3, 1999) is also available on-line at:
http://www.zdnet.com/pccomp/stories/reviews/0,5672,391688,00.html
[....]
It turns out that virtually every computer system purchased after
March 1996 contains a microphone, and that the IT departments at
Polar and other companies had routinely been using special
sound-activated software to record and collect conversations.
Microphones, which cost manufacturers less than a quarter, had
been mandated in the 1996 IEEE RFC 0401 PC/Telephony spec, but
few users have taken advantage of them. ....most IT departments,
and even even major Internet providers, have been running special
SPC (Speech Collection Port) software that uses the microphones
to bug conversations as a "protective measure."
The software can harvest all speech within a five-foot radius of
an average PC, compress and store it, and send it over LANs or
Internet connections to a central collection server.
[....]
So how do you know if you're at risk for something you might have
said innocently over the past three years? Here's the sure-fire
trick: If you've ever noticed that your hard disk "in-use"
indicator light periodically goes on for a few seconds even when
you're not typing, or saving files, it is almost certain that SCP
software has been surreptitiously collecting and sending your
conversations over your network or via the Internet.
It's possible to safeguard yourself against such big-brother
corporate snooping by disabling the microphones, according to Jim
Sumner, a top electrical engineer at Compaq. Some microphones are
easy to spot--they usually sit behind nail-sized recessed
grilles. Other more sensitive ones are hidden on motherboards.
Privacy advocates are predictably upset at this, and have brought
suit to end the practice. Developers at one such organization,
the Computer Freedom Foundation, have created a pair of useful
freeware programs. The first detects whether snooping has
occurred, and deactivates the microphone. (It also lets you play
back any temporary speech files still hidden on your hard disk.)
The other replaces any untransmitted conversations with a .WAV
file of actor E.G. Marshall reading the text of the First
Amendment.
Have you said anything while at your PC that could haunt you? For
instructions on disabling your microphones, copies of the two
freeware programs, and a patch that adds a blinking light to your
taskbar whenever your microphone is active, go to:
www.pccomputing.com/snoopfix
[....]
=================================================================
Kaddish, Kaddish, Kaddish, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day.
=================================================================
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
