U.S. Police Are Giving Away Keylogging Software as a ‘Safety’ Measure
For years, local law enforcement agencies around the country have told parents that installing ComputerCOPsoftware is the “first step” in protecting their children online.
Police chiefs, sheriffs, and district attorneys have handed out hundreds of thousands of copies of the disc to families for free at schools, libraries, and community events, usually as a part of an “Internet Safety” outreach initiative. The packaging typically features the agency’s official seal and the chief’s portrait, with a signed message warning of the “dark and dangerous off-ramps” of the Internet.
As official as it looks, ComputerCOP is actually just spyware, generally bought in bulk from a New York company that appears to do nothing but market this software to local government agencies.
The way ComputerCOP works is neither safe nor secure. It isn’t particularly effective either, except for generating positive PR for the law enforcement agencies distributing it. As security software goes, we observed a product with a keystroke-capturing function, also called a “keylogger,” that could place a family’s personal information at extreme risk by transmitting what a user types over the Internet to third-party servers without encryption. That means many versions of ComputerCOP leave children (and their parents, guests, friends, and anyone using the affected computer) exposed to the same predators, identity thieves, and bullies that police claim the software protects against.
Furthermore, by providing a free keylogging program—especially one that operates without even the most basic security safeguards—law enforcement agencies are passing around what amounts to a spying tool that could easily be abused by people who want to snoop on spouses, roommates, or co-workers.
EFF conducted a security review of ComputerCOP while also following the paper trail of public records to see how widely the software has spread. Based on ComputerCOP’s own marketing information, we identified approximately 245 agencies in more than 35 states, plus the U.S. Marshals, that have used public funds (often the proceeds from property seized during criminal investigations) to purchase and distribute ComputerCOP. One sheriff’s department even bought a copy for every family in its county.
In investigating ComputerCOP, we also discovered misleading marketing material, including a letter of endorsement purportedly from the U.S. Department of Treasury, which has now issued a fraud alert over the document. ComputerCOP further claims an apparently nonexistent endorsement by the American Civil Liberties Union and an expired endorsement from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Law enforcement agencies have purchased a poor product, slapped their trusted emblems on it, and passed it on to everyday people. It’s time for those law enforcement agencies to take away ComputerCOP’s badge.
There’s a list of the police departments, etc., (by State) who distributed this stuff. I suggest everyone look at this list for their own state, One state’s Attorney General spent $22,000 to buy and distribute this crap. I didn’t look at every single state, but the ones I did look at showed distribution mostly in the early years of 2000.
Is it any wonder that the average person buys/accepts this stuff without checking it out, when officials in departments representing “security” and the ability to reach hundreds/thousands, don’t thoroughly examine and research before recommending it to the people who are supposed to have trust in them. Hopefully, the US Attorney general is aware and insists that every state’s Attorney General puts a HUGE “red flag” in front of everyone they can reach in their state. It’s “fraud”. This company and others like it should be put out out of business, and the responsible people put in jail.
WELL SAID, Muriel! Thanks again TC & EB for keeping us informed! I’m sending this link to others so they know the TRUTH!
All that money spent, those responsible for this fraud should be behind bars!!