NSA intercepts computer deliveries to plant spyware

NSA intercepts computer deliveries to plant spyware
A special hacking unit of the U.S. National Security Agency intercepts deliveries of new computer equipment en route to plant spyware, according to a report on Sunday from Der Spiegel, a German publication. The method, called “interdiction,” is one of the most successful operations conducted by the NSA’s Office of Tailored Access Operations (TAO), which specializes in infiltrating computers, wrote the publication, citing a top-secret document.

White House Tries to Prevent Judge From Ruling on Surveillance Efforts
The Obama administration moved late Friday to prevent a federal judge in California from ruling on the constitutionality of warrantless surveillance programs authorized during the Bush administration, telling a court that recent disclosures about National Security Agency spying were not enough to undermine its claim that litigating the case would jeopardize state secrets. 

Putin: I envy Obama, because he can spy and get away with it
I envy Obama because he can spy on his allies without any consequences, said Putin when asked about how his relations had changed with the US following Snowden’s espionage revelations. During an annual question-and-answer session with journalists, Putin praised Edward Snowden’s actions, saying that he was working for a “noble cause.” At the same time he accepted the importance of espionage programs in the fight against global terrorism, but said the NSA needed guidelines to limit its powers.

Facebook Admits They Can See What Users Type — Even if the Status or Comment Is Not Posted
Facebook can see what users type in unpublished status updates or comments, the company admitted. …The revelations come after two Facebook researches said they had conducted a study on self-censorship using such information from 5 million random Facebook users. According to The Times, any time a user typed a post over five characters, it was tracked.  

‘Search Warrants May Now Be Based on Predictions of the Commission of Future Crimes’
Texas police can now obtain search warrants based on “predictions of the commission of future crimes,” a judge noted in his dissent to an opinion last week. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Lawrence Meyers made the claim after the judicial body ruled that evidence authorities had first found during a search they had executed without a warrant was admissible in the court of law, according to the Dallas Observer.

70% Do Not Trust the Media to Inform about Obamacare
The survey finds that 7 out of 10 adults do not trust the media to accurately inform them about the new healthcare law and five out of ten say so strongly.