- Joined
- Sep 11, 2016
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 0
From The New York Times 23 March 2017:
------------------------------------------------------------------
The C.I.A. developed tools to spy on Mac computers by injecting software into the chips that control the computers’ fundamental operations, according to the latest cache of classified government documents published on Thursday by WikiLeaks. ...All of the surveillance tools that have been disclosed were designed to be installed on individual phones or computers. But the effects could be much wider. Cisco Systems, for example, warned customers this week that many of its popular routers, the backbone of computer networks, could be hacked using the C.I.A.’s techniques.
...The spy software described in the latest documents was designed to be injected into a Mac’s firmware, a type of software preloaded in the computer’s chips. It would then act as a “listening post,” broadcasting the user’s activities to the C.I.A. whenever the machine was connected to the internet.
------------------------------------------------------------------
article
I have two Mac Pro LapTops, one abut 10 years old, and other a new Mac Pro Silver w/Sierra. I previously connected to the Internet through ATT land line with the older Mac. I now use ATT WiFi. It is right in front of me, and I can see the lights on it indicating the various functions operating.
The WiFi light is off most of the time, generally. It might blink a couple of times when I log onto the Internet, whether I use the old Mac or the new one. I have noticed that sometimes, when I log on with the new Mac, the WiFi light will blink furiously. Awhile back, the light blinked furiously for more than 3.5 hours while I was on the Net. When I log off, I turn off the WiFi. If I, then, log on again with the old Mac, the light doesn't blink furiously, just with the new Mac. I have been informed that the furiously blinking light is data transfer. I don't know if it is data transfer to, or from, the Mac.
Right now, I am entering this material with the old Mac. The light is off. If I logged on with the new Mac, the light would begin furiously blinking again.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The C.I.A. developed tools to spy on Mac computers by injecting software into the chips that control the computers’ fundamental operations, according to the latest cache of classified government documents published on Thursday by WikiLeaks. ...All of the surveillance tools that have been disclosed were designed to be installed on individual phones or computers. But the effects could be much wider. Cisco Systems, for example, warned customers this week that many of its popular routers, the backbone of computer networks, could be hacked using the C.I.A.’s techniques.
...The spy software described in the latest documents was designed to be injected into a Mac’s firmware, a type of software preloaded in the computer’s chips. It would then act as a “listening post,” broadcasting the user’s activities to the C.I.A. whenever the machine was connected to the internet.
------------------------------------------------------------------
article
I have two Mac Pro LapTops, one abut 10 years old, and other a new Mac Pro Silver w/Sierra. I previously connected to the Internet through ATT land line with the older Mac. I now use ATT WiFi. It is right in front of me, and I can see the lights on it indicating the various functions operating.
The WiFi light is off most of the time, generally. It might blink a couple of times when I log onto the Internet, whether I use the old Mac or the new one. I have noticed that sometimes, when I log on with the new Mac, the WiFi light will blink furiously. Awhile back, the light blinked furiously for more than 3.5 hours while I was on the Net. When I log off, I turn off the WiFi. If I, then, log on again with the old Mac, the light doesn't blink furiously, just with the new Mac. I have been informed that the furiously blinking light is data transfer. I don't know if it is data transfer to, or from, the Mac.
Right now, I am entering this material with the old Mac. The light is off. If I logged on with the new Mac, the light would begin furiously blinking again.