Government spyware disguising itself as Firefox

Mozilla has called on a commercial spyware company to stop masquerading as its Firefox browser to avoid detection on people's computers.

The action comes after a report from human rights group Citizen Lab claimed that Gamma International, a controversial surveillance software company, was using Firefox as a mask to hide its FinSpy software, which is used by governments to snoop on citizens.

British-based Gamma disguises its surveillance tool - which can be installed covertly, and then access key-strokes, activate webcams and record Skype calls as Firefox so that users don't delete it, Mozilla said.

We've sent Gamma a cease and desist letter today demanding that these illegal practices stop immediately, Mozilla said in a blog.

We cannot abide a software company using our name to disguise online surveillance tools that can be and in several cases actually have been used by Gamma's customers to violate citizens human rights and online privacy.

Mozilla stressed that the two software packages remained separate and that FinSpy did not affect Firefox itself or the way the browser operated. Gamma's software is entirely separate, and only uses our brand and trademarks to lie and mislead as one of its methods for avoiding detection and deletion, Mozilla said.

According to Mozilla, when a computer user targeted by FinSpy looks at files related to the snooper, "Gamma misrepresents its program as 'Firefox.exe' and includes the properties associated with Firefox along with a version number and copyright and trademark claims attributed to Firefox and Mozilla Developers".

Widely used

Mozilla said the Citizen Lab report that alerted it to the issue had included evidence of the tactic in a spyware attack in Bahrain that targeted democracy activists, in spyware used in the run-up to Malaysia's upcoming elections and in promotional copies of the software.

Not only are these activities illegal, but we take them seriously because they are deceptive, harm users, cause consumer confusion, and jeopardise Mozilla's reputation," the company said.

Gamma International has yet to respond to an email asking for confirmation that it has received the cease and desist notice and for comment on the issue.

Read more: <a href="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/381538/mozilla-government-spyware-disguising-itself-as-firefox">FireFox

Submitted By: Rex_mundi