Spyware Seller Shuts Down After Hack (vice.com) 32
An anonymous reader writes: Retina-X, a company that sells spyware or 'stalkerware' for everyday users has ceased operations after yet another hack. Retina-X sells a handful of apps that monitor computers and cellphones. These are marketed to parents and employees but also used by abusive or jealous partners.
From the Website (Score:5, Insightful)
This juicy little tidbit comes from their website: "Retina-X Studios is sharing information about the illegal hackings and cooperating with the appropriate authorities. The perpetrators of these illegal acts have been motivated by their unfounded opposition to the private activities of parents and employers on devices they own and with the consent of users of the devices. The perpetrators, who will likely never be identified or brought to justice, have shared their actions with online publications to gain attention. They are cowards who work in the dark and use the media to promote their agenda. Retina-X apologizes to our customers for any inconvenience this situation has caused, but our first priority is to you. We appreciate the loyalty you have shown our company and these valuable services."
Nope, sorry assholes. Wrong answer! The Retina-X motherfuckers are the ones that are the bad guys here. They openly promote a surveillance society. They call the hackers cowards but people who need to spy on others are cowards. Fuck you, Retina-X!
Re: (Score:1)
"The perpetrators of these illegal acts have been motivated by their unfounded opposition to the private activities of parents and employers on devices they own and with the consent of users of the devices."
That last bit, i am curious about how they verify the consent of the user. It is a bold statement to make and they could have just left it at the owner of the device, which would have been absolutely legal and not as creepy. As it stands it seems their idea of consent is "if you use the device given to
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The users consent in the same way a homeowner "consents" to burglars taking all their stuff while they're away on vacation.
ha, ha. "do what I say, not what I do" (Score:2)
looks like the karma wheel had an I'beam strapped to it. >whack!
Re: (Score:1)
And, more than that, if 'abusive or jealous partners' and other miscreants is among who uses this, there is a good chance that it is being used illegally, and being sold with the knowledge it's being used illegally. The entire company exists for shady reasons.
So,
Re: (Score:3)
They really were selling spyware, so their condemnation of hackers is a bit like throwing stones in glass houses. Of course, they kind of have to spout the bullshit that their software was intended only for legal uses, because otherwise it opens them up to all sorts of liabilities.
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I can't see any use legitimate use for this kind of shit. If you feel you must us it to keep track of a "dishonest" partner, then you have bigger issues in your relationship. It would probably be best if you are resorting to spying on their every move with spyware to dissolve the relationship and move on. At least that would be a honest thing to do.
Same thing applies to using it to keep track of teens. If your relationship is so bad with your children that you must resort to using underhanded methods
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This is a pretty ridiculous post for /. I mean, everyone here should know how to manage permissions and make a computer fairly child-proof without resorting to the type of spyware this company was hawking. This software is to monitor people without their knowledge, not monitor people with fair warning. There are much easier ways to limit the activity of children on the internet than your solution.
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You point is well taken in spite of missing the point.
The goddam site did not guard its gates and all your base are belong to us.
There products are in the public domain now, so they have nothing to sell.
It's a lesson too late for the learning and I have zero, zip sympathy for them.
They need to learn the language of the writing on the wall.
Who else was hurt by this hack. (Score:2)
Normally these hacks tend to be rather broad scope. So while this company may have been the target, it probably shared its network resources with other organizations who were not afflicted with the company, who may have had damaged.
I remember years ago A few hundred doctors Health Record systems were out for a few hours, because hackers were trying to DDOS a bank, Who was sharing the same hosting company, and main internet pipeline.
Nooooo! (Score:2)
Paint a target on your chest, prepare to get hit (Score:3, Insightful)
For better or for worse, participating in certain industries means always being in someone's line of fire.
Providing controversial products or services such as abortion services in a "red state" or military-style guns in a "blue state"? Prepare to cave to political pressure or spend extra on security, public relations, and lawyers.
Selling cutting-edge drugs or medical equipment that has a more-than-zero-percent failure rate? Better have good lawyers or politicians in your pocket from the get-go otherwise that first lawsuit when your product does fail or your drug has a rare bad side effect is going to bankrupt you.
Running an adult-oriented business in a city or country that doesn't like them, or providing online services to such businesses (think BackPage)? Have the lawyers on standby. If you wind up competing with organized crime, you'll also need to hiring reliable, loyal private security or you might wind up doing the modern equivalent of going swimming with "cement boots."
Selling products or services ("stalker-ware") to third parties (governments or private individuals) that can hurt people (those being spied upon) who can hurt you back (some stalk-ees can fight back, you know)? Unless you are so invisible nobody but your customers/prospective customers knows who you are (selling only to or by referral from three-letter-agencies), you'll need good security for your company, its assets, and anyone associated with the company, both virtual and probably physical.
still assholes (Score:2)
Respawning in... (Score:2)
There's a huge market for apps like this and the void left by Retina-X will quickly be filled by someone else - or the same company under a new name and with better security staff (or they'll be attacked again).
I don't like surveillance any more than most, but the need is there when it comes to parents and kids, and probably also between employers and employees.
If you allow your spouse/significant other full access to your smartphone for the 20-30 minutes apps like this takes to install, you're sort of aski