Previous
Advanced Filtering Software from BAJAI could have thwarted Terrorist Steganography
Added: (Mon Oct 15 2001)
Ottawa, Ontario, October 15, 2001 — Terrorist steganographic messages may be hard to detect, but they do not need to be detected to be disrupted. By scrambling the exact bits of data normally used to conceal hidden messages, EyeMail™ from BAJAI ensures that no hidden messages are sent through protected email systems. Soon to be released updates to ProxEye™ will secure web-based public terminals.
While this feature was built into BAJAI’s email software to prevent trade secrets from leaking out of a company’s network, the same technology can also prevent anonymous users from broadcasting terrorist messages from public web access points such as libraries, schools or internet coffee houses. This may not stop terrorists from sending encoded messages, but it will force them to use more easily traceable computers.
Paul Beaver, spokesman for Jane's Defense Weekly in London, which reports on defense and cyberterrorism issues, acknowledges that "The Internet has proven to be a boon for terrorists." So much so that the same article reports that the FBI wants all encryption programs to file what amounts to a "master key" with a federal authority that would allow them, with a judge's permission, to decrypt a code in a case of national security.
Civil liberties groups, which offer free encryption programs on the Web, have vowed to fight for their right to free, “encrypted” speech. Besides, the registration of encryption keys would only force terrorists or corporate spies to use custom encryption keys. Even the FBI admits that without the “private key” or code, steganographic messages are practically impossible to read. But that is only half of the problem, and the easy half at that.
The biggest problem is that the very existence of the hidden data is hidden. Steganography can be used as a covert communication channel into or out of your network, and it is very difficult to determine that this channel exists. Steganographic tools are easily and inexpensively obtained, with many available for immediate download as freeware or shareware. They are also very simple to use. Steganography applications are available for DOS, Win 9x, UNIX, Linux, and JAVA. Carrier files include image and audio formats.
Anthony Whitehead, President and Founder of Bajai, describes the “big problem” and demonstrates how his products deal with the issue. “Typical data traffic passing through a network is similar to civilian traffic at a border crossing. If a dealer plants drugs in a civilian’s bag, the ‘mule’ can unwittingly carry the goods without any knowledge of the goods or the dealer. The border guards can check for drugs, but there are too many civilians and the drugs might be too well hidden. By scrambling even the potential for encoded messages, Bajai’s products act like an astute and aware traveler, who ensures that if the dealer wants to move the goods, they have to do it themselves. This enables the border guards to concentrate on known drug traffickers, increasing the chances that the traffickers will be caught. Similarly, terrorists, who must use their own connection to the Internet, are easier for the FBI to track than an anonymous library ID or public terminal.”
As for the privacy issue, Mr. Whitehead explains, “The owner of a network or computer resource has the option to either permit or scramble steganographic encryption. Our products provide security, maintain privacy, and prevent steganography as a form of communciation.”
For additional information or to test our products, CONTACT:
William Smart
Vice President of Marketing, BAJAI
1647 Bank St., Ste. A
Ottawa, ON, K1V 7Z1
(613) 731-9069
http://www.BAJAI.com/
BAJAI was founded in response to the lack of technology available in the filtering industry. Since its formation, BAJAI has lead the field with technology developments such as high speed pornographic image detection and steganographic scrambling. BAJAI's mission is to provide effective Online Activities Management (OAM) solutions that align our customer’s online activities with their specific objectives and policies. BAJAI provides technologically superior solutions that offer the most effective and reliable way for our customers to manage online activity. Our products are the only OAM solutions that utilize artificial intelligence to classify online content using all data forms and link relationships, including text, images, movies, link relations, and more. This classification is maintained automatically and continually, to maximize coverage and ensure reliability.
BAJAI has a range of OAM products. They are; BajEye™ for home-use/laptop/client Internet access, ProxEye™ for proxy server/network Internet access and EyeMail™ for email access management. BAJAI’s iajaBot™ robot automatically uses our PATENT PENDING OCULAR™ technology to continually create the most up-to-date and accurate list available. Access to this list is provided with BAJAI’s EyeUpdate™ service and is included as part of the BajEye™ and ProxEye™ product. BAJAI also offers EnterprEyes™, which bundles these products at a discount. Finally, BAJAI offers EyeSP™, a suite of programs and shell scripts that allow Internet Service Providers to offer configurable Internet access management service to their customers. All of these products have been thoroughly tested and are market ready.