Cyber war brewing over FBI tactics

The war against hackers is entering a new phase. In the UK and the US, programmers, often working on behalf of government agencies, track, monitor and frenziedly alter code in a bid to patch up vulnerable and even besieged networks.

Details have emerged about a new technology, dubbed Magic Lantern that allows FBI to record keyboard strokes by secretly planting a software spy in a targeted computer. Rumors have also surfaced about a possible deal with a file sharing network which would allow federal agents to view files.

The hackers, needless to say are angry. In fact, a war is brewing and increasingly irate hackers are the ones being tipped as victors. Hackers are not only incensed at what they see as an outrageous infringement of civil liberties by some of the FBI moves, but are also disparaging about its efforts to counter them.
They are actively gearing up to launch their own attack against the agency, and security industry experts claim the FBI doesn't have a chance of winning.

-Hindustan times August 2, 2002.