Posted at 2:30 p.m. PDT Friday, August 25, 2000

Canada probing alleged computer spying OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian police said Friday they were investigating allegations that unknown agents had used rigged computer software to hack into Canada's top secret intelligence files and thereby endanger national security.

The Toronto Star said police were probing whether Israeli and U.S. spies were making use of a so-called software ``trap door'' allowing them to access files used by the Mounties and Canada's spy service to co-ordinate secret investigations.

Police spokesman Sergeant Mike Gaudet confirmed that a probe was underway but gave few details.

``We are conducting an investigation. To date we have no indications that national security has been breached. Our investigation is continuing,'' he told Reuters.

``There are allegations that certain software may have come to Canada which could compromise computer systems,'' he added, but declined to give further details and would not confirm whether U.S. or Israeli agents might be involved.

The Star said the probe revolved around Promis, a software program first developed to assist prosecutors in the United States Department of Justice which was the centre of a U.S. scandal a decade ago.

``That could include economic intelligence on trading partners, detailed information on the whereabouts of terrorism suspects in Canada or strategic information on the positions Canada intends to take in international relations,'' it said.

Spokesmen for both the U.S. and Israeli embassies said they knew nothing about the story.

Promis was developed by U.S. company Inslaw Inc., which alleged in the late 1980s that the U.S. government had stolen their software and -- working with Israel -- pedaled pirated versions to intelligence agencies around the world. The case was eventually thrown out of court.

The Toronto Star said the Mounties had interviewed a number of people linked to the Promis affair to see whether there might have been a breach in Canadian national security.

Canada's national counterintelligence agency said in a June report that friendly nations were making concerted efforts to steal sensitive technology and information.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service said outsiders were particularly interested in aerospace, biotechnology, chemicals, communications, information technology, mining and metallurgy, nuclear energy, oil and gas, and the environment.

http://www.sjmercury.com/breaking/docs/038178.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), August 25, 2000

Answers

If I remember right there was considerable discussion about possible 'trap door' spying last year on the old tb2000 forum.

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), August 25, 2000.