Ever heard of SCIM? It stands for Secure Cryptographic Instant Messaging. Why would I need such a program is what you are probably wondering. Well in their Frequently Asked Questions they have exactly that answer:
What is wrong with my existing chat software ?
Answer: If you are using MSN Messenger, AIM, ICQ, IRC, or any other instant messaging or chatting software, the chances are your conversations can be and are being watched.
Email messages sent to you sit on mail servers all around the world and anyone with access to these servers can read your messages at any time. Since most mail servers have back-ups done every day, your emails could be sitting in data-warehouses in various places around the world for many years to come.
All other chat software uses plain text messages, which means your conversations can be monitored by the chat server you are using, by your office network administrators or even your ISP (and any of the numerous networks it travels through on its way to its destination).
The Echelon spy network can allegedly monitor all plain text email messages, fax, telephone, mobile, SMS and chat communication.
Well let me simplify the facts for you, they do not really log everything you say, that would be impossible. But imagine the fact you and your friends are talking about Osama Bin Laden, nothing wrong with that, right? What you do not know is that when you talk about Osama or Semtex or the US embassy, the NSA will start logging or tracking all these “emails, conversations, etc.”. There have been reports that workers for the NSA or Echelon have used this information to gain inside information about company’s and earning money in a not so legal way.
To learn more about Echelon try visiting this site. Please note that SCIM is NOT an MSN Messenger plug-in! If you want to secure your instant messages within MSN Messenger, download an encrypter like SpyShield 0.99b here.
Note: The content of this post is over 4 years old. Feel free to share your refreshing comments.
