steven36 Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 Dozens of people reported receiving an email from Google revealing a potential FBI investigation into people who purchased malware. At least dozens of people have received an email from Google informing them that the internet giant responded to a request from the FBI demanding the release of user data, according to several people who claimed to have received the email. The email did not specify whether Google released the requested data to the FBI. The unusual notice appears to be related to the case of Colton Grubbs, one of the creators of LuminosityLink, a $40 remote access tool (or RAT), that was marketed to hack and control computers remotely. Grubs pleaded guilty last year to creating and distributing the hacking tool to hundreds of people. Several people on Reddit, Twitter, and on HackForums, a popular forum where criminals and cybersecurity enthusiast discuss and sometimes share hacking tools, reported receiving the email. Google received and responded to legal process issue by Federal Bureau of Investigation (Eastern District of Kentucky) compelling the release of information related to your Google account,” the email read, according to multiple reports from people who claimed to have received it. The email included a legal process number. When Motherboard searched for it within PACER, the US government’s database for court cases documents, it showed that it was part of a case that’s still under seal. Despite the lack of details in the email, as well as the fact that the case is still under seal, it appears the case is related to LuminosityLink. Several people who claimed to have received the notice said they purchased the software. Moreover, Grubbs’ case was investigated by the same district mentioned in the Google notice. Luca Bongiorni, a security researcher who received the email, said he used LuminosityLink for work, and only with his own computer and virtual machines. The FBI declined to comment. Google did not respond to a request for comment. Lawyers that specialize in cybercrime told me that it’s not unusual for Google to disclose law enforcement requests when it is allowed to. “It looks to me like the court initially ordered Google not to disclose the existence of the info demand, so Google was legally prohibited from notifying the user. Then the nondisclosure order was lifted, so Google notified the user. There's nothing unusual about that per se,” Marcia Hoffman, a lawyer who specializes in cybercrime, told Motherboard in an online chat. “It's common when law enforcement is seeking info during an ongoing investigation and doesn't want to tip off the target(s).” What may be unusual and controversial is for the FBI to try to unmask everyone who purchased software that may not necessarily be considered illegal. “If one is just buying a tool that enables this kind of capability to remotely access a computer, you might be a good guy or you might be a bad guy,” Gabriel Ramsey, a lawyer who specializes in internet and cybersecurity law, told Motherboard in a phone call. “I can imagine a scenario where that kind of request reaches—for good or bad—accounts of both type of purchasers.” Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straycat19 Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 55 minutes ago, steven36 said: The email did not specify whether Google released the requested data to the FBI. 55 minutes ago, steven36 said: Google received and responded to legal process issue by Federal Bureau of Investigation (Eastern District of Kentucky) compelling the release of information related to your Google account,” Looks to me like the email did specify that data was released when the email that Google sent said it was compelled to release the information. Have no fear, they released it, they always do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven36 Posted September 5, 2018 Author Share Posted September 5, 2018 33 minutes ago, straycat19 said: Looks to me like the email did specify that data was released when the email that Google sent said it was compelled to release the information. Have no fear, they released it, they always do. Why you quote me? I don't use Google services signed in no more since 2011 and since you have be signed in to use Gmail that kind of counts me out. I can't stand Google they a 100 other emails you can chose from, there not YouTube were they really hold a monopoly because they pay people a small ad revenue .. people use gmail because there brain washed to do what the masses do just like people who use Facebook ads , data harvesting and that lovely stuff these con artist do to offer you there so called free services. witch you pay with your privacy there not really free . You get what you pay for. What good is them warning you after the fact once the FBI done got what they need it's too late that goes on your record for life? There is no right to be forgiven in the USA . When i get arrested over anything thy dig up all the info they have on me . Lucky for me the Judge is not the cops or id most likely be in jail now. You been drinking too much of Silicon Valley's koolaid lol . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samoray Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 I hate google, but it has the monopoly of nearly everything , you cant download from playstore if you dont have a google account... you cant oppen a google account unless you give them your phone number... that's ridiculous. can you list some free mail services with low privacy issues...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven36 Posted September 5, 2018 Author Share Posted September 5, 2018 16 minutes ago, samoray said: I hate google, but it has the monopoly of nearly everything , you cant download from playstore if you dont have a google account... you cant oppen a google account unless you give them your phone number... that's ridiculous. can you list some free mail services with low privacy issues...? I posted a topic here on how to use Android without using playstore , A monopoly to me is simply you choosing to do what the masses do out of convenance because you can't be bothered by doing the opposite . If you cant trust no free email service buy one .. I sure don't trust free VPNs so i pay for them. . For me, living in the USA using any email not from the states is a better choice . I'm not going to make it easy to get my data, i will make them have to go threw tough EU privacy laws to even get my info. That's my life's goal is to not do what the masses do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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