Imagine if you will that the FBI suspects a person or parties of criminal activity and that they have been given the power to perform a full-content wire tap of e-mail traffic (all data may be captured and analyzed).
* Step 1: The FBI will contact the appropriate ISP and ask for a copy of the back-up files of the suspect’s internet activity.
* Step 2: A Carnivore computer is set up at the ISP and the suspect’s activities are monitored.
This computer is comprised of:
* A Pentium III Windows based NT/2000 system with 128 MB of RAM or later models.
* A commercial software application for communications.
* A C++ application which will work with the communication programme for packet sniffing.
* A system that will require a passcode to gain access to the computer.
* Network Isolation devices that render the Carnivore System invisible to any other program on the network.
* A device for data storage such as a removable hard drive
* Step 3: The Carnivore is configured to include the IP address of the suspect, and ignore all others.
* Step 4: Carnivore makes a copy of all the data transmitted from the system.
* Step 5: The copies are passed through a filter that retains only the e-mail data packets.
* Step 6: The data is saved to a removable hard drive.
* Step 7: The FBI will make a regular visit to the ISP and remove the hard drive and replace it with a new one. This data is kept in a marked, sealed container and dated.
* Step 8: By law, this type of surveillance must be completed in one month (failing an application for extension). The system is then removed.
* Step 9: The data is analyzed using Packeteer and Coolminer and if enough evidence is obtained it can be used in a case against the suspect.
What About Our Privacy?
The Carnivore System is mainly used in cases where one of the following is suspected:
Most of us are completely safe from privacy violations since the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) ensures that we are legally protected against unfair electronic infiltration. A court order is required for any operation of this type and probable cause MUST be established before it is granted. If you are on the straight and narrow you will have nothing to fear from the FBI’s use of the Carnivore System.
