FinFisher

FinFisher, also known under the name FinSpy, is a monitoring software for computers and mobile phones, which is developed and distributed a part of the British- German company Gamma International GmbH, which has its headquarters in Munich and Gamma Group. For this group of companies include, among other things, the UK-based Gamma International Ltd.. , Gamma TE Ltd.. and G2 Systems Ltd.. The Group maintains a partnership with the Elaman GmbH. Founder of Gamma Group and alongside Martin John Munch (15% ) majority owner ( 85%) is Louthean John Alexander Nelson, son of the founder of the group Louthean William Nelson; The group employs 85 people.

This type of software is called a Trojan because the spy functions are smuggled in a harmless-looking envelope. The German Federal Government supports trading with this software, by having the export of German surveillance technology protected by Hermes guarantees.

Features and Functions

The software suite includes:

  • FinSpy: A Trojan software that allows remote access to an already infected machine. It runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
  • FinFireWire: Software through which using Firewire and DMA a complete image of the working memory can be downloaded.
  • FinFly USB: Installation of previously selected software just by plugging in a previously prepared USB stick.
  • FinFly ISP: An installed on Internet - provider level software that can infect files currently charged with monitoring software specifically among others.

In addition to the actual software packages also marketed under the name FinTraining training to the use of the software is available.

Andy Mueller Maguhn called the sale of the Gamma software as "active support for human rights violations."

Criticism

Sales to oppressive regime

Although Gamma International has always denied the sale of the software to totalitarian regimes, came the Wall Street Journal in 2011 on a secret memo to the Egyptian Interior Ministry, which had a five -month trial use of the software suite from Gamma International on the subject. In the same memo also the " successful hacking of personal Skype accounts " and " records voice and video calls over the Internet " was discussed using the software suite.

In addition, the memo mentioned that the software was available for 388 604 euros, including a training for a four - man team. Although apparent from the documents that the purchase was already confirmed by the Home Office, the trade came, presumably due to the unrest of the Arab Spring, never materialized.

Big Brother Award 2012

Not only because the objective of the monitoring program for Sale in countries such as Egypt, but because of the fundamental task of the program of the so-called remote intrusion, so the remote intrusion into a computer and the subsequent acquisition and collection of data was the Brand Gamma International 2012 won the Big Brother Award in the category of art. In the eulogy of the negative price advertising the company was called " shockingly blunt " as is touted here, which is illegal in manufacturing and selling to private individuals and companies in Germany.

OECD Complaint

On February 6, 2013 in parallel in Germany and the UK, a complaint against the two IT firms Gamma Group, the maker of FinFisher, and against Trovicor to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was filed. The complainants Privacy International, Reporters without Borders, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights ( BCHR ), Bahrain Watch ( BW ) and the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights. Your allegation is gamma violated the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. These state that companies are not allowed to directly or indirectly contribute to human rights violations.

The UK Contact Point of the OECD adopted the appeal against the Gamma Group on 24 June 2013.

Purchase by the Federal Government Germany

In May 2013, the federal government acquired a license for ten computers for FinSpy about the German distributor Elaman for 147,000 euros, but due to the legal situation in Germany, the software still needs to be adjusted.

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