German Government Plans Spyware Use

By Digital Trends Staff September 2, 2007

In a very bizarre story, the German government has announced plans to send e-mails containing spyware to suspected terrorists, which will allow agents to search the hard drives of the suspects. The e-mail (which would evidently purport to come from various official bodies) will contain a Trojan that installs itself on the suspect’s computer. The German Interior Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, has stated that the spyware would be used only in a few cases and for a limited time as part of a new anti-terrorism bill. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she supports the measure. Unsurprisingly, there’s been plenty of criticism of the plans. Gisela Piltz, of the Free Democrats, called it a totally unacceptable intrusion into privacy. Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries, of the Social Democrats (SPD), has voiced concern about the spyware plans, saying they might infringe privacy laws. Meanwhile, you have to wonder exactly why the government announced this will happen, since it give forewarning to all those terrorist suspects.

Editors' Recommendations

Digital Trends Staff

Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…

Computing

How to turn off the Apple Vision Pro when you’re done using it

A developer points to a Mac screen while a Vision Pro rests on the desk.

The Vision Pro is an amazingly complex piece of hardware, an ultra-premium head-mounted display that's as powerful as a MacBook. As wonderful as it might be to use one of the best VR headsets in the world, there comes a time to turn off the Apple Vision Pro, and that can be the cause of some concern.

Computing

Best refurbished laptop deals: How to find cheap used computers

microsoft surface laptop go 2020 on desk

Shopping the best laptop deals can land you some savings, but if it’s an incredibly low price you’re looking for, shopping refurbished is the way to go. Refurbished laptops offer a chance to save big, and you can often find some of yesterday’s best laptops at super cheap prices today. Most refurbished laptops are backed by warranties and reasonable return windows, so you can shop refurbished laptops with some confidence what you’re purchasing will hold up. There are a lot of great refurbished laptop deals out there right now, and they are laptops that make a lot of sense for students or anyone on a tight budget. Below you’ll find links to some of the best places to buy a refurbished laptop.
Best Buy refurbished laptops -- starting at $113
Best Buy's refurbished laptops are -- you guessed it -- Geek Squad Certified and while they may not be free and clear of absolutely all cosmetic scuffs they are still exceptionally clean and always in working order. Some of them even come with additional software like virus tools, streaming access, like Apple TV+, and much more. Of course, the best part is that you can get a premium and fully upgraded model for less, often with more storage, more power, and more features than you would when buying a base model brand new. You've got some great options from Lenovo, Acer, HP, Dell, Gateway, and even Apple to choose from. The cheapest models start around $120 and increase from there. The best way to know what's available is to head over and browse for yourself.

Dell Latitude -- starting at $279
Dell sometimes discounts laptops and machines, for varying reasons, including clearance deals of the week to make way for new stock. That's pretty much the case with Dell's Latitude models with the cheapest coming in around $189 up to $229 and above. There are a lot of different models, each with individual specifications and features, so you'll have to sift through the list, especially if you know what you're looking for already.

Computing

5 image-editing apps you should use instead of Adobe Photoshop

A person editing photos using an image-editor app.

Adobe Photoshop is such a popular app that its name has become a verb. It’s also undoubtedly one of the best photo editors you can use today. But it’s also fairly expensive, and its subscription model doesn’t sit well with everyone.

If you’re looking for an alternative, you’re in the right place. We’ve examined the options and picked five of the best Photoshop alternatives that will scratch that image-editing itch. Read on to see what we recommend.
Affinity Photo