| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to unauthorized access to laptop cameras has happened before at other organizations or with their products and services. The incident mentioned in the article involved a man named Jared Abrahams using software to spy on women through their laptop cameras without their knowledge [55796]. Additionally, a similar incident was reported at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania in 2008, where administrators captured images of students using Remote Administration Tools (RATs) installed on school-issued laptops [55796].
(b) The software failure incident related to unauthorized access to laptop cameras has also happened at multiple organizations or with their products and services. The article mentions commercial surveillance products like Hacking Team and FinFisher that are marketed for use by governments, enabling live surveillance through webcams and microphones [55796]. Furthermore, the Chinese government has been accused of using RATs for surveillance purposes, triggering web cameras and activating audio inputs surreptitiously [55796]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the article where researchers from Johns Hopkins University discovered a vulnerability in Apple internal iSight webcams found in earlier-generation Apple products, including MacBooks and iMacs released before 2008. They were able to reprogram the chip inside the camera to defeat the security feature that was supposed to turn on the camera's light whenever it was recording, thus allowing the camera to be activated without triggering the warning light [55796].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be observed in the case of Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf, who was unknowingly spied on through her laptop camera by a high school classmate using software that allowed remote access to her camera without triggering the light that indicates it is in use. This failure occurred due to the misuse of the software by the perpetrator, leading to unauthorized surveillance of the victim [55796]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) The software failure incident discussed in the articles is primarily within_system. The incident involved a software tool known as a Remote Administration Tool (RAT) that allowed the perpetrator to remotely access and control the laptop cameras of individuals without their knowledge [55796]. This software tool was found on the perpetrator's computer and was used to spy on multiple women, including Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf, by activating their laptop cameras without triggering the warning light that indicates the camera is in use. The researchers from Johns Hopkins University demonstrated how they were able to reprogram the micro-controller of the camera to bypass the security feature that should have turned on the light when the camera was activated [55796]. This failure was a result of vulnerabilities within the software and the ability to exploit the hardware components of the laptops, allowing unauthorized access to the cameras.
(b) The software failure incident also has elements of outside_system factors contributing to the failure. The incident highlighted concerns about the potential for government agencies or malicious individuals to exploit vulnerabilities in laptop cameras for surveillance purposes. The researchers pointed out that attacks exploiting microcontrollers, like the one demonstrated on MacBook cameras, are becoming more common, indicating a broader trend in the security landscape [55796]. Additionally, commercial surveillance products marketed for use by governments, such as FinFisher, have capabilities to covertly deploy surveillance tools on target systems, including live surveillance through webcams [55796]. These external factors, including the availability of sophisticated surveillance tools and potential government surveillance programs, contribute to the overall risk and impact of the software failure incident. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in the article was primarily due to a vulnerability in the design of the laptops' built-in cameras. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University discovered a way to covertly activate a computer's camera without triggering the light that indicates it is recording. This vulnerability allowed for the camera to be turned on without the user's knowledge, highlighting a flaw in the hardware interlock between the camera and the light [55796].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
The incident involving the spying on Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf and other women was a result of human actions. Jared Abrahams, a high school classmate of Wolf, used software known as a Remote Administration Tool (RAT) to remotely spy on her and other women through their laptop cameras. Abrahams pleaded guilty to extortion, indicating his malicious intent in using the software for unauthorized surveillance [55796]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
The incident described in the articles highlights a hardware-related vulnerability in laptops with built-in cameras. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University discovered a way to bypass the hardware interlock between the camera and the light indicator on Apple laptops released before 2008. By reprogramming the chip inside the camera, known as a micro-controller, they were able to activate the camera without triggering the light that alerts users. This hardware vulnerability allowed for unauthorized spying on users without their knowledge [55796].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
The software failure incident in this case is related to the Remote Administration Tool (RAT) used by the perpetrator, Jared Abrahams, to spy on individuals through their laptop cameras. The RAT software allowed Abrahams to remotely control the victims' computers and access their cameras without their consent. While RAT software can have legitimate uses for remote administration, in this case, it was exploited for malicious purposes, highlighting a software-related failure in terms of unauthorized access and privacy invasion [55796]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident described in the articles is malicious in nature. The incident involved a man named Jared Abrahams who used software on his computer to spy remotely on women, including Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf, by accessing their laptop cameras without their knowledge [55796]. The software used by Abrahams was a Remote Administration Tool (RAT), which allowed him to control a computer from across the Internet for nefarious purposes [55796].
Additionally, the articles mention other instances where sophisticated surveillance tools, such as those marketed for government use, have the capabilities to suppress warning lights on cameras, indicating a deliberate attempt to conduct surveillance without the user's knowledge [55796].
Therefore, the software failure incident in this case falls under the category of malicious intent, as it involved using software to invade privacy and spy on individuals without their consent. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
The intent of the software failure incident related to the ability to remotely activate laptop cameras without triggering the warning light can be categorized as both poor_decisions and accidental_decisions.
1. Poor_decisions: The incident involves poor decisions in terms of designing and implementing the security features of the laptop cameras. The article mentions that Apple had initially designed the built-in cameras with a hardware interlock to ensure the camera couldn't turn on without alerting the owner through the light. However, researchers were able to reprogram the camera's micro-controller to defeat this security feature, indicating a flaw in the initial design decision [55796].
2. Accidental_decisions: The incident also involves accidental decisions or unintended consequences. The ability to covertly activate laptop cameras without triggering the warning light was not the intended design of the security feature. The researchers discovered a way to exploit the multiple chips in modern laptops, specifically reprogramming the camera's micro-controller to allow the camera to be turned on while keeping the light off. This unintended consequence led to the vulnerability being exploited [55796]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article. The incident involved a software flaw that allowed a man named Jared Abrahams to remotely spy on women, including Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf, through their laptop cameras without triggering the camera's light indicator [55796]. This flaw was exploited by reprogramming the micro-controller of the camera to bypass the security feature that was designed to alert users when the camera is in use. The research conducted by Johns Hopkins University confirmed the possibility of covertly activating a computer's camera without the user's knowledge, highlighting a significant oversight in the development of the camera security feature.
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is also present in the article. The incident involving the spying through laptop cameras was not accidental but rather a deliberate exploitation of a software vulnerability by the perpetrator, Jared Abrahams. The flaw in the camera's security feature, which allowed the camera to be turned on without activating the indicator light, was not accidental but a result of intentional reprogramming of the camera's micro-controller by the researchers to demonstrate the vulnerability [55796]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
The software failure incident described in the articles can be categorized as a permanent failure. The incident involved a vulnerability in the software that allowed the camera on laptops to be remotely activated without triggering the warning light, enabling unauthorized surveillance [55796]. This vulnerability was present in laptops released before 2008, and researchers demonstrated how the camera and light could be activated independently by reprogramming the camera's micro-controller. The issue was not limited to a specific circumstance but was a fundamental flaw in the software that allowed for covert surveillance. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to a crash.
(b) omission: The software failure incident described in the articles is related to omission. The software allowed the camera to be turned on without triggering the warning light, omitting the intended function of alerting the user that the camera is in use [55796].
(c) timing: The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to timing issues.
(d) value: The software failure incident described in the articles is related to a failure in value. The software allowed the camera to be turned on without the user's knowledge, which is an incorrect behavior and a violation of privacy [55796].
(e) byzantine: The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to a byzantine behavior.
(f) other: The software failure incident described in the articles can be categorized as a privacy breach. The software allowed unauthorized access to the laptop camera, enabling spying on users without their knowledge, which is a serious violation of privacy and security [55796]. |