In a month, an obscure procedural tweak will go into effect allowing the FBI to hack into any computer in the world, using a single warrant.
The change approved by the Supreme Court is Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Currently, if law enforcement wants to hack into a computer, they have to get a warrant that is valid in the jurisdiction of the court where the computer is located. With the change in the rule, they could hack into any computer in the US or the world.
As a bonus, the change will allow law enforcement to freely access and hack computers that are already hacked, without needing a warrant. So, for example, if you're infected with a virus, law enforcement will be able to see all your files without a warrant.
It's important to note that this change, while theoretically not granting the FBI any additional powers, does make it easier for agents to track and hunt down suspects operating behind a VPN or an anonymity network like Tor.
For example, it will allow investigators with one warrant rather than one for each country, or each US state involved, to break into systems around the world, and it will allow them without a warrant to search computers infected with malware.
Congress has not yet discussed this change, and the new regulations will take effect on December 1 unless lawmakers pass a law prohibiting it. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rand Paul (R-KY) have already responded by calling for a halt to the Mass Hacking Act, but they are just two people.
Internet groups are already fighting against the change, and have asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch to make a statement on the matter.
Unfortunately in the US it is the height of the presidential election, and there is a chance that it will not be discussed by Congress before the deadline. There is also a possibility that after the election a bill could be passed by the new administration.
This way, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies will be able to conduct hacking at will anywhere in the world based on a single court warrant.
But you shouldn't worry because you're not doing anything illegal, right?
