It isnt paranoia when they really are out to get you. http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemalone/2013/06/14/the-all-seeing-eye/ We have reached the point the federal government is beyond trusting. Once (the link had an anecdote about two FBI agents in Palo Alto) there was too much data for them to analyze, but Moores Law had pushed that aside. They really do have the means to look at everything you do. Couple that with a bloated criminal and regulatory code that makes pretty much everything illegal and gives prosecutors limitless discretion to prosecute, can Big Brother be far behind? Already we see the corruption this power has brought. Itll only get worse if we do not demand reduction in federal power.
We make sure to disconnect the camera we use. There is also the issue of 'onstar' in your car. A few months back a story came out that the Feds had activated the onstar in the car of suspect they were trying gather evidence against. The suspect did not have a subscription to the service, but the Feds could still turn the device on and listen in. Big Brother really is watching and listening to everything you do. We live in a totalitarian, surveillance society - sad to say. Eventually, they'll do away with pretense, and outright begin to round dissidents up... it's just a matter of time.
Only one problem with that. The computer also has a microphone. That said, there are "viruses" that can allow others to remotely access your computer camera/microphone. We do need to be wary. IMHO, we need to reduce the scope of what the government can/is obligated to do. The more it does, the more it controls.
"...we need to reduce the scope of what the government can/is obligated to do. The more it does, the more it controls." Taxcutter says: 100% agreed. And the more it does, the more scope for corruption and tyranny it accumulates. The FBI bragged they'd use dishwashers to spy on us.
