국정원, 인터넷 ‘패킷 감청’ 장비 31대 보유
국회 정보위 소속 의원이 국정원 자료 밝혀
23대 MB정부 도입…인터넷 통째 감청가능 
  
  성연철 기자 이유주현 기자  
  
출처 : 한겨레신문 기사등록 : 2009-11-17 오전 12:35:21
http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/388055.html
 
국가정보원이 인터넷 회선 감청(패킷 감청) 장비를 31대 보유하고 있으며, 이 가운데 23대를 이명박 정부 들어 도입한 것으로 16일 알려졌다.

국정원이 최근 국회 정보위 소속 한 의원에게 제출한 자료를 보면, 국정원은 1998년 패킷 감청 장비를 처음 도입했고, 현재 모두 31대를 보유하고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 국정원은 이 가운데 23대를 이명박 정부 들어서인 지난해와 올해 도입했다고 밝혔다.

패킷 감청은 초고속 통신망에서 전송을 위해 잘게 쪼개진 데이터 조각인 ‘패킷’을 이용한 감청 방식으로, 특정인이 방문한 인터넷 사이트와 검색 결과, 이메일, 채팅 내용을 실시간으로 볼 수 있다. 특정인이 인터넷을 통해 접촉한 인물들이나 인터넷 뱅킹 내역까지도 파악할 수가 있다고 전문가들은 지적한다. 패킷 감청을 하려면 법원의 영장을 발부받아야 하지만 영장에 제시된 감청 목적 이외의 사항도 얼마든지 들여다볼 수 있어서 개인의 사생활 정보가 과다하게 침해될 우려가 있다는 지적을 받아왔다.

특히 국정원이 보유한 31대의 패킷 장비 중엔 감청의 흔적이 남지 않는 아이에스비엔(ISBN) 감청기도 포함되어 있는 것으로 알려졌다. 국회 정보위 소속 한 의원은 “패킷 감청은 법원의 감청 허가서가 떨어지면 특정 회선을 통한 웹서핑, 이메일 등이 한꺼번에 감청되므로 이를 법으로 제한하기 위한 국회 차원의 노력이 필요하다”고 말했다.

지난해 검찰과 경찰 등 수사기관이 11대의 패킷 감청 설비로 실시한 감청은 모두 110여건에 이르러, 패킷 감청 설비가 31대일 경우 감청 건수도 크게 늘어날 것으로 예상된다.

장여경 진보네트워크센터 활동가는 “패킷 감청은 이메일이나 아이피 등 거의 모든 인터넷상의 감청이 가능한 방식”이라며 “현 정부가 23대나 장비를 늘렸다는 것은 본격적으로 패킷 감청을 실시하려는 의도가 드러난 것으로 오남용을 우려하지 않을 수 없다”고 말했다.
성연철 이유주현 기자 sychee@hani.co.kr

Experts: Overuse of flu drugs could cut effectiveness
Experts: Most “worried well” who were exposed to flu but not sick should not get antiviral drugs

By Bob LaMendola South Florida Sun Sentinel

출처 : South Florida Sun-Sentinel 5:01 p.m. EDT, September 15, 2009
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-swine-flu-preparation-091609,0,5300569.story

Doctors and hospitals should prepare not only for a surge of swine flu patients but also the “worried well,” relatives and friends who may accompany them asking for treatment because they were exposed to the virus, a panel of South Florida experts said Tuesday.

Only high-risk people such as the chronically ill should be given antiviral drugs solely to prevent an infection after they were exposed to a sick person, and medical professionals will have to be strong in saying no to the rest of the “worried well,” panel members said during a swine flu seminar at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.

“You will have a lot of panicky, demanding family members in your office. How do you deal with that? It’s up to your intestinal fortitude,” said Dr. Stephen Renae, an infectious disease specialist.

Antiviral drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza can shorten the duration of swine flu and can prevent it from causing illness in those who are exposed to the H1N1 flu virus, if taken within about 48 hours of the start of symptoms.

But the flu has been fairly mild so far, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend giving drugs as a preventive measure except in those for whom the flu is a big risk, including pregnant women, children, adolescents and people with chronic illnesses such as lung disease, heart diseases and the like.

Also, a few cases of Tamiflu-resistant swine flu have appeared, making flu experts worry that overuse of antiviral drugs may reduce their effectiveness in stopping the flu in sick people. It’s also impotant to be sure sufficient supplies of antiviral drugs are available to those who need them, experts say. Doctors facing healthy, low-risk people who want drugs as a preventive should try to explain the situation, the panel said.

“Doctors need to use their best judgment and follow the CDC rules,” said Dr. Paula Thaqi, director of the Broward County Health Department. The same will be true, she said, when the first batches of H1N1 vaccine comes out in a few weeks and will be reserved for high-risk groups.

Dawn Nesbitt, chief emergency room nurse at Plantation General Hospital, who attended the seminar, said entire families have come to the ER asking about Tamiflu when a child in the household gets sick.

Eight to 10 sick students per day have been coming to her ER, sent there by schools when family members cannot get free to pick them up and bring them home, Nesbitt said.

The Palm Beach County Health Department has been trying to head off big crowds of people flooding physician offices and ERs by urging people to take care of themselves at home unless their symptoms are worrisome.

“You don’t necessarily have to run to the doctor’s office. Do that good old self-care, just like folks have done with influenza in the past,” said Al Grasso, coordinator for emergency preparation at the department.

Overall, Thaqi said she is pleased with the level of flu planning by doctors, hospitals and emergency rescue staffers in the community. Grasso said the same.

The new H1N1 virus is a worry for health experts because of its potential, not because it’s a major danger now. When it first came out in April, doctors feared it would be highly virulent and kill thousands. So far, it hasn’t. The nation has seen about 600 deaths, Florida 78. Experts still worry that the virus could mutate and become more serious, but so far that hasn’t happened.

“We’re hoping that will be a busy flu season and that’s all,” said Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, emergency medicine chief at the tax-assisted Broward Health system.

Bob LaMendola can be reached at blamendola@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4526 or 561-243-6600, ext. 4526