Book: In the Shadow of Giants: A true story of corporate espionage... by Liam Monclair

A true story of corporate espionage in the shadow of China’s rise.

At the heart of modern power struggles, In the Shadow of Giants follows the extraordinary journey of Liam Monclair, a security and strategy expert. This gripping narrative, blending memoir and thriller, opens the door to a unique and little-known universe—corporate espionage, geopolitical manipulations, and cultural tensions—spanning from the skyscrapers of Shanghai to the streets of Jakarta and the vast deserts of the Middle East.

From the escalation of a fierce conflict between Altéone Group—a French multinational—and Wang Industries, a Chinese giant led by the enigmatic Mr. Wang, to high-stakes missions in Iraq and the protection of a football star in dangerous zones, the author unveils the inner workings of a demanding world. 

Based on a true story, In the Shadow of Giants is both a tribute to those who work behind the scenes and an exploration of a life lived on the edge. Masterfully blending suspense and thought-provoking insights, it takes readers deep into the hidden reality of an extraordinary existence. more

The Atlas of Surveillance

The Atlas of Surveillance, which documents police surveillance technology across the US. See how your city is spending its money. 

FutureWatch: Acoustic Eavesdropping with Multi-Antenna mmWave Radar

Acoustic eavesdropping against private or confidential spaces is a significant threat in the realm of privacy protection. 

While the presence of soundproof material would weaken such an attack, current eavesdropping technology may be able to bypass these protections. 

This paper introduces mmEcho, a new acoustic eavesdropping method that utilizes millimeter-wave signals to sense vibration induced by sound precisely. Through signal processing techniques such as the intra-chirp scheme and phase calibration algorithm, mmEcho achieves micrometer-level vibration extraction without requiring target-related data. 

To improve the range of eavesdropping attacks while reducing noise, we optimize radar signals by leveraging the widespread availability of multiple antennas on commercial off-the-shelf radars. We comprehensively evaluate the performance of mmEcho in different real-world settings. 

Experimental results demonstrate that, with the aid of multi-antenna technology, mmEcho can more effectively reconstruct the audio from the target at various distances, directions, sound insulators, reverberating objects, sound levels, and languages. Compared to existing methods, our approach provides better effectiveness without prior knowledge, such as the speech data from the target. more

RIP: Mark Klein, AT&T Tech, NSA Check - 79

Mark Klein, a bona fide hero who risked civil liability and criminal prosecution to help expose a massive spying program that violated the rights of millions of Americans.

Mark didn’t set out to change the world. For 22 years, he was a telecommunications technician for AT&T, most of that in San Francisco. But he always had a strong sense of right and wrong and a commitment to privacy.

Mark not only saw how it works, he had the documents to prove it.

When the New York Times reported in late 2005 that the NSA was engaging in spying inside the U.S., Mark realized that he had witnessed how it was happening. He also realized that the President was not telling Americans the truth about the program. And, though newly retired, he knew that he had to do something. He showed up at EFF’s front door in early 2006 with a simple question: “Do you folks care about privacy?” more

RIP: Peter Sichel, Spy Turned Wine Guy -102

Peter Sichel was a shrewd observer, a skill that served him as both spy and marketing genius. 

As a U.S. intelligence officer in occupied Berlin in the aftermath of World War II, the German-Jewish immigrant put Western fears to rest when he concluded that the Soviet Union did not intend to launch a military invasion of West Germany. 

Later, after he’d grown disenchanted with espionage, Sichel took over his family’s wine business. Realizing that most Americans in the late 1950s had little knowledge of wine, he determined that they’d be drawn to something simple. He chose Blue Nun, a slightly sweet German white his family had been making since the 1920s, and the brand became ubiquitous. At its peak in 1984, it sold 30 million bottles... more

Hackers are Taking Aim at Board Directors

Well-known CEOs and executives aren’t the only potential victims of hacks and threats from criminals. Board directors also have to be vigilant, according to Jason Lish, the global chief information security officer at Cisco.

“Often times they’re targets, especially for public companies, where their profiles are out there,” he said during a virtual conversation on Thursday hosted by Fortune in partnership with Diligent for The Modern Board series.

Lish added that he’s even seen an increase in the mailing of physical ransom letters to board directors and company executives. “How do they stay protected in their personal lives?” he said. “Because threat actors will try to do reconnaissance.” more

TSCM is the corporate counterespionage measure you need.

Secret Commands Found in Bluetooth Chip - Used in a Billion Devices

A potential security issue has been discovered by cybersecurity researchers that has the capability to affect more than one billion devices.

According to researchers at the cybersecurity firm Tarlogic, a hidden command has been found coded into a bluetooth chip installed in devices around the world. This secret functionality can be weaponized by bad actors and, according to the researchers, used as an exploit into these devices.

Using these commands, hackers could impersonate a trusted device and then connect to smartphones, computers, and other devices in order to access information stored on them. Bad actors can continue to utilize their connection to the device to essentially spy on users. more

Chinese Spy Balloon Packed with American Tech

A Chinese spy balloon that crossed over the United States in 2023 was packed with American technology that could have enabled it to spy on Americans, according to two sources with direct knowledge of a technical analysis conducted by the U.S. military.

The discovery of a satellite communication module, sensors and other tech from at least five American firms underlines the failure of U.S. efforts to restrict exports of technology that could have military uses to main adversary China as well as to countries such as Russia and Iran. It also raises questions over the role of private companies that sell their equipment globally in keeping control over the ultimate users of dual-use technology that can have defense applications as well as civilian uses.

A Chinese patent reviewed by Newsweek describes a communications system for exactly such a balloon as the one that crossed America, based on using a satellite transceiver from a U.S. company that the balloon’s controllers in China would use to communicate with it and that would send data back, and that is easily available online. more

1984 or 2025 - What the Flock?

Flock Safety, a maker of license plate-reading cameras, is said to be valued at $7.5 billion — a 56% increase from a year ago — in a funding round to be led by Andreessen Horowitz. The startup plans to raise $250 million. more

Not everyone is thrilled, and the courts have not weighted in yet. When they do, it will be boom or bust.

2025 Canadian Technical Security Conference (CTSC)

Conference Dates
Tuesday May 06, 2025 to Thursday May 08, 2025
Arrival Monday May 05, 2025

Conference Venue
Banff Centre for Professional Development
Kinnear Centre for Innovation
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive, Banff, Alberta Canada T1L 1H5

Conference Theme:
The Future of Technical Security: Adapting to a Changing Threat Landscape
Defensive resources, tools, countermeasures, and technologies are available. That is why, you need to attend the Canadian Technical Security Conference to hone an up-to-date awareness of the threat environment, countermeasures, tools and a better understanding how to make the best use of them. Moreover, not only will you learn from experts but you can become part of a community that pulls together against the threat operators to share information and best practices.

A very worthwhile event for TSCM colleagues. more

History: Spies and Informants | A 60 Minutes Marathon

From 2017, Scott Pelley’s interview with an FBI undercover agent who infiltrated Al Qaeda and helped thwart several terrorist attacks. 

From 2011, Anderson Cooper’s report on FBI agent Lin Vecchio, who helped put away several notorious Mafia leaders, but also faced murder charges due to his association with an informant. 

From 2017, Sharyn Alfonsi’s report on the use of jailhouse informants in Orange County, California. 

From 2015, Steve Kroft’s report on Jack Barsky, a KGB spy from the Soviet Union who lived for decades in the United States without being detected. 

From 2019, Pelley’s talk with a former American member of Al-Qaeda who provided valuable intelligence in order to avoid jail. 

From 2001, Lesley Stahl’s report on Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent who was convicted of spying for Russia. 

From 2024, Cecilia Vega’s report on the Americans spying for Cuba in the U.S. 

From 2015, Stahl’s investigation into the controversial use of young confidential informants by law enforcement in dangerous and sometimes deadly drug cases. 

From 2010, Pelley’s report on a Defense Department employee caught on tape selling secrets to a Chinese spy. 

From 2022, Jon Wertheim's story on the Ritchie Boys, the secret U.S. unit bolstered by German-born Jews who helped the Allies beat Hitler. 

From 2018, Cooper’s interview with Justice and FBI officials who reveal how they caught a former CIA officer spying for the Chinese. 

And from 2017, Kroft’s interview with British author John Le Carré who has written several best-selling spy thrillers under the pen name David Cornwell. more

Spy Cam News: 2024 Singapore Slings

• 519 voyeurism cases were reported last year — a 9% rise. 

• Over 30% of the incidents occurred in victims' own homes.

• Physical crime cases in Singapore remained stable in 2024.

Most cases at residential premises (124 cases or 76.5%) were committed by perpetrators known to the victims (such as boyfriends/ex-boyfriends, household members or fellow tenants). Cases at shopping complexes and on the public transport network typically involved perpetrators not known to the victims.

At public transport nodes, the SPF has started initiatives to display advisory messages on voyeurism prominently on floor decals at selected MRT stations. Anti-voyeurism messages are also broadcast at all MRT stations during peak hours. The SPF has also collaborated with the Restroom Association (Singapore) to introduce security design guidelines, enhancing safety in public toilets. more

Mom Hears a Stranger Talking to Child Through WiFi Baby Monitor

The monitor's camera was positioned directly above the crib. “Of course, he was crying a little bit, so I opened the app and turned on the audio just to keep an eye on him,” says the OP (original poster on reddit.com). “As soon as I turned on the audio, I hear a woman’s voice go, ‘Hello?’”

The OP asked their husband if there was anything in the room that talks or if the camera made noise when turning the audio on. The answers were no and no. “I go back upstairs, and as I’m opening the door to my son’s room I hear the same woman talking to my son through the camera,” the OP writes. “She said, ‘Hi baby! It’s OK!’ 

“Consumer Reports found that most of these models have pretty lax security and privacy and didn't earn a recommendation in our ratings,” explains Allen St. John, the content manager for baby monitors of Consumer Reports. more

A Spymaster Sheikh Controls a $1.5 Trillion Fortune. He Wants to Use It to Dominate AI

His real name is Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al Nahyan. A bearded, wiry figure who’s almost never seen without dark sunglasses.

Tahnoun is the United Arab Emirates’ national security adviser—the intelligence chief to one of the world’s wealthiest and most surveillance-happy small nations. He’s also the younger brother of the country’s hereditary, autocratic president, Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan. But perhaps most important, and most bizarrely for a spymaster, Tahnoun wields official control over much of Abu Dhabi’s vast sovereign wealth. Bloomberg News reported last year that he directly oversees a $1.5 trillion empire—more cash than just about anyone on the planet...

But in recent years, a new quest has taken up much of Sheikh Tahnoun’s attention. His onetime chess and technology obsession has morphed into something far bigger: a hundred-billion-dollar campaign to turn Abu Dhabi into an AI superpower. And the teammate he’s set out to buy this time is the United States tech industry itself. more

An Extra Defense Against Keyless Car Theft

The rising amount of technology in our vehicles makes them increasingly vulnerable to hacking or theft. 

Battery Sleuth bypasses both the wireless communication that key fobs depend on and the standardized onboard communication network in today’s vehicles. Instead, it authenticates drivers by measuring voltage fluctuations in a vehicle’s electrical system. Drivers interact with it through a keypad device plugged into the auxiliary power outlet. Learn more in this video.

“The idea of measuring fluctuations in a car’s electrical system seems simple, but designing one device that can do it accurately on thousands of different vehicle models in varying environmental conditions gets quite complicated,” said Liang He , assistant professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Colorado, Denver and a researcher on the project. “We’re working to design a system that’s smart enough to measure the parameters of the vehicle it’s installed on and then customize itself to work effectively on that vehicle.” more

Student Arrested for Placing Spy Cameras in Bathrooms

Police say a Temple University student was arrested and charged after hidden cameras were found inside the bathrooms of his off-campus residence.

Authorities say 21-year-old Michael Nguyen planted three cameras disguised as pens inside the bathrooms of a residence he shared with his now former Delta Chi Psi fraternity brothers on 17th Street and Montgomery Avenue...

They say he was expelled from the fraternity “without hesitation.” more 

Spy History: 1902 Corporate Espionage on the High Seas

Your Editor (not me) chanced upon the following in the library of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich last winter and it is reprinted here by kind permission of Stephen Rabson, Group Information Manager of P&O.

The document is in the form of a quasi-official report, written by one of P&O's traveling inspectors on two voyages in 1902, one from Southampton to New York, the other from Vancouver to Yokohama.

The writer (whose signature is, alas, indecipherable) was clearly more than a passenger, he was a benevolent spy, assessing conditions aboard the competition...

"I have the honor to report my arrival here yesterday. The following details of the steamers in which I have traveled may interest you..." more

This business spy tactic has been around forever. These days corporate espionage is enhanced with electronics (audio, video, and data). This is why businesses have added Technical Surveillance Countermeasures to their security precautions. If you have not, it is highly recommended you do so. Contact a professional TSCM information security consultant to begin protecting your company.

Better Idea: Prevent the Boardroom Leaks - Conduct TSCM Inspections

HP Studied Spying on Newsrooms: NY Times
Hewlett-Packard conducted feasibility studies on placing spies in news bureaus of two publications as part of an investigation into leaks from its board, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. Hewlett-Packard could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Times cited an individual briefed on the company's review of the operation in its report. It is not clear whether the plan described in the documents, which were read to a reporter, was ever acted upon, The Times said.

The newspaper said the feasibility studies, referred to in a February 2 draft report for a briefing of senior management, were said to have included the possibility of placing investigators acting as clerical employees or cleaning crews in the San Francisco offices of technology news Web site CNET and The Wall Street Journal.

HP is under investigation by U.S. federal prosecutors and the California attorney general over the company's potentially illegal tactics in obtaining phone records in a bid to end boardroom leaks to the media. more 

The much better idea.

FutureWatch: "Proactive Eavesdropping"

Proactive eavesdropping in wireless communication systems is an emerging area of research that focuses on the interception of communications while minimizing the risk of detection. 

This involves the use of advanced techniques such as jamming and intelligent reflecting surfaces to enhance the eavesdropping capabilities of legitimate monitors. 

Recent studies have explored various scenarios where suspicious communications occur, and how legitimate monitors can optimize their strategies to maximize the success of eavesdropping while adhering to certain constraints. more

Note from website: This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is one of 30,000 created with generative AI and the cited references. We take care to ground generative text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process. We however cannot guarantee the accuracy of every summary and welcome feedback.

Seminar in Information Security & Cryptography

Seminar in Information Security & Cryptography
Zurich Switzerland, June 11−13, 2025
Lecturers: Prof. David Basin and Prof. Ueli Maurer, ETH Zurich

We are pleased to announce our seminar in Information Security and Cryptography. A full description of the seminar, including all topics covered, is available at
https://www.infsec.ch/#seminar. Early registration is until February 28th.

This seminar provides an in-depth coverage of Information Security and Cryptography. Concepts are explained in a way understandable to a wide audience, as well as mathematical, algorithmic, protocol-specific, and system-oriented aspects. The topics covered include cryptography and its foundations, system and network security, PKIs and key management, authentication and access control, privacy and data protection, and advanced topics in cryptography including blockchains and cryptocurrencies.

The seminar takes place in Zurich, Switzerland. The lectures and all course material are in English. Participants will receive certification for their attendance.

Spy Camp 2025

Spy Camp 2025
Week 1: July 14 – July 18 | Week 2: July 21 – July 25
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Daily | Ages: 9 – 12
Price per child: $625 (Non-member) | $545 (Spy Museum Members) 

This isn’t your ordinary summer camp — this is Spy Camp! Somewhere deep inside the Museum, an elite group of recruits is lurking in the shadows preparing to take on top secret missions.

Aspiring KidSpy® recruits will hone their tradecraft, learn from real spies, and hit the streets of DC to run training missions. Develop a disguise for cover, make and break codes, discover escape and evasion techniques, create and use spy gadgets, and uncover the science behind spying – all of this and more awaits young recruits! more

Point One for the Chinese Cyber Spies

An investigation by a US federal advisory board into a sweeping digital espionage campaign, allegedly by Chinese cyber spies, has been shelved before it really got underway.

Members of the Cyber Safety Review Board are getting the boot as part of an early move by the Trump administration to dismiss participants in Department of Homeland Security advisory committees, according to multiple news reports and a person familiar with the matter.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. more

Stop Working for Russia, Britain Tells its Private Spies

The British government has warned the country’s burgeoning private intelligence and security industry to stop doing work for hostile states like Russia, China and Iran.

In new guidance for security professionals published this week, the U.K. Home Office said such work risks breaking tough new national security laws — and could even see pros sent to prison for up to 14 years...

It suggests companies should “strongly consider” turning down work if a potential client works for a foreign state’s public sector, fails to provide sufficient information about their identity, or asks them to gather sensitive information. more

Russian Spy Hoarded Surveillance Gadgets - Boasted: Like James Bond Q

A Russian spy was living in a "typical seaside hotel" on the English coast crammed full of electronic surveillance equipment, a court has heard.

Orlin Roussev boasted to his controller that he was becoming like the James Bond character "Q" as he prepared his spying "toys" for kidnap and surveillance operations across Europe...

The Old Bailey was told a "vast" amount of technical equipment for "intrusive surveillance" was found at Roussev's address in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, which he described in messages as his "Indiana Jones warehouse"... a "significant amount of IT and surveillance equipment". It was stacked up in two storage rooms and an office used by Roussev, the court was told. more

Recent Spycam News

• Paedo Scots actor who set up hidden cameras to film children undressing at theatre jailed more

• Des Moines photographer gets 30-year sentence for secret videos of underage girls changing more

• West Chester man with history of secretly recording women, teens going back to jail more

• Attorney who hid camera in South Carolina condo sued by alleged victim more

• Celebrity osteopath caught spying on changing university students 'agrees to cooperate with police more

• Palm Beach County Man Arrested After Hidden Cam Found In Room He Rented Out more

Senate Reintroduce Bill to Flag Eavesdropping Appliances

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., along with Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, reintroduced legislation this week that aims to protect Americans from their snooping appliances.

The Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act would require the Federal Trade Commission to create disclosure guidelines for products that have audio or visual recording components that are not obvious – such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and dishwashers. more

New Hidden Camera Lawsuit Filed Against Royal Caribbean

A group of 12 cruise ship guests, all US citizens, have filed a new lawsuit against Royal Caribbean over a hidden camera case that saw a crew member jailed for 30 years. Aronfeld Trial Lawyers filed the suit in Miami on behalf of the 12 plaintiffs.

Filipino Arvin Joseph Mirasol, a former stateroom attendant on Symphony of the Seas, was convicted of placing hidden cameras in bathrooms and recording footage earlier this year. He pled guilty to video voyeurism and child abuse material charges.

“The fact that many victims we represent still do not know if and how their images have been used or circulated is incredibly disturbing. Some of the plaintiffs are children – and once an image is on the internet it is there forever,” said attorney Spencer Aronfeld who is handling the new complaint. more

Split Among U.S. Spy Agencies Over 'Havana syndrome'

The White House said the new findings reflect “a shift in key judgements,” calling for more research into injuries to American diplomats and intelligence officers stationed overseas.

A split has emerged among U.S. intelligence agencies over whether a foreign adversary may have been responsible for unexplained “Havana syndrome” injuries to American diplomats and intelligence officers stationed overseas.

A U.S. intelligence assessment released Friday revealed that two of seven spy agencies now say a foreign actor may have developed or deployed a weapon that caused the mysterious health incidents. Officials declined to reveal which intelligence services had shifted their view of the injuries, which first emerged in Havana, Cuba.

Five of seven intelligence agencies or departments echoed findings from 2023 and concluded that it was “very unlikely” that a foreign actor caused the medical symptoms that include vertigo, hearing loss, intense headaches, pain in the ears and blurred vision. Their conclusions were based in part on “sensitive intelligence reporting continuing to point away from foreign involvement,” according to the assessment. more

9th Circ. Upholds Ore. Ban On Secret Audio Recordings

A split en banc Ninth Circuit panel on Tuesday upheld as constitutional an Oregon law prohibiting secret audio recordings of people's conversations, ruling in a published opinion that the statute was narrowly tailored to Oregon's significant interest in ensuring its residents know when their conversations are recorded, even in public. more

Someone Likely Used a Sophisticated Phone-Spying Device at the 2024 DNC

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has come to the conclusion that someone likely deployed a mobile phone surveillance system during the Democratic National Convention last summer, according to a new report from Wired. 

Evidence for that assertion comes from Cooper Quintin, a senior technologist at EFF, who has spent time investigating whether police technologies were deployed during the event from the event. Wired worked together with the EFF to conduct an analysis of wireless signal data. What they found was evidence that someone may have used a cell-site simulator to spy on devices. more

Swiss National Accused of Spying Died by Suicide in Iranian Prison

A Swiss national who was arrested and accused of spying in Iran died by suicide in prison on Thursday (Friday AEST), according to Mizan Online, a news agency affiliated with Iran's judiciary.

"All evidence and documents from the place where this person was being held have been reviewed, and according to the documents, it is clear that he committed suicide," the chief justice of Iran's Semnan province said, as cited by Mizan Online.

This Swiss citizen's case, whose identity has not been disclosed, "was being reviewed and processed" after he was arrested for espionage, according to Mizan Online. more

The National Museum of Eavesdropping

The national museum of eavesdropping "House with Leaves" in Tirana, Albania has published statistics on visitation during 2024, from which it appears that there was an increase of 58 percent of visitors, compared to 2023.

"During the year 2024, the Museum of Eavesdropping was visited by 77 people. The increase in visitation has consequently also brought an increase in income...

The National Wiretapping Museum was opened on May 23, 2017. It is one of the most special in Albania, which tries to tell young people and foreigners one of the darkest periods of the country's history, being the Central Headquarters of Service Wiretapping Secret, from 1944 – 1991. more

But not all eavesdropping is what it appears to be... MU researcher eavesdrops on bugs more