A growing number of women in Port Lincoln, South Australia, have reported being woken at night by a drone spying on them in their homes.
One woman was sleeping alone on her remote hobby farm when she was woken up by an object banging into her window, only to realize it was a drone with a camera attached.
Another woman told the ABC of the anxiety and panic she now experiences at night due to a similar encounter, saying, “You’ll hear a noise and even if it’s not a drone you just get paranoid…
Two of the victims no longer shower at night for fear of the drone capturing them while naked.
In May this year, a Sydney woman reported having been spied on by a drone while she was getting out of the shower.
These disturbing instances reflect the growing problem of the law being ill-equipped to deal with fast-developing technology, such as drones and revenge porn — with women constituting the largest proportion of victims to cyber-crimes. more
Spybusters Tip #519 - Video voyeur drones are headline grabbers. Business espionage drones go unnoticed.
If your office has a window, you have an information security vulnerability. One quick high resolution drone camera flyby and visible paperwork and whiteboard information is theirs.
Close curtains, or angle blinds downward when you leave. No curtains? Develop the "clear desk" habit. Then, contact us to make sure the place isn't bugged. ~Kevin
Showing posts with label drone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drone. Show all posts
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Friday, August 4, 2017
Drone Over Your Home? It’s the Insurance Inspector
When Melinda Roberts found shingles in her front yard after a storm, her insurer didn’t dispatch a claims adjuster to investigate. It sent a drone.
The unmanned aircraft hovered above Ms. Roberts’ three-bedroom Birmingham, Ala., home and snapped photos of her roof. About a week later a check from Liberty Mutual Insurance arrived to cover repairs.
“It took a lot less time than I was expecting,” Ms. Roberts said.
Drones, photo-taking apps and artificial intelligence are accelerating what has long been a clunky, time-consuming experience: the auto or home-insurance claim. more
The unmanned aircraft hovered above Ms. Roberts’ three-bedroom Birmingham, Ala., home and snapped photos of her roof. About a week later a check from Liberty Mutual Insurance arrived to cover repairs.
“It took a lot less time than I was expecting,” Ms. Roberts said.
Drones, photo-taking apps and artificial intelligence are accelerating what has long been a clunky, time-consuming experience: the auto or home-insurance claim. more
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Business Espionage Cautionary Tale - Bugs, Taps and Now... Drones
Australia - An international drug syndicate used drones to conduct counter-surveillance on police...
"During the investigation phase, this syndicate has used aerial drones to conduct counter-surveillance on police activity," Commander Beveridge said.
"The syndicate was using a drone when they were holding their meetings, to conduct counter-surveillance, to see if anyone, like law enforcement, was watching...
"It did cause the surveillance staff to initiate procedures and methodologies to defeat it. "These syndicates are getting a lot more sophisticated, and so are we. We've just got to be awake to it." more
Murray Associates Industrial Espionage Takeaway Points:
• Even with an upper floor office you are no longer immune to optical surveillance.
• If you have window blinds, use them.
• Make sure computer screens and whiteboards don't face windows.
• Institute a clear desk policy.
• If you see a drone, don't assume it's some hobbyist playing. Take a photo or movie for evidence.
• Be alert. A drone in your parking lot can grab all license plate numbers in a minute. (One of the first warning signs of an espionage attack.)
"During the investigation phase, this syndicate has used aerial drones to conduct counter-surveillance on police activity," Commander Beveridge said.
"The syndicate was using a drone when they were holding their meetings, to conduct counter-surveillance, to see if anyone, like law enforcement, was watching...
"It did cause the surveillance staff to initiate procedures and methodologies to defeat it. "These syndicates are getting a lot more sophisticated, and so are we. We've just got to be awake to it." more
Murray Associates Industrial Espionage Takeaway Points:
• Even with an upper floor office you are no longer immune to optical surveillance.
• If you have window blinds, use them.
• Make sure computer screens and whiteboards don't face windows.
• Institute a clear desk policy.
• If you see a drone, don't assume it's some hobbyist playing. Take a photo or movie for evidence.
• Be alert. A drone in your parking lot can grab all license plate numbers in a minute. (One of the first warning signs of an espionage attack.)
Saturday, April 22, 2017
New High Seas Spybot - Submaran S10
Part sailboat - part submarine, a new remarkable drone can patrol the oceans for months without stopping, powered by only the wind and the sun.
Developed by Ocean Aero, the Submaran S10 is autonomous, able to conduct missions on its own. This drone can sail on the surface of the ocean and then transform to dive beneath the surface traveling, similar to a submarine.
The hybrid drone can dive to depths of about 660 feet, which makes it useful not only for avoiding detection, but to discreetly conduct its own surveillance as well.
Along with protecting the US coastlines, technology like this could be used to quietly monitor, surveil and collect information for defense and intelligence. more
Monday, April 3, 2017
Burglars and Peeping Toms Use Drones
UK - Loud music, unkempt gardens and disputed boundaries have long caused acrimony between neighbours. Now technology has brought a new grievance: low-flying drones.
As well as causing arguments between neighbours they have been used by burglars planning raids and to snoop on teenage girls sunbathing.
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that last year forces recorded 3,456 incidents involving drones, nearly ten a day. The true total is likely to be higher as data was not available for all forces. more
As well as causing arguments between neighbours they have been used by burglars planning raids and to snoop on teenage girls sunbathing.
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that last year forces recorded 3,456 incidents involving drones, nearly ten a day. The true total is likely to be higher as data was not available for all forces. more
Friday, January 13, 2017
Security Director Alert - Peeping Tom Drone - A Cautionary Tale
NH - Two women who live in the same building say they spotted a drone flying over their skylights last weekend and fear the device’s operator could be spying on them.
The women said they immediately told their landlord they feared someone was using drones to spy on them. The landlord was concerned a “Peeping Tom” may be in the area...
Police say if the drones were spying on the women, the operator could face charges because it would be an invasion of privacy. more
Security Directors: News reports about Peeping Tom drones are plentiful. That's because they see people, and people see them.
What is not so publicized are drones peering through office windows to collect intelligence... like posted passwords and conference call numbers.
An after-hours clear desk, clear whiteboard policy is more important than ever now. If corporate culture won't support that, how about a close the blinds at the end of the day policy. ~Kevin
The women said they immediately told their landlord they feared someone was using drones to spy on them. The landlord was concerned a “Peeping Tom” may be in the area...
Police say if the drones were spying on the women, the operator could face charges because it would be an invasion of privacy. more
Security Directors: News reports about Peeping Tom drones are plentiful. That's because they see people, and people see them.
What is not so publicized are drones peering through office windows to collect intelligence... like posted passwords and conference call numbers.
An after-hours clear desk, clear whiteboard policy is more important than ever now. If corporate culture won't support that, how about a close the blinds at the end of the day policy. ~Kevin
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Business Espionage Problem: Car Spy Photographers Using Drones
...automakers are looking at ways to put a stop to this practice.
One answer may be coming from the German company Deutsche Telekom, which is working with developers on ways to keep drones out of certain areas.
The American company Dedrone also has a DroneTracker system that can locate drones more than half a mile away. We're sure that more creative and interesting means of inhibiting drones are coming down the road as well. more
Click to enlarge. |
The American company Dedrone also has a DroneTracker system that can locate drones more than half a mile away. We're sure that more creative and interesting means of inhibiting drones are coming down the road as well. more
Monday, April 4, 2016
A $40 Attack that Steals Police Drones from 2km Away
Black Hat Asia IBM security guy Nils Rodday says thieves can hijack expensive professional drones used widely across the law enforcement, emergency, and private sectors thanks to absent encryption in on-board chips.
Rodday says the €25,000 (US$28,463, £19,816, AU$37,048) quadcopters can be hijacked with less than $40 of hardware, and some basic knowledge of radio communications.
With that in hand attackers can commandeer radio links to the drones from up to two kilometres away, and block operators from reconnecting to the craft.
The drone is often used by emergency services across Europe, but the exposure could be much worse; the targeted Xbee chip is common in drones everywhere and Rodday says it is likely many more aircraft are open to compromise. more
Rodday says the €25,000 (US$28,463, £19,816, AU$37,048) quadcopters can be hijacked with less than $40 of hardware, and some basic knowledge of radio communications.
With that in hand attackers can commandeer radio links to the drones from up to two kilometres away, and block operators from reconnecting to the craft.
The drone is often used by emergency services across Europe, but the exposure could be much worse; the targeted Xbee chip is common in drones everywhere and Rodday says it is likely many more aircraft are open to compromise. more
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Police Training Eagles to Intercept Drones
UK - The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is considering using eagles to capture unauthorised remote controlled drones following a successful trial by Dutch police...
A 2014 inquiry led by Sir David Omand, the former head of intelligence agency GCHQ, highlighted the serious risks posed by the devices. "Crowds at sporting events or rallies could be vulnerable if a future terrorist group were to look for means of dispersing chemical or biological agents," the report said.
Dutch police teamed up with Guard From Above, a raptor-training security firm, to teach the birds how to hunt and intercept drones. "It's a low-tech solution to a high-tech problem," Dennis Janus, a spokesman for the Netherlands' national police, said. more
A 2014 inquiry led by Sir David Omand, the former head of intelligence agency GCHQ, highlighted the serious risks posed by the devices. "Crowds at sporting events or rallies could be vulnerable if a future terrorist group were to look for means of dispersing chemical or biological agents," the report said.
Dutch police teamed up with Guard From Above, a raptor-training security firm, to teach the birds how to hunt and intercept drones. "It's a low-tech solution to a high-tech problem," Dennis Janus, a spokesman for the Netherlands' national police, said. more
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Star Wars: Episode VIII - Drones to Create No-Spy Zone
Disney and Lucasfilm are reportedly utilizing drones to ensure spying doesn't happen during filming of Star Wars: Episode VIII in Croatia.
Making Star Wars (via MosCroatia) reports there is a Star Wars team that will go to drone warfare with people using drones to get pictures of the set and cast of Episode VIII. And that's on top of apparently 600 guards.
Star Wars: Episode VIII has already begun filming, with the movie premiering December 15, 2017. more
Artist's conception. |
Star Wars: Episode VIII has already begun filming, with the movie premiering December 15, 2017. more
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
New Law to Prevent Drone Industrial Espionage
TX - With plants and refineries fearful of safety and espionage threats posed by drones, a Southeast Texas congressman wants strict new guidelines for operating un-monitored aircraft near those facilities.
U.S. Rep. Brian Babin has offered two amendments to the Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization Act to address a mounting security concern and help safeguard chemical facilities, representatives with American Chemistry Council said Friday.
The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved the amendments this week.
More than 50 large chemical plants in Jefferson, Orange and Hardin counties risk exposure of trade secrets, though no cases have been reported by law enforcement officials.
The unease is based on a concern that freelancers will take aerial photos at plant sites and try to sell them to competitors, John Durkay, legal counsel for Southeast Texas Plant Managers Forum said previously.
Durkay called the drone business "a tremendous opportunity for industrial espionage," which he said facilities worry about. more with video
U.S. Rep. Brian Babin has offered two amendments to the Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization Act to address a mounting security concern and help safeguard chemical facilities, representatives with American Chemistry Council said Friday.
The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved the amendments this week.
More than 50 large chemical plants in Jefferson, Orange and Hardin counties risk exposure of trade secrets, though no cases have been reported by law enforcement officials.
The unease is based on a concern that freelancers will take aerial photos at plant sites and try to sell them to competitors, John Durkay, legal counsel for Southeast Texas Plant Managers Forum said previously.
Durkay called the drone business "a tremendous opportunity for industrial espionage," which he said facilities worry about. more with video
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Irony Alert: Video Voyeur Sentenced - He Was Caught Spying by Spying
Former Border Patrol agent Armando Gonzalez was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for planting a hidden camera in the women’s restroom at a Chula Vista Border Patrol facility.
The camera, which Gonzalez used to violate the privacy of female employees who used the restroom, was discovered when he made reference to it in an email sent from his personal account to a friend and fellow voyeur-cam enthusiast...
Back Stories...
The camera, which Gonzalez used to violate the privacy of female employees who used the restroom, was discovered when he made reference to it in an email sent from his personal account to a friend and fellow voyeur-cam enthusiast...
Back Stories...
- Department of Homeland Security’s surveillance of private emails credited with discovery of Border Patrol agent’s hidden camera voyeurism...
- Further, drone footage taken through Mr. Gonzalez’s bedroom window clearly shows him viewing the camera’s digital feed on this personal computer. more
Saturday, November 21, 2015
FBI Investigates Drone Crash Outside NJ Refinery
Industrial espionage, terrorists, or innocent hobbyist? You decide.
The FBI and local police are investigating after a drone fell out of the sky and crashed into a truck in New Jersey on Wednesday morning.
As CBS2’s Christine Sloan reported, of particular concern to authorities is that the incident happened on a road just outside a Phillips 66 refinery in Linden.
The driver of the truck apparently got out and had words with the operator of the drone, who took off, investigators said.
John Victor Jacobson, head of New Jersey-based Drone Service Systems, said he cannot think of a good reason to fly one of these air crafts in such a sensitive area. more
This location is also very close to Newark Airport, to the South of its runway flight path.
The FBI and local police are investigating after a drone fell out of the sky and crashed into a truck in New Jersey on Wednesday morning.
As CBS2’s Christine Sloan reported, of particular concern to authorities is that the incident happened on a road just outside a Phillips 66 refinery in Linden.
The driver of the truck apparently got out and had words with the operator of the drone, who took off, investigators said.
John Victor Jacobson, head of New Jersey-based Drone Service Systems, said he cannot think of a good reason to fly one of these air crafts in such a sensitive area. more
This location is also very close to Newark Airport, to the South of its runway flight path.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Corporate Espionage that Flies Below the Radar
by Kevin G. Coleman, SilverRhino
Headlines about economic, corporate and industrial espionage have been in abundance lately and for good reason... Several subject matter experts agree that much of these espionage activities that target businesses are criminal-based.
Recently while on the executive floor of one large company a new twist to espionage tradecraft popped up.
After entering a conference room, a note on the whiteboard caught my attention: “DO NOT ERASE.” Seeing that on a whiteboard filled with financial numbers, notes, diagrams and so on is not an uncommon occurrence. When I was looking out the windows, I saw a drone slowly fly by. Given the camera capabilities that are now available and becoming common on drones, it would not be difficult to capture what was on those whiteboards. The images are digitally captured, cropped, enhanced extracted and then sold...
Today economic, corporate and industrial espionage is big business. With significant money being made selling corporate secrets, this threat will only grow. more
Headlines about economic, corporate and industrial espionage have been in abundance lately and for good reason... Several subject matter experts agree that much of these espionage activities that target businesses are criminal-based.
Recently while on the executive floor of one large company a new twist to espionage tradecraft popped up.
Drone at office window story. |
Today economic, corporate and industrial espionage is big business. With significant money being made selling corporate secrets, this threat will only grow. more
Monday, October 26, 2015
A Downer for Drones
There's recently been a run of new anti-drone systems introduced to deal
with potential threats from UAVs, but these have been on the large and
expensive side. To provide an affordable alternatives to plug the gap
between shotguns and truck-mounted systems, national security research
and development firm Battelle is introducing DroneDefender. Billed as
the first portable, accurate, rapid-to-use UAV counter-weapon, it's a
rifle-like raygun device that uses a radio beam to jam drone control
systems and stop them in midair. more
Monday, October 5, 2015
Phone on Drone Hacks Wireless Printer
You might think that working
on a secured floor in a 30-story office tower puts you out of reach of
Wi-Fi hackers out to steal your confidential documents.
But researchers in Singapore have demonstrated how attackers using a drone plus a mobile phone could easily intercept documents sent to a seemingly inaccessible Wi-Fi printer. The method they devised is actually intended to help organizations determine cheaply and easily if they have vulnerable open Wi-Fi devices that can be accessed from the sky. But the same technique could also be used by corporate spies intent on economic espionage. more
But researchers in Singapore have demonstrated how attackers using a drone plus a mobile phone could easily intercept documents sent to a seemingly inaccessible Wi-Fi printer. The method they devised is actually intended to help organizations determine cheaply and easily if they have vulnerable open Wi-Fi devices that can be accessed from the sky. But the same technique could also be used by corporate spies intent on economic espionage. more
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Bugged: Russian Roach Rampage (Warning: Sensationalist Reporting)
The terrifying cockroach robo-SPY that could soon perform reconnaissance missions for the Russian military...
Researchers have created insect bots, inspired by the Blaberus giganteus species of roach, capable of scanning rooms and tracking their surroundings.
Fitted with sensors, these mechanical bugs can cover 12 inches (31cm) a second and the technology has already piqued the interest of the Russian military.
Researchers have created a robotic cockroach (pictured main), inspired by the Blaberus family of roaches (B. craniifer shown on top of the robot), capable of scanning rooms and tracking its surroundings. The mechanical bug can cover 12 inches a second
The bionic cockroaches were designed by engineers Danil Borchevkin and Aleksey Belousov at Kaliningrad's Kant University.
Each robot is 4-inches (10cm) long and fitted with photosensitive sensors, as well as sensors that detect contact, meaning they can constantly look out for obstacles. more
- Robot is fitted with photosensitive sensors to track its surroundings
- The 4-inch (10cm) mechanical roach moves like the Blaberus giganteus
- A sample of the robo-bugs is being planned for Russian armed forces
- Future models will be able to camouflage themselves, spy on people with portable cameras and carry out reconnaissance missions
Researchers have created insect bots, inspired by the Blaberus giganteus species of roach, capable of scanning rooms and tracking their surroundings.
Fitted with sensors, these mechanical bugs can cover 12 inches (31cm) a second and the technology has already piqued the interest of the Russian military.
Researchers have created a robotic cockroach (pictured main), inspired by the Blaberus family of roaches (B. craniifer shown on top of the robot), capable of scanning rooms and tracking its surroundings. The mechanical bug can cover 12 inches a second
The bionic cockroaches were designed by engineers Danil Borchevkin and Aleksey Belousov at Kaliningrad's Kant University.
Each robot is 4-inches (10cm) long and fitted with photosensitive sensors, as well as sensors that detect contact, meaning they can constantly look out for obstacles. more
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Police: Fired Officer Used Drone to Spy on Neighbors
GA - A Valdosta police officer was out of a job as of Monday evening after being arrested for reportedly using a drone to eavesdrop on a neighbor.
Officer Howard Kirkland, 53, of Ray City, was fired Monday morning, Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress confirmed.
He had been on suspension since September 4th. He was arrested at the police department by Lanier County Sheriff's Deputies on September 10th. The sheriff's office had been conducting an investigation for about a week. more
Officer Howard Kirkland, 53, of Ray City, was fired Monday morning, Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress confirmed.
He had been on suspension since September 4th. He was arrested at the police department by Lanier County Sheriff's Deputies on September 10th. The sheriff's office had been conducting an investigation for about a week. more
Cicada Drones Will Eavesdrop in Swarms Like Their Creepy Namesake
The U.S. Navy has developed tiny drones that can fly in swarms like cicada bugs, the organisms that give the drones their names.
In this case, "Cicada" is short for Covert Autonomous Disposable Aircraft. They're small yellow devices that can fit in the palm of one's hand and are made of only ten parts. They can fly up to 46 miles per hour almost silently.
The military described the drones as "robotic carrier pigeons," though unlike the birds historically used to send messages, these drones have an array of sensors that monitor things like weather and location data, as well as microphones that or eavesdropping on anyone in the vicinity.
The Cicada drones are meant to be deployed in swarms; they will reportedly be used behind enemy lines to determine things like troop positions, whether or not a car is on a road, and where military forces should be deployed.
For now, the tiny devices cost $1,000, but the government plans to manufacturing them more cheaply: about $250 per drone. The future of surveillance drones is, apparently, a relatively inexpensive one. more
In this case, "Cicada" is short for Covert Autonomous Disposable Aircraft. They're small yellow devices that can fit in the palm of one's hand and are made of only ten parts. They can fly up to 46 miles per hour almost silently.
The military described the drones as "robotic carrier pigeons," though unlike the birds historically used to send messages, these drones have an array of sensors that monitor things like weather and location data, as well as microphones that or eavesdropping on anyone in the vicinity.
The Cicada drones are meant to be deployed in swarms; they will reportedly be used behind enemy lines to determine things like troop positions, whether or not a car is on a road, and where military forces should be deployed.
For now, the tiny devices cost $1,000, but the government plans to manufacturing them more cheaply: about $250 per drone. The future of surveillance drones is, apparently, a relatively inexpensive one. more
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Guy Shoots Drone To Smithereens For Spying On Sunbathing Daughter
William Merideth was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and wanton endangerment Sunday evening after shooting down an $1800 drone he claims was spying on his teenage daughter sunbathing in Hillview, KY.
“My daughter comes in and says, ‘Dad, there’s a drone out here flying,’ ” William H. Merideth told WDRB, Tuesday.
“I came out and it was down by the neighbor’s house, about 10 feet off the ground, looking under their canopy … in their back yard," Merideth said. "I went and got my shotgun and I said, ‘I’m not going to do anything unless it’s directly over my property … Within a minute or so, here it came … hovering over top of my property, and I shot it out of the sky."
Soon after Merideth shot the drone, four men showed up at his door “looking for a fight” and asked Merideth if he was “the son of a bitch that shot my drone.”
Merideth, with a 10mm Glock holstered on his hip, confirmed he had shot down the drone and told his accuser "if you cross that sidewalk onto my property, there’s going to be another shooting."
The men left, but soon after the police arrived and arrested Merideth. Though Ars Technica reports that law enforcement officials allegedly told Merideth they agreed with his actions, he was being charged due to an ordinance against discharging firearms in the city.
Though Merideth was disappointed in the law enforcement’s response to the situation, he feels “confident” his charges will be reduced or dismissed entirely. more
“My daughter comes in and says, ‘Dad, there’s a drone out here flying,’ ” William H. Merideth told WDRB, Tuesday.
“I came out and it was down by the neighbor’s house, about 10 feet off the ground, looking under their canopy … in their back yard," Merideth said. "I went and got my shotgun and I said, ‘I’m not going to do anything unless it’s directly over my property … Within a minute or so, here it came … hovering over top of my property, and I shot it out of the sky."
Soon after Merideth shot the drone, four men showed up at his door “looking for a fight” and asked Merideth if he was “the son of a bitch that shot my drone.”
Merideth, with a 10mm Glock holstered on his hip, confirmed he had shot down the drone and told his accuser "if you cross that sidewalk onto my property, there’s going to be another shooting."
The men left, but soon after the police arrived and arrested Merideth. Though Ars Technica reports that law enforcement officials allegedly told Merideth they agreed with his actions, he was being charged due to an ordinance against discharging firearms in the city.
Though Merideth was disappointed in the law enforcement’s response to the situation, he feels “confident” his charges will be reduced or dismissed entirely. more
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)