Investigators have released audio recordings of one of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" fugitives, hoping people will recognize James "Whitey" Bulger by his unique voice. ...Robert and Arthur smile.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Illegal bug uncovered in second prison
UK - Bugging devices planted in a prison telephone were illegally used to record privileged conversations between an inmate and his solicitor, The Times has learnt.
Defence lawyers said last night that the breach confirms long-held suspicions that the recording of legal visits is widespread. Security experts told The Times that they believed that dozens of prisoners are routinely the subject of covert surveillance.
The revelation comes days after it emerged that an MP’s meeting with a jailed constituent had been recorded. However the taping of legal meetings is considered far more serious because it may breach a defendant’s rights and has the potential to collapse criminal trials. (more)
Defence lawyers said last night that the breach confirms long-held suspicions that the recording of legal visits is widespread. Security experts told The Times that they believed that dozens of prisoners are routinely the subject of covert surveillance.
The revelation comes days after it emerged that an MP’s meeting with a jailed constituent had been recorded. However the taping of legal meetings is considered far more serious because it may breach a defendant’s rights and has the potential to collapse criminal trials. (more)
To eavesdrop, or not - teenage opinions
Q. Should the federal government be allowed to listen in on phone conversations of Americans and to read their e-mails and other information on their computers without their knowledge and without a warrant? (answers)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Surveillance and countersurveillance on the web
UK - In an early Bond film, 007 was impressed by a reel-to-reel tape deck small enough to be hidden inside a camera. Forty-five years later, anyone with a few hundred pounds ($200.-$300) to spare can buy a credit-card sized bug that will sit dormant for months, then spring to life and start transmitting as soon as it hears a voice.
... the online trade in surveillance equipment reveals a flourishing community of unregulated freelancers. (more)
Most corporate security programs already include bug detection inspection programs.
Need help? USA UK IR EU AUS
... the online trade in surveillance equipment reveals a flourishing community of unregulated freelancers. (more)
Most corporate security programs already include bug detection inspection programs.
Need help? USA UK IR EU AUS
Analysis: New technology means that bugging is as easy as a walk in the park
UK - Anything divulged inside a building or a private car is potentially open to an extraordinary array of electronic bugging devices or telephone intercept systems. Bugging is a fine art, and the technology has leapt forward in recent years.
The electronic bug allegedly used by the police to eavesdrop on the conversation between Babar Ahmad, suspected of having links to terrorist organisations, and Sadiq Khan, his constituency MP, during a meeting in Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes, was probably the conventional type.
The basic form of bug requires someone to listen in from several hundreds yards away, or to have a recording system hidden nearby that can store many hours of conversation.
However, the latest electronic listening device is known as the GSM bug. Michael Marks of Spymaster, a company that supplies surveillance equipment, told The Times: “With one of these new bugs, all you have to do is place it covertly under someone’s desk. It’s like a miniature cellular phone. You can ring it from thousands of miles away, it answers silently and you can listen in on conversations. The GSM bug could be in an office in London but the person listening to the conversations could be in Australia.” (more)
The electronic bug allegedly used by the police to eavesdrop on the conversation between Babar Ahmad, suspected of having links to terrorist organisations, and Sadiq Khan, his constituency MP, during a meeting in Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes, was probably the conventional type.
The basic form of bug requires someone to listen in from several hundreds yards away, or to have a recording system hidden nearby that can store many hours of conversation.
However, the latest electronic listening device is known as the GSM bug. Michael Marks of Spymaster, a company that supplies surveillance equipment, told The Times: “With one of these new bugs, all you have to do is place it covertly under someone’s desk. It’s like a miniature cellular phone. You can ring it from thousands of miles away, it answers silently and you can listen in on conversations. The GSM bug could be in an office in London but the person listening to the conversations could be in Australia.” (more)
SpyCam Story #429 - The Thumbcam
(From the seller's website...)Introducing possibly the smallest video and audio recorder in the world – the Thumbs Up Mini Spy Cam. We think it’s the tiniest and best covert surveillance device that’s available. The KGB, CIA or MI6 might have smaller ones but if they do they’re certainly not talking about it and they definitely won’t sell you one!
The Mini Spy Cam is small enough to conceal in almost any location. You could put it inside a pack of chewing gum or cigarettes and it’ll quietly record everything that’s going on in its line of sight. Even if you simply placed it somewhere unobtrusive, chances are it wouldn’t even be noticed!
With a record time of up to four hours per charge, the Mini Spy Cam records 3GP video files onto a Micro SD Card that can be played back on a computer or mobile phone. Colour video and voice recording lets you clearly see who’s there and what they’re saying.
The Mini Spy Cam is a great alternative to conventional CCTV for the times when you don’t want people to know they’re on camera. Self-contained, and with no cables to hide, it’s perfect for all sorts of covert surveillance and ideal for journalists, private investigators, or businesses that want to keep an eye on the cash register if the figures don’t add up and they suspect someone of being light-fingered.
Thumbs Up’s Mini Spy Cam has other uses too. Perhaps you’ve hired a nanny or babysitter and want to make sure that they’re doing their job properly. A discreet recording would be a good way to know whether you can trust them to look after your family. It’s also ideal for wildlife enthusiasts who want to film a rare animal or bird with the minimum disturbance, for example.
Catch out your mates when they’re at their worst too! Set the Mini Spy Cam to record parties or have someone conceal one in their shirt when out on a Stag Night, and you won’t have to wonder just what the hell happened and exactly how much you had to drink to get in such a state – it’ll all be there on camera to enjoy (and embarrass everyone with) later! (more)
Why do I mention it?So you know what you're up against.
Man accused of eavesdropping to steal business
Iowa - A warrant was issued Friday for the arrest of a man accused of eavesdropping on a cell phone in an attempt to steal business from a competitor.
Cory Bailey, 19, of Cedar Rapids, failed to appear twice for his arraignment in state court on charges that he entered the voice mail of a cell phone belonging to DeNeve Construction in Iowa City.
According to court documents, once inside DeNeve’s voice mail, Bailey listened to the messages and wrote down prospective client information in an attempt to take business from DeNeve. After collecting the information, Bailey deleted the messages.
DeNeve Construction, a 12year-old Iowa City business, is involved in roofing, drywalling, insulation and carpentry, according to its Web site. (more)
Cory Bailey, 19, of Cedar Rapids, failed to appear twice for his arraignment in state court on charges that he entered the voice mail of a cell phone belonging to DeNeve Construction in Iowa City.
According to court documents, once inside DeNeve’s voice mail, Bailey listened to the messages and wrote down prospective client information in an attempt to take business from DeNeve. After collecting the information, Bailey deleted the messages.
DeNeve Construction, a 12year-old Iowa City business, is involved in roofing, drywalling, insulation and carpentry, according to its Web site. (more)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
"But, Mom. I didn't know it was illegal!"
To celebrate 10 years of making spy toys, Wild Planet is redesigning the Spy Gear brand look and logo, upgrading its most popular items, introducing 10 new products and releasing the first Spy Gear board games."We attribute Spy Gear's success to our ability to incorporate advanced, real-world technology into old-fashioned, classic play," says Daniel Grossman, CEO and founder of Wild Planet.
"Pretending to be a spy is not a new idea," explains Grossman, "but having a real, working remote-controlled spy vehicle that transmits video and audio back to a private headset -- that's a new way to play spy."
The Spy Video ATV-360 is one of the new Spy Gear releases scheduled for fall 2008. A follow-up to the brand's original Spy Video Car launched in 2006, the Spy Video ATV-360 will be the first remote-controlled Spy Gear vehicle to offer video and audio transmission, full-circle spin control, and tank tracks for a mass retail price of $99. (more)
Dan, Wild Planet really needs to re-think this one - at least for U.S. sales. Federal and state laws prohibiting electronic audio spying have been on the books here since 1968.
Idea: Hire an attorney or security consultant - who specializes in electronic surveillance matters - avoid a costly recall and lawsuits.
Dirty Little Secrets: Corporate Espionage
BBC - Corporate espionage is as old as business itself. But today as technology develops, there has been an expansion of murky practices like phone bugging, computer hacking and secret filming. The range of businesses that have relied on corporate espionage is breathtakingly wide.
• In the glamorous world of Formula One, McLaren was fined £50 million for spying on rival Ferrari.
• A waste tycoon who bugged the phones and hacked the computers of local residents and government officials investigating his company ended up going to prison.
• A builder and conservatory designer who was spied on by a larger rival lost his business and moved to Spain. (more)
Spy Guns
Avi Abrams' site "Dark Roasted Blend - Weird & wonderful things" is a container of visual vitamins for your mind. Pop a few every day. Creative juices will flood your soul. Bookmark darkroastedblond.com with an arc welder.
US spy satellite debris may hit Australia... again!
Australia - The Federal Government agency Emergency Management Australia said it had a number of contingency plans in place if the craft, which contains dangerous materials, failed to fully burn on re-entry and hit Australia. ...
"It's expected to land somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, and that's a big space," Ms Joseph said. "Mind you, Skylab was supposed to land in the ocean." The 78-tonne US space station's crash to earth in 1979 spread debris across the south of Western Australia. The Shire of Esperance slapped the US Government with a $400 fine for littering. (more)
"It's expected to land somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, and that's a big space," Ms Joseph said. "Mind you, Skylab was supposed to land in the ocean." The 78-tonne US space station's crash to earth in 1979 spread debris across the south of Western Australia. The Shire of Esperance slapped the US Government with a $400 fine for littering. (more)
Super Bowl Sunday ...and the fans go ballistic!
Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times kicks off...Patriots: Just another American phony?
In our tangled world, is perfection even possible without a stain? Is anything believable, from airbrushed models to corrupted CEOs to the $125 Kobe steak flown in this morning from Japan? When we want to celebrate absolute flawlessness, won't there always be a zit on Jessica Alba's face, a tee-shot shank by Tiger Woods, a dent on the door of a Pagani Zonda Roadster?
This should be a singular night in history, the coronation of the New England Patriots as pro football's first 19-0 champion, which would further confirm them as an all-time American dynasty if not for a recurring problem. We're not sure if they've been honest about their business, making this the potential Enron of sports if all the gathering dirt doesn't come out in the eventual wash.
On the eve of what presumably was an unprecedented Super Bowl story line, new allegations surfaced about the Patriots and their illegal methods of gaining competitive edges via covert videotaping operations. You thought Snoop Dogg Belichick and his video spies cheated only once, last September? Turns out, according to a report in the Boston Herald, that the episode might have been merely Son of Spygate. (more)
The Boston Herald reported Saturday that the Patriots taped the Rams’ final walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI. (more)
Senator wants to know why NFL destroyed Patriots spy tapes
With the Super Bowl fast approaching, a senior Republican senator says he wants the NFL to explain why it destroyed evidence from the New England Patriots cheating scandal.
"I am very concerned about the underlying facts on the taping, the reasons for the judgment on the limited penalties and, most of all, on the inexplicable destruction of the tapes," Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., wrote Thursday in a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. (more, with video)
Forrmer Patriots video assistant hints at team's spying history
(more, with video)
History - September 22, 2007 - A long flash-to-bang.
"The Patriots have fully cooperated and complied with the requirements of the commissioner's decision," the (NFL) statement said. "All tapes, documents and other records relating to this matter were turned over to the league office and destroyed, and the Patriots have certified in writing that no copies or other records exist."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote that the reason for the destruction was "so that our clubs would know they no longer exist and cannot be used by anyone."
Aiello was also asked if there was evidence of the Patriots using the tactics in their Super Bowl wins. He declined to comment. (more)
From the Security Scrapbook files... (more)
Get the T-shirt.
Teacher Spies
From the UK Sunday Times...
Question: "Like many sixthformers I have a Facebook account. Some of my friends have created groups which refer to our school; none of these groups is critical of the school. Our teachers spy on us using false profiles and have told us off for creating these groups. Can teachers spy on us and then discipline us for these activities?"
Answer: "Depending on the privacy settings, Facebook groups can be viewed by anyone accessing the site. What you write could in effect be for public consumption. If the comments posted reflect badly on the school, then the head teacher can, education lawyer Jack Rabinowicz tells me, take action to defend the school’s reputation." (more)
Question: "Like many sixthformers I have a Facebook account. Some of my friends have created groups which refer to our school; none of these groups is critical of the school. Our teachers spy on us using false profiles and have told us off for creating these groups. Can teachers spy on us and then discipline us for these activities?"
Answer: "Depending on the privacy settings, Facebook groups can be viewed by anyone accessing the site. What you write could in effect be for public consumption. If the comments posted reflect badly on the school, then the head teacher can, education lawyer Jack Rabinowicz tells me, take action to defend the school’s reputation." (more)
"Bug culture spooks me" - Sign of the Times
UK - There are CCTV cameras everywhere, and we are the most watched nation in Europe.
The more cameras that stop street crime, possible terrorist threats and muggers down dark alleyways the better.
But what about your local council, bank or tax office bugging your calls or monitoring your emails? How does that make you feel? ...
And did you know we had an Interception of Communications Commissioner by the name of Sir Paul Kennedy? (more)
The more cameras that stop street crime, possible terrorist threats and muggers down dark alleyways the better.
But what about your local council, bank or tax office bugging your calls or monitoring your emails? How does that make you feel? ...
And did you know we had an Interception of Communications Commissioner by the name of Sir Paul Kennedy? (more)
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