South Africa - Two ambassadors an African and a European, who declined to be named confirmed on Wednesday that bugging devices were found in Annan's room at the Serena Hotel on Tuesday, an incident that is said to have infuriated the diplomat.
"Yes, it's true. I'm aware the room was bugged and an investigation is under way," one of the diplomats told the Daily News on Wednesday. (more)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
From the great country that brought us "1984"
UK - A row over the bugging of a MP has reignited debate about how far the country has gone towards becoming a "Big Brother" surveillance state.
The September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States and the July 2005 bombings in London have prompted the authorities to ramp up security measures to unprecedented levels.
But this has led to concerns about how much the authorities know and whether the information is safe in their hands -- particularly in light of a string of recent blunders.
In November it emerged that a government department had lost the personal details of 25 million people -- nearly half the population.
And on Sunday it was revealed that MP Sadiq Khan was bugged by anti-terror police when he visited Babar Ahmad in prison, one of his constituents and an Islamist terror suspect wanted in the United States.
Promising a swift inquiry into the Khan affair, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday surveillance was "necessary to defend our security, preserve our freedom and, in some cases, to save lives."
Britain already has 4.2 million CCTV cameras, more per head than any other country on Earth at one for every 14 people.
The government wants to bring in biometric identity cards and expand the DNA database, already the largest in the world, with 5.2 percent of the population -- around four million people -- on file.
Since 2004, everyone arrested in England and Wales for all but the most minor offences -- regardless of guilt -- has been logged on the database.
There are even talking CCTV cameras telling off people engaging in anti-social behavior including dropping litter. (more) (sing-a-long video)
The September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States and the July 2005 bombings in London have prompted the authorities to ramp up security measures to unprecedented levels.
But this has led to concerns about how much the authorities know and whether the information is safe in their hands -- particularly in light of a string of recent blunders.
In November it emerged that a government department had lost the personal details of 25 million people -- nearly half the population.
And on Sunday it was revealed that MP Sadiq Khan was bugged by anti-terror police when he visited Babar Ahmad in prison, one of his constituents and an Islamist terror suspect wanted in the United States.
Promising a swift inquiry into the Khan affair, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday surveillance was "necessary to defend our security, preserve our freedom and, in some cases, to save lives."
Britain already has 4.2 million CCTV cameras, more per head than any other country on Earth at one for every 14 people.
The government wants to bring in biometric identity cards and expand the DNA database, already the largest in the world, with 5.2 percent of the population -- around four million people -- on file.
Since 2004, everyone arrested in England and Wales for all but the most minor offences -- regardless of guilt -- has been logged on the database.
There are even talking CCTV cameras telling off people engaging in anti-social behavior including dropping litter. (more) (sing-a-long video)
JFK heard on Hell's Angles Wiretap!
Canada - A full-patch member of the East End chapter of the Hells Angels was heard on a wiretap Wednesday pounding a table with his fist and exhorting other members to do everything they can to benefit the motorcycle club.
"Cause this ain't about what it can do for you, it's supposed to be about what you can do for the club," said David Francis Giles.
Giles is charged along with two associates of the club, David Roger Revell and Richard Andrew Rempel, with associating with a criminal organization and trafficking in cocaine.
Police officers remove Hells Angels' trademark Winged Death Heads and sign from their club house following any early morning raid at the Eastern and Carlaw location on April 4, 2007.
The June 2005 wiretap, captured from a bug placed in the Hells Angels Kelowna clubhouse, was played in court by prosecutors during final arguments in the trial. (more)
"Cause this ain't about what it can do for you, it's supposed to be about what you can do for the club," said David Francis Giles.
Giles is charged along with two associates of the club, David Roger Revell and Richard Andrew Rempel, with associating with a criminal organization and trafficking in cocaine.Police officers remove Hells Angels' trademark Winged Death Heads and sign from their club house following any early morning raid at the Eastern and Carlaw location on April 4, 2007.
The June 2005 wiretap, captured from a bug placed in the Hells Angels Kelowna clubhouse, was played in court by prosecutors during final arguments in the trial. (more)
Movie Review - "Spy"
It's easy to see why director Nadav Schirman plans to adapt his first film, the documentary "The Champagne Spy
," into an English-language narrative feature. The story of Ze'ev Gur Arie, aka Wolfgang Lotz, is the stuff of Cold War glamor and international intrigue, with a dark personal twist. Lotz was a German-born Israeli spy who so fully adopted his undercover identity that he left
behind a wife and child. Focusing on the testimony of Lotz's fellow Mossad agents and especially his son, all speaking on camera for the first time, "Spy" is a compelling if sometimes frustratingly limited film. It screened in the Palm Springs festival's New Israeli Cinema section and was awarded the John Schlesinger Award for outstanding first feature. (more) (Lotz's "Would You Make A Good Spy" Test)
Albania to legalize wiretapping
Albania - A law that would make wiretapping legal, if there is a request from General Prosecutor for this. The draft states that in certain specific cases it will Ministry of Internal Affairs the one to administer wiretapping, but opposition rightfully protests this, arguing that this will make room for politically motivated eavesdropping, and AIS will lose its purpose. (video)
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Plain phone lies in wait, as household spy
One of the innovative items at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was the TeleSpy, a traditional-looking and normally operating telephone. What makes the TeleSpy unique is its ability to act as a no-cost security monitoring system. Installation is quick and simple. If you can plug a phone into a standard phone jack, then you can install the TeleSpy. There are no complicated adjustments to activate. Simply position and aim the phone in the direction of the area you want monitored. Plug the standard modular plug into your phone jack and plug the supplied AC power adapter into the jack on the side of the phone. (more) (ad) (instructional video) (Wolfman)
Why do I mention it?
So you will know what you are up against.
Men! Grab your Trench Coats!
NY - The queen of US designers, Diane von Furstenberg, offered a spy-themed collection harking back to wartime Berlin as she presented her latest creations at New York's Fashion Week.Opening with the sensual voice of onetime German cabaret singer Marlene Dietrich, the show entitled "Foreign Affair" seemed intent on convincing the audience that women can look elegant even in times of crisis. (more) (Trench Coat)
Cautionary Tale #437 - Kofi Annan Bugged
This headline never should have happened...
Kofi Annan Leaves Peace Talks in Limbo After His Hotel Room Is Bugged
Kenya - Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan may walk away from Kenya's peace talks after his security detail discovered his hotel room in Nairobi was bugged, according to a report.
Sources at the Serena Hotel, where the talks are taking place, said Annan's security detail became wary of his safety after discovering that his personal conversations were being intercepted, South Africa's Independent Newspapers reported.
Who may have planted the listening device and how long it was there remain unclear, the Independent reported.
Annan is said to be "livid," but it is not yet known whether he will walk away from the already troubled negotiations. (more)
Reactive security is gambling. Proactive security is cheap insurance. Kofi's security detail apparently bet and lost. Nothing they do now can turn back the clock. The damage is done.
Check for bugs, wiretaps and spycams before you know here is a problem. (more)
Kofi Annan Leaves Peace Talks in Limbo After His Hotel Room Is Bugged
Kenya - Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan may walk away from Kenya's peace talks after his security detail discovered his hotel room in Nairobi was bugged, according to a report.
Sources at the Serena Hotel, where the talks are taking place, said Annan's security detail became wary of his safety after discovering that his personal conversations were being intercepted, South Africa's Independent Newspapers reported.
Who may have planted the listening device and how long it was there remain unclear, the Independent reported.
Annan is said to be "livid," but it is not yet known whether he will walk away from the already troubled negotiations. (more)
Reactive security is gambling. Proactive security is cheap insurance. Kofi's security detail apparently bet and lost. Nothing they do now can turn back the clock. The damage is done.
Check for bugs, wiretaps and spycams before you know here is a problem. (more)
Murray's Associate Bugs the TV Reporter
Eavesdropping is a very hot topic in the UK at the moment.
Our UK Associate, Crispin Sturrock, CEO of Whiterock lets a news reporter demonstrate why detecting bugs and spycams is not a job for amateurs...
Can Sky Reporter Find Hidden Bugs?
With the controversy surrounding the bugging of Labour MP Sadiq Khan still raging, a security expert set Sky News reporter David Bowden the task of finding a several bugs he had hidden in a room. How did Bowden do? Well, he was no James Bond... (video)
Our UK Associate, Crispin Sturrock, CEO of Whiterock lets a news reporter demonstrate why detecting bugs and spycams is not a job for amateurs...
Can Sky Reporter Find Hidden Bugs?
With the controversy surrounding the bugging of Labour MP Sadiq Khan still raging, a security expert set Sky News reporter David Bowden the task of finding a several bugs he had hidden in a room. How did Bowden do? Well, he was no James Bond... (video)
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
FBI Releases Bulger Wiretaps
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.
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.
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