Leaked Info Dampens First Amendment

Recent days have brought two federal court decisions with disputed First Amendment legitimacy.

In San Francisco, District Judge Jeffrey White acceded to a request by a Cayman Islands bank to shut access to the Web site Wikileaks.org, which "invites people to post leaked materials with the goal of discouraging 'unethical behavior' by corporations and governments," as the New York Times reports.

In this case, the bank, Julius Baer Bank and Trust, accused "a disgruntled ex-employee" of giving stolen documents to Wikileaks in violation of banking laws and a confidentiality agreement. (more)

First Amendment vs. Creeping Extortionography.
You decide. In the meantime, keep your information from leaking in the first place. Need help? Call us.

Countdown to Smackdown - US 193 (update 2)

The U.S. Navy is specially modifying three advanced SM3 anti-ballistic missile interceptors to shoot down an electronically dead, intelligence-gathering satellite that was launched into space for the National Reconnaissance Organization (NRO).

Communications with the satellite were lost almost immediately, which means there’s no way of guiding the spacecraft to a predictable crash site as it returns from orbit, says Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The extraordinary decision to shoot it down was the result of analyses that show the satellite’s 40-in.-dia. hydrazine tank—now holding a 1,000-lb. frozen sphere of maneuvering propellant—will survive the descent. It will pose a lethal danger when it strikes the Earth, cracks open, and the frozen slush turns into a toxic gas, says James Jeffrey, White House deputy national security adviser. The effect on human lungs would be similar to ammonia or chlorine gas.

The three Aegis ships involved in the intercept, from a launch site in the northern Pacific, will be “reconfigured on a one-time, reversible basis,” says Jeffrey. Even if the space defense missiles miss or misfire, the threat will be no greater, says NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. However, even if the missile only grazes the errant satellite, it will fall out of orbit faster, analysts contend. If they make a direct hit, the spacecraft is expected to fall into an unpopulated area, Cartwright says.

If the SM3 missile hits the satellite as it nears the atmosphere, more than 50% of the debris will reenter within two orbits, about 10-15 hr. Most of the remaining pieces would fall within a month, Cartwright says. It will be critical to hit the satellite before it enters the atmosphere, where its nonaerodynamic shape will cause it to tumble and be almost impossible to engage, he says. If the first SM3 misses, operators will reassess and try again with the backup missiles.

It is officially denied that debris from the payload could reveal secret new U.S. national security capabilities if satellite wreckage were recovered by another nation. (more) (follow the whole story)

Tap Copped

NY - Prosecutors announced Friday they will use wiretapped conversations against the estranged wife of slain dentist Daniel Malakov - but the Daily News learned that a tape is missing and a cop is accused of taking it. (more)

French bugs 'discovered in UK Defence Minister's office'

UK - A leading MP is to challenge the Government over claims that a Defence Minister was bugged by the French when he was responsible for the award of billions of pounds worth of contracts.

Tory MP Patrick Mercer says senior security sources have told him that bugs were placed in the offices of Lord Drayson, the then-Defence Procurement Minister, at the House of Lords and in the Ministry of Defence, so the French could eavesdrop on conversations about valuable projects.

The claim has the potential to cause a major diplomatic row between Britain and France, which regularly compete for huge defence equipment contracts all over the world. (more)

Do you handle...
• 'huge contracts',
• expensive product development,
• major marketing campaigns,
• mergers and acquisitions,
• financial investments,
• sensitive investigations,
• valuable intellectual property,
• and, things so secret only you know about them?
Imagine the effect a bug in your office would have on you and your company.
(solution)

"Let me tell you how it will be..."

UK - He already has the power to arrest, and as of today, the British taxman will also be able to intercept phone calls, emails and letters, as well as bug residential premises and private vehicles. (more)
(sing-along)

SpyCam Story #433 - Justice not Blind

Philippines - A spy camera was found in a military courtroom where former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and former Scout Ranger commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and 26 of their men were being arraigned yesterday.

Faced with a motion to rule whether it approved the installation of the spy camera, Fojas, court martial chairman, said the court did not know about the camera being placed on the ceiling.

“We have not permitted anybody to install the surveillance camera,” he said. “The court is unaware of it and I am directing whoever installed it to remove it.” (more)

Peter McCollum's Bug & Wiretap Devices of the 50's & 60's

The ST-2A Surveillance Transmitter The ST-2A is one of the earlier models in a long series of equipment. The purpose of a surveillance transmitter (ST) is to transmit the sounds (conversations) from within a room to a person or recording device monitoring a receiver nearby. For example, an ST may be hidden in a hotel room before the targeted person arrives, and the opposition can set up equipment on an adjacent floor to monitor and record any conversations that take place.

This device, marked “F-371 IndCoil”, is an audio wire tap, most likely intended for telephone lines. It is an inductive pickup, so does not require any direct connection to the signal wire. This makes it much more difficult to detect, and does not interfere with telephone operation in any way.

When clipped over the red wire on a traditional telephone line, and connected to a suitable preamp, it can efficiently monitor a conversation. Note that it is necessary to tap only one of the two signal wires – if both wires pass through the device, the signal is canceled. The tap includes a square, closed armature that is opened by pushing a spring-loaded button. Two sides of the square have fine wire coils wound on them, connected in series.

Pushing the black button on the right side causes the armature to open so that it can be clipped over a wire. The oblong aluminum portion is a separate impedance matching transformer, marked “3.2” (ohms) on the input, and “1200” on the output. It has a 1/8” plug on the input side, and a matching jack on the output side.
(many more fine examples and photos)

Cape Town mayor Helen Zille says she is the victim of an illegal spying operation.

South Africa - Security around the opposition and Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille has been stepped up and President Thabo Mbeki has ordered an investigation after Zille was tipped off that she is the victim of an illegal spying operation. (more)

The Eavesdropping You Agreed To

c. Eavesdropping. Our facilities are used by numerous persons or entities including, without limitation, other subscribers to HSI. As a result, there is a risk that you could be subject to “eavesdropping.” This means that other persons or entities may be able to access and/or monitor your use of HSI. This risk of eavesdropping exists not only with our facilities, but also on the Internet and other services to which access is provided as a part of HSI. If you post, store, transmit, or disseminate any sensitive or confidential information, you do so at your sole risk. NEITHER COMCAST NOR ITS AFFILIATES, SUPPLIERS, OR AGENTS SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR ANY CLAIMS, LOSSES, ACTIONS, DAMAGES, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR OTHERWISE RELATING TO SUCH ACTIONS BY YOU. You acknowledge that software programs are commercially available that claim to be capable of encryption or anonymization. We make no representation or warranty regarding the effectiveness of these programs. (more)

The Neighbor Stick

Finn Magee combined his industrial design talents with an imagination fermented within apartment walls to come up with what he calls the "Neighbour Rod".

Here, "Neighbor Stick" (as in, 'stick it to your neighbor') seemed a more appropriate moniker.

When the neighbors get noisy, bang on the wall, ceiling, floor with the big white rubber mallet end. When the neighbors get suspiciously quiet, use the stethoscope end.

By the way, that's Betty. She loves to listen.

Finn is one cool dude. More about him, here.

Queen's offices 'swept for bugs'

UK - The Queen's rooms were regularly checked for bugging devices, the inquest into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed has heard. (more)
Regular inspections to detect electronic eavesdropping devices are an essential element of quality security programs.

Electronic eyes and ears keep tabs on workers

Canada - The sudden resignation of a South Shore police chief over allegations of e-spying on the local police union is the latest controversy over electronic eavesdropping in the workplace in the greater Montreal area.

Here and elsewhere, advances in electronic technologies have given employers new tools to keep an around-the-clock eye on employees. Unions are crying foul and fighting back. (more)

Alert - Analog Cellular - Discontinued - Last Call - Check you alarm system's cellular alarm reporting back-up unit.

Going, going... GONE!
With 4G and WiMax services on the horizon, a new digital wireless era is approaching...but the era of another form of cordless communications is soon to come to a close: namely, analog cellular phone service, which will cease nationally on February 18. (That's TODAY!) Most phones now use digital service, but home and business owners with alarm systems may miss the analog signal. (more)
...and many more will miss the fun of easy eavesdropping.

In December 2005, the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) was commissioned by the Australian High Tech Crime Centre (AHTCC) to conduct research into issues relating to key criminal justice issues concerning technology-enabled crime.

The report provides an instant eduction on technology enhanced crimes, and new crimes which have come into being because of advancements in technology.

Observations...
- It still takes the legal system about 10 years to catch up with technology changes.
- Technology has further cemented the need for international law enforcement cooperation.
- Technology is forcing some of the age-old crimes – that we rarely used to hear about – out of the darkness.
Very interesting document. Sign of the times.
(this report) (more reports)

SpyCam Story #432 - Action Jackson

CA - Holiday Cleaners, a family-owned business that's operated in Jackson for the past 15 years. Since October, it's a store that has also been under the watchful eye of city police as they investigate allegations that one of its operators recorded images of women as they undressed in the changing room.

Police are hoping female customers who patronized the dry cleaning business will come forward to see if they were recorded in digital videos and photographs allegedly taken by the suspect, 35-year-old Pine Grove resident Alex Ko, who runs the business with his parents and siblings. (more)