UK - The GMB union has accused Marks & Spencer of systematically bugging private conversations of its workers...
According to Personnel Today's sister publication Computer Weekly, the union will claim that M&S installed a secret, illegal "special line" in the workers' meeting room that allowed management to overhear their conversations.
Maria Ludkin, a GMB lawyer, alleged the information came from an employee at the technology company Eurosis, which supplied the microphones and other equipment used to bug the room. (more)
Murray Associates has been warning its corporate clients about the relationship between the down economy and increased snooping and dirty tricks. This is a good real-life example.
If M&S indeed made this mistake, they deserve what they will get. However, if this is a union 'set-up' ("The news comes as the trade union is preparing to take the retailer to tribunal over the sacking of whistleblower Tony Goode."), they deserve what they will get... if, the truth wins out.
Today, this is unnecessarily time-consuming and expensive ...and a PR nightmare for both sides.
All this might have been avoided if independent eavesdropping detection audits were part of the company's security program. Audits a very cost-effective alternative to litigation.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tot's Tattle-Toy Bugs Pop
NE - The teddy bear had a bug. That's what a man alleges in a lawsuit that grew out of a child custody fight in Nebraska. William Lewton is accusing his ex-wife Diane Divingnzzo and her father of hiding a recording device in his daughter's toy in order to spy on him... His attorney says it's believed hundreds of hours of conversations were recorded.
Lewton, his daughter -- who is now 5 -- and five other plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial. They're also seeking damages, alleging invasion of privacy and violation of state and federal wiretapping laws. (more)
SpyCam Story #507 - Bowling for Blackmail
via gizmodo.com...Like the Rovio, WowWee's Spyball is a Wi-Fi-enabled spycam robot. But it transforms from sorta conspicuous ball to spycam for surreptitious shots. You can connect ad-hoc via Wi-Fi or over the internet.
The Spyball™ spy-cam is a remote controlled, Wi-Fi enabled, transforming robotic ball that introduces an element of play to telepresence functionality. Affordable, easy-to-use, and rechargeable, the Spyball spy-cam captures video and still images and is equipped with sleek wheels for fast, smooth mobility and 360-degree turns. Transforming from ball to camera and back again, the Spyball spy-cam moves with stealth and in disguise – perfect for spying on siblings or peeking into the kitchen. (more)
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Corporate Data Protection Spending Up in 2009
...small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) will spend... more of their IT budgets on security in 2009 than 2008, according to a new study from Forrester Research Inc. The change will result from a shift in security strategy from computer security threat defense to corporate data protection. That more closely mirrors the strategy at large companies, says Forrester's "The State of SMB Security: 2008-2009." (more)
Data is dormant. Protection, relatively easy.
Data becomes much more valuable when it is discussed and decisions are made. At this stage it is also easier to snatch. Protection against electronic eavesdropping is often overlooked.
Every company – small, medium or large – needs this minimal protection program.
Data is dormant. Protection, relatively easy.Data becomes much more valuable when it is discussed and decisions are made. At this stage it is also easier to snatch. Protection against electronic eavesdropping is often overlooked.
Every company – small, medium or large – needs this minimal protection program.
Spying On Mayor's Emails, An Inside Job
Canada - A former senior bureaucrat ordered Vaughan's chief information officer to snoop on Mayor Linda Jackson's emails without her knowledge, a newly released forensic review shows...
The report, obtained by the Toronto Star yesterday through a freedom of information request, was unable to determine conclusively who accessed those emails or how, but did conclude it wasn't an outside job. (more)
The report, obtained by the Toronto Star yesterday through a freedom of information request, was unable to determine conclusively who accessed those emails or how, but did conclude it wasn't an outside job. (more)
Microphones with Brains
Ireland - One of those leading the work (an electronic stethoscope) at University College Dublin is Dr. Scott Rickard, a US scientist with a sparkling academic pedigree in applied mathematics and electrical engineering. As an expert in audio identification techniques his work brought him to the attention of the FBI, where he helped develop an eavesdropping technology to identify a speaker's location in a crowded room.
Using two closely spaced microphones, it was possible to separate and localise an arbitrary number of speakers. "So if you were in a room and 10 people were speaking, you could tell who said what, when," said Dr Rickard. "That is really important for the FBI - they have lots of recordings of people and they want to know what was said and who said it." (more)
Sunday, January 4, 2009
SpyCam Story #506 - Marriage Privacy Rights
Attorney, Steve Lombardi reports...
Family Law: Electronic surveillance of wife's bedroom activity leads to $22,500 judgment
The decision discusses a video cassette recorder positioned above the ceiling, a camera concealed in an alarm clock located in the bedroom regularly used by Cathy, and a motion sensing “optical eye” installed in headboard of the bed in that room.” The District Court found Jeffrey had invaded Cathy’s privacy and entered judgment in the amount of $22,500.00.
It’s pretty clear the Court finds married spouses even during the marriage, and while living in the same residence could be found to violate the other’s right to privacy if electronic equipment is used to record activity.
This is a case of first impression in Iowa but one that has been decided in North Carolina finding estranged spouses living separately have an expectation of privacy between themselves. (Miller v. Brooks, 472 S.E.2d 350 (N.C. Ct. App 1996)) And also Clayton v. Richards, 47 S.W.3d 149 (Tex. App. 2001) Even during a marriage the bedroom carries with it an expectation of privacy. (more)
Family Law: Electronic surveillance of wife's bedroom activity leads to $22,500 judgment
The decision discusses a video cassette recorder positioned above the ceiling, a camera concealed in an alarm clock located in the bedroom regularly used by Cathy, and a motion sensing “optical eye” installed in headboard of the bed in that room.” The District Court found Jeffrey had invaded Cathy’s privacy and entered judgment in the amount of $22,500.00.
It’s pretty clear the Court finds married spouses even during the marriage, and while living in the same residence could be found to violate the other’s right to privacy if electronic equipment is used to record activity.
This is a case of first impression in Iowa but one that has been decided in North Carolina finding estranged spouses living separately have an expectation of privacy between themselves. (Miller v. Brooks, 472 S.E.2d 350 (N.C. Ct. App 1996)) And also Clayton v. Richards, 47 S.W.3d 149 (Tex. App. 2001) Even during a marriage the bedroom carries with it an expectation of privacy. (more)
Reporter Reviews Commonly Available Spy Gear
An entertaining article about the latest eavesdropping tools available to the general public. Includes: detailed usage, evaluation and pricing information. Oriented toward marital situations. Serious information security and privacy ramifications for workplace environments.
from...
Phase one: bugging the house. In the old days a bug worked using radio waves. Meaning it had a range. Meaning you had to stand within 50 yards of the room you were bugging, wearing a large pair of headphones and a suspicious expression to hear anything. Now the latest bug uses GSM technology, so you can phone it from anywhere in the world and listen in without contravening any communications laws. (more)
from...
Phase one: bugging the house. In the old days a bug worked using radio waves. Meaning it had a range. Meaning you had to stand within 50 yards of the room you were bugging, wearing a large pair of headphones and a suspicious expression to hear anything. Now the latest bug uses GSM technology, so you can phone it from anywhere in the world and listen in without contravening any communications laws. (more)
Friday, January 2, 2009
Run, Duck and Cover
Turkey - Following the recent discovery of two covert listening devices at the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) headquarters in Ankara, party officials have begun to investigate whether the devices were planted by party members. (more)
meanwhile...
Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, or MİT, is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring to increase its effectiveness... The Information Systems unit, which tapped wires and undertook grey zone activities, was left outside the intelligence department. Deputy undersecretariat for operations is replaced with the technical deputy undersecretariat, which now coordinates departments of information systems and electronic and technical intelligence. (more)
meanwhile...
Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, or MİT, is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring to increase its effectiveness... The Information Systems unit, which tapped wires and undertook grey zone activities, was left outside the intelligence department. Deputy undersecretariat for operations is replaced with the technical deputy undersecretariat, which now coordinates departments of information systems and electronic and technical intelligence. (more)
Meanwhile, at another Scot Palace...
(see previous palace story first)
Scotland - Royal security chiefs have launched an investigation after plans of the Queen's official residence in Scotland were found near a footpath...
The architect's drawings were discovered under a bush on a path leading to the Water of Leith, in Roseburn, Edinburgh... the plans showed power ducts, cables and a transformer, as well as the sizes of the gardens and locations for boiler rooms, gas meters, store cupboards, kitchens, toilets and wash areas. (more)
Scotland - Royal security chiefs have launched an investigation after plans of the Queen's official residence in Scotland were found near a footpath...
The architect's drawings were discovered under a bush on a path leading to the Water of Leith, in Roseburn, Edinburgh... the plans showed power ducts, cables and a transformer, as well as the sizes of the gardens and locations for boiler rooms, gas meters, store cupboards, kitchens, toilets and wash areas. (more)
The spy doth protest too much, methinks.
Remember the story Queen's Electric Teapot 'Bugged'?
It happened in The Queen's Scottish Castle, Balmoral.
If not, take a moment to review.
A Scottish newspaper, The Press and Journal, is now reporting... Russian ex-secret agent rejects Balmoral samovar bugging claims. Unfortunately, reporter, Ryan Crighton's fact-checker must have taken the day off. (It was New Year's Day).
Let's review the story...
"A former Russian agent (Mikhail Lyubimov) has rejected claims that the Royal Family’s north-east residence was the target for Soviet spies." This reflects the official Russian position. Lyubimov, now a novelist with a Kim Philby book under his belt, backed Russian official position during the last British/Russian spy row, as well.
"...(Lyubimov) dismissed the reports, saying that the alleged bugging method was ineffective and useless." No surprise here, but no logic either.
“'Buckingham Palace and the Queen were never objects of great interest to us...'" No verisimilitude here, either. Russian surveillance, dating back to 1832, is famous. Everything is a possible target. Getting a bug into the Queen's Castle - even an "ineffective and useless" one - would be a major brag for the KGB.
"...a souvenir which had been given to the US in the 1960s contained a bugging device, however." Funny, one would think a Cold War secret agent would be more familiar with his agency's biggest hit. The Thing, as it was called, was "given to the US" in 1946 and discovered in 1952.
John La Carre, another ex-secret agent turned spy novelist, summed up his opinion of Lyubimov's last documentary novel this way: "Mikhail Lyubimov isn't just an ex-KGB officer. He's a ... mischievous novelist and a skillful self-publicist. My hunch is, we're dealing with one of his little fantasies..." Who knows if Mr. La Carre's hunch is correct, but...
"Madam, how like you this play?"
Hamlet Act 3, scene 2, 222–230
If you have read this far, you will really want to see this!
It happened in The Queen's Scottish Castle, Balmoral.
If not, take a moment to review.
A Scottish newspaper, The Press and Journal, is now reporting... Russian ex-secret agent rejects Balmoral samovar bugging claims. Unfortunately, reporter, Ryan Crighton's fact-checker must have taken the day off. (It was New Year's Day).
Let's review the story...
"A former Russian agent (Mikhail Lyubimov) has rejected claims that the Royal Family’s north-east residence was the target for Soviet spies." This reflects the official Russian position. Lyubimov, now a novelist with a Kim Philby book under his belt, backed Russian official position during the last British/Russian spy row, as well.
"...(Lyubimov) dismissed the reports, saying that the alleged bugging method was ineffective and useless." No surprise here, but no logic either.
“'Buckingham Palace and the Queen were never objects of great interest to us...'" No verisimilitude here, either. Russian surveillance, dating back to 1832, is famous. Everything is a possible target. Getting a bug into the Queen's Castle - even an "ineffective and useless" one - would be a major brag for the KGB.
"...a souvenir which had been given to the US in the 1960s contained a bugging device, however." Funny, one would think a Cold War secret agent would be more familiar with his agency's biggest hit. The Thing, as it was called, was "given to the US" in 1946 and discovered in 1952.
John La Carre, another ex-secret agent turned spy novelist, summed up his opinion of Lyubimov's last documentary novel this way: "Mikhail Lyubimov isn't just an ex-KGB officer. He's a ... mischievous novelist and a skillful self-publicist. My hunch is, we're dealing with one of his little fantasies..." Who knows if Mr. La Carre's hunch is correct, but...
"Madam, how like you this play?"
Hamlet Act 3, scene 2, 222–230
If you have read this far, you will really want to see this!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
SpyCam Story #505 - The Church Robber
NC - The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office is searching for a man who was caught on camera stealing electronics from a church. Anyone with information on the man should call Cleveland County Crime Stoppers at 704-481-TIPS. (more photos)Side lesson: If you buy a CCTV system to document crime, be sure to consider picture quality. Just keep repeating, "Facial recognition. Facial recognition. Fac..."
Dog Bites Man Story (Bug Version)
Australia - Russian intelligence bugged Australia's embassy in Moscow, cabinet documents published by the National Archives today show.
The major security breach is revealed for the first time in a cabinet minute recording that foreign minister Andrew Peacock briefed cabinet on July 25, 1978...
It was not the first occasion that listening devices had been found at the Australian embassy in Moscow. An extensive array of microphones were found in the newly established chancery in late 1946. Australian embassies in other Eastern bloc countries were also subject to ''technical attack'' by communist intelligence services. (more)
The major security breach is revealed for the first time in a cabinet minute recording that foreign minister Andrew Peacock briefed cabinet on July 25, 1978...
It was not the first occasion that listening devices had been found at the Australian embassy in Moscow. An extensive array of microphones were found in the newly established chancery in late 1946. Australian embassies in other Eastern bloc countries were also subject to ''technical attack'' by communist intelligence services. (more)
Recent USB Memory Stick Policy Poll
Many organizations have policies governing the use of thumb drives.
What best describes your situation?
A. Thumb drives are banned and not used. (41%)
B. Thumb drives are banned, but we still use them on occasion. (12%)
C. My company had no policy on the use of thumb drives. (46%)
(source)
(I know, it only adds up to 99%. Take it to PollDaddy.com)
What best describes your situation?
A. Thumb drives are banned and not used. (41%)
B. Thumb drives are banned, but we still use them on occasion. (12%)
C. My company had no policy on the use of thumb drives. (46%)
(source)
(I know, it only adds up to 99%. Take it to PollDaddy.com)
Bugging Device Found - Şeref Sağıroğlu Smiles
Turkey - A covert listening device has been discovered at the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Ankara.
The bugging device was found in the office of Algan Hacaloğlu, the CHP’s assistant secretary- general, earlier this week by his secretary. The CHP’s chief accountant, Mustafa Özyürek, said on Tuesday that experts were examining the device. (more) (told you so)
The bugging device was found in the office of Algan Hacaloğlu, the CHP’s assistant secretary- general, earlier this week by his secretary. The CHP’s chief accountant, Mustafa Özyürek, said on Tuesday that experts were examining the device. (more) (told you so)
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