After Microsoft acquired Skype, we looked at a Microsoft patent called "Legal Intercept" meant for monitoring and recording VoIP communications. At that time, there were questions about if Microsoft would ruin Skype by making a backdoor for easy spy and pry government and law enforcement access. But a California-based company called VoIP-Pal already had such a surveillance patent that is meant to "allow government agencies to 'silently record' VoIP communications."
The Microsoft patent was filed in December 2009, but a company called Digifonica (International) Limited had filed a similar wiretapping VoIP patent in 2007. Then, in May 2012, VoIP-Pal attained five VoIP patents from the acquisition of Digifonica Gibraltar. One of the five patents is called "Lawful Intercept" and is meant for "intercepting VoIP and other data communications." (more)
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Spy College... for your 21st Century careers
At the University of Tulsa school, students learn to write computer viruses, hack digital networks and mine data from broken cellphones. Many graduates head to the CIA or NSA.
Stalking is part of the curriculum in the Cyber Corps, an unusual two-year program at the University of Tulsa that teaches students how to spy in cyberspace, the latest frontier in espionage.
Students learn not only how to rifle through trash, sneak a tracking device on cars and plant false information on Facebook. They also are taught to write computer viruses, hack digital networks, crack passwords, plant listening devices and mine data from broken cellphones and flash drives.
It may sound like a Jason Bourne movie, but the little-known program has funneled most of its graduates to the CIA and the Pentagon's National Security Agency, which conducts America's digital spying. Other graduates have taken positions with the FBI, NASA and the Department of Homeland Security. (more)
Students learn not only how to rifle through trash, sneak a tracking device on cars and plant false information on Facebook. They also are taught to write computer viruses, hack digital networks, crack passwords, plant listening devices and mine data from broken cellphones and flash drives.
It may sound like a Jason Bourne movie, but the little-known program has funneled most of its graduates to the CIA and the Pentagon's National Security Agency, which conducts America's digital spying. Other graduates have taken positions with the FBI, NASA and the Department of Homeland Security. (more)
From our "Persistence is Futile" file...
Can YOU crack the code?
RE HHAT VM RIYNZ LXJT MJRBTXAN
Give up? Crack it here. Your code number is 1943.
Student Balks at Stalk (Psst. Just make the tags more stylish.)
A court challenge has delayed plans to expel a Texan student for refusing to wear a radio tag that tracked her movements.
Religious reasons led Andrea Hernandez to stop wearing the tag that revealed where she was on her school campus.
The tags were introduced to track students and help tighten control of school funding.
A Texan court has granted a restraining order filed by a civil rights group pending a hearing on use of the tags.
ID badges containing radio tags started to be introduced at the start of the 2012 school year to schools run by San Antonio's Northside Independent School District (NISD). The tracking tags gave NISD a better idea of the numbers of students attending classes each day - the daily average of which dictates how much cash it gets from state coffers. (more)
In other tracking news...
 |
| Style is everything in high school.* |
The tags were introduced to track students and help tighten control of school funding.
A Texan court has granted a restraining order filed by a civil rights group pending a hearing on use of the tags.
ID badges containing radio tags started to be introduced at the start of the 2012 school year to schools run by San Antonio's Northside Independent School District (NISD). The tracking tags gave NISD a better idea of the numbers of students attending classes each day - the daily average of which dictates how much cash it gets from state coffers. (more)
In other tracking news...
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Defending Privacy at the U.S. Border: A Guide for Travelers Carrying Digital Devices
Thanks to protections enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, the government generally can’t snoop through your laptop for no reason.
But those privacy protections don’t safeguard travelers at the U.S. border, where the U.S. government can take an electronic device, search through all the files, and keep it for a while for further scrutiny – without any suspicion of wrongdoing whatsoever. (more) (pdf guide)
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The Wall Street Wiretap Sword Of Damocles
Mark Pomerantz, a former federal prosecutor, says the government wants everybody on Wall Street to believe all their conversations are being taped.
Pomerantz tells MarketWatch that the perception of wiretaps being employed in a widespread way is great for deterrence. However, he said he didn’t think they were being employed extensively by federal prosecutors. (more)
Pomerantz tells MarketWatch that the perception of wiretaps being employed in a widespread way is great for deterrence. However, he said he didn’t think they were being employed extensively by federal prosecutors. (more)
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Researchers Find iOS is Rich Target for Spying Software
Takeaway: The popularity of Apple devices makes them a prime target for spying programs, malware, and simple thievery.
According to a report in TechWeek Europe, researchers have found that spying programs like SpyEra, SpyBubble and StealthGenie are used by attackers much more heavily on devices running iOS. In two samplings of infected devices, Israeli mobile security company Lacoon found that significantly more iOS devices were being targeted over other mobile operating systems (74 % in one sampling and 52 % in a second sampling).
Attackers are, of course, taking advantage of the relative popularity of Apple devices, and are using the spying programs in highly targeted attacks — for example, against business executives — “to watch over personal and business data, letting the attackers view all the victim’s emails, text messages and geo-location information.” (more)
Attackers are, of course, taking advantage of the relative popularity of Apple devices, and are using the spying programs in highly targeted attacks — for example, against business executives — “to watch over personal and business data, letting the attackers view all the victim’s emails, text messages and geo-location information.” (more)
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
City Hall Fingered for Eavesdropping - Claims 'Inadvertance'
Chicago City Hall officials violated Illinois' strict eavesdropping law when they ‘inadvertently’ recorded conversations with Chicago Tribune reporters without their consent.
The Tribune sent the city a letter Friday demanding that officials stop secretly recording conversations with reporters. The newspaper also requested copies of the recorded conversations.
“This failure was due to inadvertence – not some practice or plan to record interviews without consent,” City Attorney Stephen Patton stated in a letter responding to the Tribune. (more)
“This failure was due to inadvertence – not some practice or plan to record interviews without consent,” City Attorney Stephen Patton stated in a letter responding to the Tribune. (more)
What the Well Dressed Spy Wants for Christmas
Upon first glance, it appears to be a standard pair of cuff links.
However, a covert, hidden handcuff key has been engineered in to the design. This concealed hand cuff key will to open almost all Standard Hand cuffs. It’s also designed to hold your French Cuffs closed. A must have for any international SPY or the average citizen looking for some styling carbon fiber inlaid cuff links that happen to open hand cuffs.
*WARNING: The use of this product may result in you being shot.*
Don’t Break the law.
You are not Bond'ed. (more) (more weird cufflinks)
*WARNING: The use of this product may result in you being shot.*
Don’t Break the law.
You are not Bond'ed. (more) (more weird cufflinks)
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Scientific Breakthrough Gives Paranoids Another Thing to Worry About
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| Click to enlarge. |
2012 China Report Released... no surprises.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission was created by Congress to report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China.
"This Report conveys our findings from the past year, along with providing recommendations to Congress about how best to respond to some of the problems we have identified."
2012 REPORT TO CONGRESS
Excerpts:
"Travelers to China sometimes report Chinese officials tampering with their electronic devices upon entry or exit. Customs or border enforcement entities may perform or enable such activities."
"Some corporate entities in China may engage in, support, or benefit from cyber espionage. The prevalence of stste-owned or -controlled enterprises in the telecommunications and IT sectorsin China mean that such activities would often constitute state sponsorship."
Just coincidence?
"This Report conveys our findings from the past year, along with providing recommendations to Congress about how best to respond to some of the problems we have identified."
2012 REPORT TO CONGRESS
Excerpts:
"Travelers to China sometimes report Chinese officials tampering with their electronic devices upon entry or exit. Customs or border enforcement entities may perform or enable such activities."
"Some corporate entities in China may engage in, support, or benefit from cyber espionage. The prevalence of stste-owned or -controlled enterprises in the telecommunications and IT sectorsin China mean that such activities would often constitute state sponsorship."
Just coincidence?
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
This Week in Spy News
The chairman of Stow College in Glasgow has resigned after a row over a recorded conversation on a device branded a "spy-pen". (more)
Outdated laws have created loopholes that allow government and law enforcement agencies to request information and conduct electronic surveillance without warrants. The piece of legislation at the heart of the issue is the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, passed in 1986. (more)
Ex-British spy, turning 90, happily living in Russia...
The spy, George Blake, betrayed British intelligence starting in the 1950s; he was found out in 1961 and sentenced to 42 years in prison. But he escaped five years later using a rope ladder made of knitting needles, made his way to the Soviet Union and has been living out his last years serenely in a cottage outside Moscow. (more)
Two Simple Spy Tricks That David Petraeus Could Have Used To Hide His Affair...
Does the head of the world's top spy agency really think he can hide behind a Gmail account and a pseudonym? Apparently so. Even bumbling Boris Badenov from "Rocky and Bullwinkle" would have known better. (more)
The Maryland Transit Administration is bugging buses in Baltimore, and the bugged buses are what’s bugging civil rights advocates. Buses already have cameras, but ten buses now have microphones that are supposed to add to security by recording what’s said between passengers and the drivers. (more)
How to Stop Spies from Digging Up Your Personal Information...
The spies in our lives aren't like the ones in movies—they take the form of a suspicious lover, obsessive coworker, or jealous "friend." While you can't distrust everyone you meet and lead a happy life, you can protect your personal information from falling into the wrong hands. Here's how to guard yourself from spies without slipping into a state of constant paranoia. (more)
The chairman of Pirelli, Marco Tronchetti Provera, will go to trial over a long-running probe into alleged use of Telecom Italia data to snoop on Italy's elite, a judicial source said on Monday. ( more)
How to Snap Top Secret Photos Without Anyone Noticing...
Ever needed to snap a picture in a quiet building without anyone noticing? Or maybe you need to document misbehavior without getting caught? Taking snapshots on the sly isn't easy, but a few tricks can help you capture a moment without another soul noticing. (more)
Steampunk Spy-Fi: Real-life gadgets perfect for a Victorian Era James Bond...
What if the majesty of On Her Majesty's Secret Service was Queen Victoria? (more)
In France, a Mission to Return the Military's Carrier Pigeons to Active Duty...
Grounded After Modern Communication Devices Soared, Birds May Offer Low-Tech Solutions; No Round Trips (more)
Outdated laws have created loopholes that allow government and law enforcement agencies to request information and conduct electronic surveillance without warrants. The piece of legislation at the heart of the issue is the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, passed in 1986. (more)
Ex-British spy, turning 90, happily living in Russia...
The spy, George Blake, betrayed British intelligence starting in the 1950s; he was found out in 1961 and sentenced to 42 years in prison. But he escaped five years later using a rope ladder made of knitting needles, made his way to the Soviet Union and has been living out his last years serenely in a cottage outside Moscow. (more)
Two Simple Spy Tricks That David Petraeus Could Have Used To Hide His Affair...
Does the head of the world's top spy agency really think he can hide behind a Gmail account and a pseudonym? Apparently so. Even bumbling Boris Badenov from "Rocky and Bullwinkle" would have known better. (more)The Maryland Transit Administration is bugging buses in Baltimore, and the bugged buses are what’s bugging civil rights advocates. Buses already have cameras, but ten buses now have microphones that are supposed to add to security by recording what’s said between passengers and the drivers. (more)
How to Stop Spies from Digging Up Your Personal Information...
The spies in our lives aren't like the ones in movies—they take the form of a suspicious lover, obsessive coworker, or jealous "friend." While you can't distrust everyone you meet and lead a happy life, you can protect your personal information from falling into the wrong hands. Here's how to guard yourself from spies without slipping into a state of constant paranoia. (more)
The chairman of Pirelli, Marco Tronchetti Provera, will go to trial over a long-running probe into alleged use of Telecom Italia data to snoop on Italy's elite, a judicial source said on Monday. ( more)
How to Snap Top Secret Photos Without Anyone Noticing...
Ever needed to snap a picture in a quiet building without anyone noticing? Or maybe you need to document misbehavior without getting caught? Taking snapshots on the sly isn't easy, but a few tricks can help you capture a moment without another soul noticing. (more)
What if the majesty of On Her Majesty's Secret Service was Queen Victoria? (more)
In France, a Mission to Return the Military's Carrier Pigeons to Active Duty...
Grounded After Modern Communication Devices Soared, Birds May Offer Low-Tech Solutions; No Round Trips (more)
Email Security - The Petraeus Case
...via Zack Whittaker
There's no such thing as a truly 'anonymous' email account, and no matter how much you try to encrypt the contents of the email you are sending, little fragments of data are attached by email servers and messaging companies. It's how email works and it's entirely unavoidable...which first led the FBI on a path that led up to the very door of Petraeus' office door in Langley, Virginia.
Ultimately, only Google had access to the emails. Because it's a private company, it does not fall under the scope of the Fourth Amendment. If the U.S. government or one of its law enforcement agencies wanted to access the private Petraeus email account, it would have to serve up a warrant.
In this case, however, the Foreign Intelligence Services Act (FISA) would not apply. Even the Patriot Act would not necessarily apply in this case, even though it does allow the FBI and other authorized agencies to search email. However, in this case, above all else, the Stored Communications Act does apply -- part of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
The act allows for any electronic data to be read if it has been stored for less than 180 days. In this case, the law was specifically designed -- albeit quite some time before email became a mainstream communications medium -- to allow server- or computer-stored data to be accessed by law enforcement.
However, a court order must be issued after the 180 days, and in this case it was...
Once it knew Ms. Broadwell was the sender of the threatening messages, the FBI got a warrant that gave it covert access to the anonymous email account. And that's how they do it. (more)
There's no such thing as a truly 'anonymous' email account, and no matter how much you try to encrypt the contents of the email you are sending, little fragments of data are attached by email servers and messaging companies. It's how email works and it's entirely unavoidable...which first led the FBI on a path that led up to the very door of Petraeus' office door in Langley, Virginia.
In this case, however, the Foreign Intelligence Services Act (FISA) would not apply. Even the Patriot Act would not necessarily apply in this case, even though it does allow the FBI and other authorized agencies to search email. However, in this case, above all else, the Stored Communications Act does apply -- part of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
The act allows for any electronic data to be read if it has been stored for less than 180 days. In this case, the law was specifically designed -- albeit quite some time before email became a mainstream communications medium -- to allow server- or computer-stored data to be accessed by law enforcement.
However, a court order must be issued after the 180 days, and in this case it was...
Once it knew Ms. Broadwell was the sender of the threatening messages, the FBI got a warrant that gave it covert access to the anonymous email account. And that's how they do it. (more)
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