Simple Tips for Thwarting Common Smartphone Eavesdropping

At Secure Network in Armory Square they actually don't get a lot of people calling about their phone being hacked-because they don't always know its happening.

The president of Secure Network says these "eavesdropping" apps are common. but they are not marketed that way. ...he says you should be the only one using your phone.

"I wouldn't relinquish your phone to somebody who started putting apps on your phone or downloading things on your phone," said Steve Stasiukonis, "be conscious of what's on your phone if things are obviously if they appear out of place you know the suspect in question it." You can also look to see if your data plan is getting more expensive. more

• Make sure your phone requires (good quality) password or fingerprint access. 
• If you suspect a problem, do a full factory reset, and don't reload your backup. ~Kevin

Industrial Espionage and Technical Surveillance Counter Measurers

Industrial Espionage and Technical Surveillance Counter Measurers (book)
Authors: Androulidakis, Iosif, Kioupakis, Fragkiskos – Emmanouil

Discusses how industrial espionage and technical surveillance affect companies, organizations and individuals.

This book examines technical aspects of industrial espionage and its impact in modern companies, organizations, and individuals while emphasizing the importance of intellectual property in the information era. The authors discuss the problem itself and then provide statistics and real world cases.

The main contribution provides a detailed discussion of the actual equipment, tools and techniques concerning technical surveillance in the framework of espionage. Moreover, they present the best practices and methods of detection (technical surveillance counter measures) as well as means of intellectual property protection.

Number of Illustrations and Tables
65 b/w illustrations, 9 illustrations in colour

Topics:

• Communications Engineering, Networks
• Systems and Data Security
• Security Science and Technology
• Forensic Science

Springer | Signals & Communication | March 12, 2016 | ISBN-10: 331928665X | 126 pages | pdf | 5.58 mb

TV Gardening Expert Digs Dirt Using Spycam

UK - A TV gardening presenter faces jail after he admitted using a camera hidden in an air freshener to film women tenants showering. 

Stephen Brookes faces jail after capturing footage of women on his iPhone. Stephen Brookes, 55, set up the camera to capture footage that could be downloaded to an app on his iPhone.

The expert, who has appeared on BBC radio as a guest, spied on seven women between November 2015 and September last year at his home in Stratford-upon-Avon...

Police discovered 300 files, including videos taken near a shower and toilet, after seizing a memory card, iPhone and iPad belonging to Brookes.

Brookes was known as “Mr Rotavator” in the 1990s and has broadcast live from London’s Chelsea Flower Show.  more

UPDATE (2/8/17) - Stephen Brookes, a gardening expert, has also been ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years... (and) has been jailed for 12 months for using a hidden camera to spy on young women in a bathroom. more

State Insurer Caught up in Eavesdropping Scandal

Chinese insurance regulator said that a state insurer used an iPhone and a voice recorder to eavesdrop on inspectors.

China Insurance Regulatory Commission Shandong bureau said Saturday that the eavesdropping devices were found at the Weifang office of Yingda Taihe Property Insurance.

The regulator had been inspecting the Shandong branch.

On Jan. 6, inspectors found the iPhone and voice recorder taped under their chairs. Neither Yingda nor the regulator elaborated on how the tapping devices were found.

"Their purpose was to listen in on the discussions, so that they could obstruct and thwart inspections," sources with the insurance regulator said. more

This is why accounting firms who conduct on-site audits often have their dedicated offices swept for bugs. Smart. ~Kevin

Police Bang Wang for Spycam - Again

CT - A Hartford man was arrested for allegedly videotaping over a dozen women in the unisex bathroom at UConn’s Law School law library has been arrested on similar charges in Vernon.

Yiyan Wang, 30, was arrested on voyeurism charges for offenses that happened on June 15 and 26 in 2016. He was arrested on Wednesday. He was released on $5,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 24.

On October 12 Wang was charged with 15 counts of voyeurism, one count of disorderly conduct – which encompasses “peeping tom” incidents in the state of Connecticut – and one count of attempting to commit voyeurism. more

If You Need an In-House TSCM Manager Copy This Job Posting

 If in-house is not practical for you, call me. This is what we do. ~Kevin

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Abbott Laboratories is seeking an experienced Senior Technical Security Counter Measures (TSCM) professional to serve as a program manager in charge of providing support towards the implementation and management of protecting the companies Intellectual Property and maintaining product integrity.

TSCM duties include but are not limited to the following tasks:

• Conducting TSCM surveys and inspections to monitor for evasive radio frequency signals, and perform a wide variety of physical and technical security related functions at Abbott facilities as well as inspecting for technical penetrations, hazards, and physical security weaknesses that could result in the unauthorized access to sensitive material and proprietary Intellectual Property belonging to Abbot Laboratories. TSCM sweeps are to be conducted for the 200 Abbott facilities located domestically and abroad.

• Pre-Construction Advisory Services: Providing assistance and guidance to Abbott leadership prior to new construction or modification of an existing space to safeguard areas from vulnerabilities associated with technical hazards and/or penetrations that can occur during facility construction or modification. Coordinate projects associated with security enhancements or downgrades as well as new facility construction requirements.

• Conference Support: Onsite monitoring of Abbott sponsored conferences to safeguard against surreptitious monitoring when the area used for discussion of sensitive Intellectual Property is not properly constructed, security measures are not maintained, or when deemed necessary to safeguard information or personnel. Analyze all voice and data communications schemes, systems, circuits, and equipment for susceptibility to interception and compromise.

• Technical Security advice and assistance: Brief Security Division managers on programmatic security issues that could have institutional impact as well as conduct TSCM threat and awareness briefings to Abbott management and employees as necessary. Providing comprehensive, risk‐based technical security advice, guidance, and general security support to offices and activities the TSCM Office supports; preparing written correspondence and after-action reports to include TSCM inspection findings and recommendations reports, analytical reports, technical security awareness briefings, technical briefings, and vulnerability reports; conducting analysis and recommending solutions to a variety of complex technical surveillance, and counter-surveillance detection or other technical vulnerabilities. Conduct initial laboratory analyses and/or evaluation of any suspect surveillance device discovered, and coordinate with the appropriate Law Enforcement Agencies as appropriate.

• Follow Up Inspections: Coordinating with Security Managers and facilities management in supported areas to correct deficiencies (i.e., technical hazards, technical vulnerabilities and Standard Operating Procedures that affect technical security) and guide implementation of recommended solutions and technical countermeasures.

Perform other related duties and functions as assigned.  more

Security Director Alert - Peeping Tom Drone - A Cautionary Tale

NH - Two women who live in the same building say they spotted a drone flying over their skylights last weekend and fear the device’s operator could be spying on them.

The women said they immediately told their landlord they feared someone was using drones to spy on them. The landlord was concerned a “Peeping Tom” may be in the area...

Police say if the drones were spying on the women, the operator could face charges because it would be an invasion of privacy. more

Security Directors: News reports about Peeping Tom drones are plentiful. That's because they see people, and people see them. 

What is not so publicized are drones peering through office windows to collect intelligence... like posted passwords and conference call numbers. 

An after-hours clear desk, clear whiteboard policy is more important than ever now. If corporate culture won't support that, how about a close the blinds at the end of the day policy. ~Kevin

Wake for the Spycam Monkey

How do you photograph skittish wildlife up close and personal? Design a camera robot that looks just like them. That’s the idea behind Spy in the Wild, a new documentary series on BBC.

While the producers anticipated using the disguised cameras to get unique shots, they didn’t anticipate what would happen when a group of Langur monkeys thought the animatronic camera had “died.”

The new series, which aired Thursday in the U.K. on BBC and is set to premiere in the U.S. on PBS on February 1, aims to capture what wildlife videographers often have a hard time finding: emotions.

A preview for the series shows the monkeys interacting with the camera, but where it really starts to get interesting is when one monkey tries to play with the fake Langur and ends up bringing it into a tree — and letting go.


With animatronics only in the face, the Langurs appear to think the camera monkey has died. The unexpected turn of events allows the crew to film how the animals react when one of their own die. The monkeys gather around the motionless camera and older Langurs pull younger monkeys into a hug. more

Bizarre Noise-Cancelling Mask Stops Eavesdropping

A bizarre electronic muzzle claims to be able to keep phone conversations private by making them inaudible to anyone in the vicinity.

Not only does this enable the wearer to speak in private, it also means that those around them won't have to listen to any irritatingly loud conversations.

The Hushme is worn around the mouth and hooks up to an app on the user's smartphone over Bluetooth .

When not in use, it can be snapped apart and worn loosely around the neck like a pair of headphones.

Showcased at the CES tech show in Las Vegas last week, the unusual device features built-in microphones for active voice suppression. What's more, 'voice masking mode' enables the user to choose from a selection of audio affects including Darth Vadar, R2-D2 or a Minion. more

Is your TSCM team searching for contemporary eavesdropping devices?

Excerpted from an article by Alan Earl, BJ
What if a TSCM sweep conducted the night prior to the client’s important meeting detected no suspicious transmissions and the real time monitoring also indicated no suspect communications? Does that mean no eavesdropping took place?

Not necessarily….Audio and or video data could have been recorded and scheduled to be transmitted at a later date. This eavesdropping technique is often termed as Store and Forward Bugging.

Children and computer enthusiasts around the world have in recent years embraced the Raspberry Pi as a platform to learn coding and build IoT devices. For less than $100...

In a scenario where the Raspberry Pi with camera and or microphone was hidden within a board room and the mobile phone as a tethered WiFi AP in a nearby room or even outside the building, both powered with a power pack or mains AC, an extremely powerful and possibly challenging to locate (from an RF perspective) store and forward bug could easily eavesdrop on sensitive information.

...contemporary bugging devices and techniques require contemporary TSCM methodologies to counter that threat, utilizing modern technology to detect and locate them; eavesdropping techniques have evolved as technology has. more

PI Alert - Some Video Transmitters Are Operating on Illegal Frequencies

In what it calls an "extremely urgent complaint" to the FCC, ARRL has targeted the interference potential of a series of audio/video transmitters used on unmanned aircraft and marketed as Amateur Radio equipment...

ARRL cited the Lawmate transmitter as an example of problematic devices.

Some of the transmitters operate on frequencies between 1,010 and 1,280 MHz. "These video transmitters are being marketed ostensibly as Amateur Radio equipment," the League said, "but of the listed frequencies on which the devices operate, only one, 1,280 MHz, would be within the Amateur Radio allocation at 1,240-1,300 MHz." Even then, ARRL said, operation there would conflict with a channel used for radio location.

ARRL said the use of 1,040 and 1,080 MHz, which would directly conflict with air traffic control transponder frequencies, represented the greatest threat to the safety of flight. The use of 1,010 MHz, employed for aeronautical guidance, could also be problematic.

ARRL cited the Lawmate transmitter and companion 6 W amplifier as examples of problematic devices being marketed in the US. Each costs less than $100 via the Internet. The device carries no FCC identification number.

"[T]he target market for these devices is the drone hobbyist, not licensed radio amateurs. The device, due to the channel configuration, has no valid Amateur Radio application," ARRL told the FCC. "While these transmitters are marked as appropriate for amateur use, they cannot be used legally for Amateur Radio communications." In the hands of unlicensed individuals, the transmitters could also cause interference to Amateur Radio communication in the 1.2 GHz band, ARRL contended.

The League said it's obvious that the devices at issue lack proper FCC equipment authorization under FCC Part 15 rules, which require such low-power intentional radiators to be certified. more

Legal Ramifications of Having a Dashcam in Your Car

By Steve Lehto
We've all seen the hilarious footage of a customer car being taken on a joyride by a mechanic, with the whole ordeal recorded by the customer's dashboard camera. Hapless technicians and porters flog cars, often with the dash cam right in front of them preparing to make them YouTube stars.


Are there any potential legal ramifications to the car owner for any of this? Believe it or not, yes. Here is what you need to know about your dash cam, from a legal perspective.

Many states have eavesdropping statutes. And this means I have to insert the normal caveat here: This WILL vary wildly from state to state. But in general terms, eavesdropping statutes govern whether you can record a conversation without the consent of some or all of the participants to the conversation. more

Industrial Espionage: Razer offers $25,000 to retrieve laptop prototype stolen at CES 2017

California-based gaming firm Razer, which showcased its three-screen gaming laptop prototype titled Project Valerie to the world at CES in Las Vegas, said that the laptops have gone missing from its tech show booth.

Company CEO Min-Liang Tan wrote on his Facebook page: "I've just been informed that two of our prototypes were stolen from our booth at CES today."

"Anyone who would do this clearly isn't very smart," he added. The post hinted that it was a potential industrial espionage and it is being taken "very seriously". 

Razer is now offering $25,000 (£20,600) for any "original information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction" of those involved in the theft. As Tan said in his post "This reward offer is good for one year from the date it is first offered, unless extended by Razer. Information about the theft can be sent to legal@razerzone.com. more

Attorney Indicted for Installation of an Eavesdropping Device

KY - A local attorney was indicted Friday by a Christian County grand jury on charges of eavesdropping, according to court documents.

A summons was issued for Sands Morris Chewning, Hopkinsville, on charges of eavesdropping, second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor and installation of an eavesdropping device. The court documents state the incident occurred Sept. 9, 2016. No other details are available.

Also indicted was Cherie H. Sherrill, Crofton, for eavesdropping, unlawful transaction with a minor and installation of an eavesdropping device. A summons was also issued for Sherrill. more

Everything You Wanted to Know About a Career in Executive Protection...

...but were afraid to ask ...or, didn't know who to ask.

The Executive Protection Institute (EPI) in New York City has an entry-level course which explains all. EPI was founded in 1978 and now incorporates the famous EP school founded by Dr. Richard W. Kobetz. He still teaches there.

The following is the course description.
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Overview
This is an informative 2-Part Webinar Series designed to introduce men and women to the professional career field of personal protection and provide an overview and refresher for experienced practitioners.

Course Content                                               Topics Covered Include

Who is qualified?	Advance Work	Protective Measures
Where is the work?	Preventive Strategies	Traits Required
When to start?	Threat Assessment	Responsibilities
What assignments can I expect?	Choreography	Operations
Why consider this career?	Risk Management	Countermeasures
How much money can I earn?

This Webinar series is for those who are curious or have an interest in the field of Providing Personal Protection. For individuals involved in other security careers, law enforcement, military, business, law, teaching, computers, sales, service industry and students; those who are considering another career or planning their retirement job. This is also an excellent overview and refresher for those currently involved in Executive Protection. An opportunity to learn the difference between "bodyguard" work and professional personal protection from the first school to consider Personal Protection as anew professional career and continues to teach worldwide since being founded in 1978.

This 2-Part Webinar Series will be conducted over two 3-hour evening sessions. Attendees will receive an invite to the virtual classroom after registration is confirmed.
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The course is being held in NYC on January 13th from 9am-5pm. It will also be given as an on-line webinar on January 18 & 19 from 7pm to 10pm (EST).

While it's not free, it's affordable, and could change your life. more