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Saturday, January 13, 2018
Friday, January 12, 2018
Top Ten Unusual TSA Finds of 2017 & 2016
Imagine what went on before the days of airport security checks...
Thursday, January 11, 2018
TSCM History: Wiretapped Phone Found at Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Predecessor
According to the FBI file, a few months before it was abolished, a bug was discovered in the Honolulu offices of the Atomic Energy Commission. The device would not only let someone listen in on phone calls, but any conversations held around the phone - even when it wasn’t in use.
According to the file, the bug was discovered by one Lt. Colonel Harry Tear Jr., assigned to Army counterintelligence at Fort Shafter. While performing a regular electronics sweep in June of 1974, Tear discovered a modification to the phone of Williams Hills, who was the Director for the Atomic Energy Commission’s Pacific Area Support Office, reporting to the Nevada Operations Office.
When it was discovered, the phone wasn’t being used to monitor the room. The file notes, however, that it easily could be. When connected, the phone wouldn’t just transmit the conversation being held, but every conversation in the room that happened to be in range of the phone’s receiver. They were unable to determine when it had been installed or how often it had been used, but noted that the wiring appeared to have been done professionally. They were also able to confirm that the device could pick up conversation in the room in practice, not just in theory...
And now for some good advice if you find an electronic surveillance device...
...Simply knowing what information has gotten out does little good without an idea of who will have it, and it’s next to impossible to judge how information will be used without knowing who has it. This is one of the primary reasons for law enforcement to leave a bug in place. While counterintelligence officers would also be interested in the same information, a clever officer or group of officers would use the bug as a way of feeding the listener specific information and misinformation in order to manipulate them in various ways. more
According to the file, the bug was discovered by one Lt. Colonel Harry Tear Jr., assigned to Army counterintelligence at Fort Shafter. While performing a regular electronics sweep in June of 1974, Tear discovered a modification to the phone of Williams Hills, who was the Director for the Atomic Energy Commission’s Pacific Area Support Office, reporting to the Nevada Operations Office.
When it was discovered, the phone wasn’t being used to monitor the room. The file notes, however, that it easily could be. When connected, the phone wouldn’t just transmit the conversation being held, but every conversation in the room that happened to be in range of the phone’s receiver. They were unable to determine when it had been installed or how often it had been used, but noted that the wiring appeared to have been done professionally. They were also able to confirm that the device could pick up conversation in the room in practice, not just in theory...
And now for some good advice if you find an electronic surveillance device...
...Simply knowing what information has gotten out does little good without an idea of who will have it, and it’s next to impossible to judge how information will be used without knowing who has it. This is one of the primary reasons for law enforcement to leave a bug in place. While counterintelligence officers would also be interested in the same information, a clever officer or group of officers would use the bug as a way of feeding the listener specific information and misinformation in order to manipulate them in various ways. more
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Krebs Arraigned for Wiretapping (Joshua, not our esteemed Brian.)
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| What a teacher's lounge should look like. |
Court papers allege Krebs electronically eavesdropped on conversations in the elementary school faculty break room in April 2016...
On April 5, 2016, it is alleged that Krebs, with the assistance of Pleasant Valley School District Technology Supervisor Alex Sterenchock planted a video and audio recording device in the teacher’s lounge, in order, Krebs later said, to catch a custodial staff member in dereliction of their duties.
The device, was discovered a day later, positioned to capture audio and video in the seating area of the lounge. more
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
The Case of the Spying Judge, or Your Honor's Poor Judgement
Two state judges have sued the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission, demanding secret surveillance recordings they say were made by another judge who was spying on them.
Plaintiffs Trudy Reed-Chase and Barry Sharer are magistrate court judges in Aztec, New Mexico, the seat of San Juan County. Aztec, a town of about 6,000 is in a remote area of northeastern New Mexico. The nearest large town is Farmington.
Reed-Chase, Sharer and nine other court employees sued Magistrate Court Judge Connie Lee Johnston, her husband and sister-in-law and the state in February 2016, claiming that Johnston had planted listening devices around the Aztec Municipal Courthouse, including in the offices of Reed-Chase and Sharer. They claimed that electronic surveillance equipment also was placed in the court manager’s office and other workspaces, in inmate holding facilities and in at least one bathroom. more
Plaintiffs Trudy Reed-Chase and Barry Sharer are magistrate court judges in Aztec, New Mexico, the seat of San Juan County. Aztec, a town of about 6,000 is in a remote area of northeastern New Mexico. The nearest large town is Farmington. Reed-Chase, Sharer and nine other court employees sued Magistrate Court Judge Connie Lee Johnston, her husband and sister-in-law and the state in February 2016, claiming that Johnston had planted listening devices around the Aztec Municipal Courthouse, including in the offices of Reed-Chase and Sharer. They claimed that electronic surveillance equipment also was placed in the court manager’s office and other workspaces, in inmate holding facilities and in at least one bathroom. more
One Million License Plates Misread by Spy Cameras in UK... every day!
UK - A network of ‘Big Brother’ spy cameras is misreading 1.2million number plates a day – meaning innocent motorists could be caught up in police investigations while criminals and terrorists escape scot-free.A bombshell report by Britain’s surveillance tsar has warned of problems with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, which senior officers insist is invaluable in preventing and solving serious crimes
Around 9,000 cameras across the country take photos of up to 40million number plates each day. more
Unresolved Bugging of Employees Haunts Accused CEO
The newly-appointed acting CEO of the Passenger Rail Association of
South Africa (Prasa), Cromet Molepo, was facing disciplinary proceedings
for bugging telephones — including that of a senior shop steward — when
he resigned as the head of Umgeni Water... attorney Julian von Klemperer, was tasked by the board to investigate the phone tapping allegations.... The “bugging” scandal received widespread publicity at the time... Von Klemperer found that the telephones of three people — two former
employees and the shop steward — were bugged on the instructions of
Molepo...
Payments — totaling R51 000 — for the illegal surveillance were made through an attorney’s office in order to conceal them. When the attorney discovered the truth, he withdrew his services and blew the whistle. more
Payments — totaling R51 000 — for the illegal surveillance were made through an attorney’s office in order to conceal them. When the attorney discovered the truth, he withdrew his services and blew the whistle. more
Reward if Found?
Lost in Space: Highly Classified Spy Satellite
An expensive, highly classified U.S. spy satellite is presumed to be a total loss after it failed to reach orbit atop a Space Exploration Technologies Corp. rocket on Sunday, according to industry and government officials.
Lawmakers and congressional staffers from the Senate and the House have been briefed about the botched mission, some of the officials said. The secret payload—code-named Zuma and launched from Florida on board a Falcon 9 rocket—is believed to have plummeted back into the atmosphere, they said, because it didn’t separate as planned from the upper part of the rocket. more
An expensive, highly classified U.S. spy satellite is presumed to be a total loss after it failed to reach orbit atop a Space Exploration Technologies Corp. rocket on Sunday, according to industry and government officials.
Lawmakers and congressional staffers from the Senate and the House have been briefed about the botched mission, some of the officials said. The secret payload—code-named Zuma and launched from Florida on board a Falcon 9 rocket—is believed to have plummeted back into the atmosphere, they said, because it didn’t separate as planned from the upper part of the rocket. more
What Becomes of Industrial Espionage?
Ever wonder what happens to all the intellectual property that is collected by corporate espionage snoops? An article in Wired Magazine gives some clues in Tesla's Latest Chinese Competitor Takes Screens to an Extreme...
Keep an eye out to see where your intellectual property is popping up. Better yet, keep an eye out for the easiest-to-spot, early warning sign you are under attack, electronic eavesdropping.
Smart businesses conduct regularly scheduled Technical Surveillance Countermeasures bug sweeps, aka TSCM. It's a standard security practice. You can learn more about it, here.
Chinese car startup Byton unveiled an SUV... if the company manages to sell for the quoted $45,000 price, will excite people who can’t wait for a Tesla Model 3...Ostensibly, this is an article about a new car, but the espionage undertones are obvious.
“What’s significant here is they seem to have done a thorough job of answering all the questions,” said Stephanie Brinley, Senior Analyst at IHS Markit, as we pushed through the crowds trying to take pictures of the crazy interior through the windows. “They seem to have learnt from some of the others who had more ideas, and less detail.”...
The SUV should be good for over 300 miles of range from a 71- or 95-kwh battery back, quite similar to what Tesla offers. The battery can be fast charged to 80 percent in 30 minutes, totally plausible with current technology. It will come with single, or dual motors, just like Tesla cars.
Keep an eye out to see where your intellectual property is popping up. Better yet, keep an eye out for the easiest-to-spot, early warning sign you are under attack, electronic eavesdropping.
Smart businesses conduct regularly scheduled Technical Surveillance Countermeasures bug sweeps, aka TSCM. It's a standard security practice. You can learn more about it, here.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Corporate Espionage Alert - Whale Phishing in 2018
Phishing scams are becoming ever more sophisticated...
“We need to focus on people patching and the human firewall,” said Anthony Dagostino, global head of cyber risk at Willis Towers Watson. “This requires more effective training and awareness campaigns to make sure people aren’t clicking on things...
“We will see more whale phishing in 2018, where cyber criminals will target individuals based on things like their LinkedIn or Facebook profiles,” Dagostino told Insurance Business. “General counsel, chief financial officers and even board members are being very specifically targeted just for hackers to get certain information they have.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be for a data breach – it’s really corporate espionage driven. They either want to get information on an up-coming acquisition, or future business plans that they can use for insider trading.” more
“We need to focus on people patching and the human firewall,” said Anthony Dagostino, global head of cyber risk at Willis Towers Watson. “This requires more effective training and awareness campaigns to make sure people aren’t clicking on things...
“We will see more whale phishing in 2018, where cyber criminals will target individuals based on things like their LinkedIn or Facebook profiles,” Dagostino told Insurance Business. “General counsel, chief financial officers and even board members are being very specifically targeted just for hackers to get certain information they have.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be for a data breach – it’s really corporate espionage driven. They either want to get information on an up-coming acquisition, or future business plans that they can use for insider trading.” more
UPDATE - PA State Police Investigating Possible Wiretapping... of them.
A New Milford man suspected of listening in to phone calls in the Gibson barracks had an assault-style rifle and bombs at home, state police said.
Nathan J. Grover, 28, 512 Old Route 11, is sought on charges of weapons of mass destruction, prohibited weapons and drug-related crimes. Capt. Christopher Paris, commander of Troop R, which includes the Gibson barracks, confirmed Friday that Grover was not in custody.
State police became aware that Grover, who worked for North-Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone Co., may have been using his position to listen to phone calls at the Gibson barracks, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday by Sgt. Michael Joyce...
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Gibson barracks at 570-465-3154. more
Nathan J. Grover, 28, 512 Old Route 11, is sought on charges of weapons of mass destruction, prohibited weapons and drug-related crimes. Capt. Christopher Paris, commander of Troop R, which includes the Gibson barracks, confirmed Friday that Grover was not in custody. State police became aware that Grover, who worked for North-Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone Co., may have been using his position to listen to phone calls at the Gibson barracks, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday by Sgt. Michael Joyce...
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Gibson barracks at 570-465-3154. more
Amazon Echo ‘Drop In’ Feature - Easy Eavesdropping?
As voice-based “personal assistants” are becoming ubiquitous in modern, connected American homes, so is the feeling they might be listening in on people when they least expect it or want it.
Amazon Echo, Dot and Show users know that Alexa is always listening. With a simple command she can turn on your lights, play music and even order pizza.
But do you know who else might be listening in to everything going on in your home? more
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Workplace Spycam Man Pleads Guilty
PA - A Douglass man faces court supervision after he admitted to invading the privacy of a female co-worker by planting a camera under her desk and recording her at their Montgomery Township workplace.
Anthony Joseph DePaul, 35, of the 100 block of Chalet Road, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to four years’ probation after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of invasion of privacy in connection with the incidents...
“The device was attached to the bottom of her desk with Velcro and was pointed in the direction of her chair,” Montgomery Township Police Officer James T. Matlack alleged in the criminal complaint...
The device, which was provided to police, was small with a lens at one end, court documents indicate...several employees stated they had observed DePaul near the desk of the female victim in the weeks leading up to the discovery of the camera...
When detectives interviewed DePaul about the matter he admitted to placing the camera under the woman’s desk four to five times and to recording the victim as she sat at her desk, according to the criminal complaint. more
Anthony Joseph DePaul, 35, of the 100 block of Chalet Road, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to four years’ probation after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of invasion of privacy in connection with the incidents...
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| Lens on a typical key-fob spy camera. |
The device, which was provided to police, was small with a lens at one end, court documents indicate...several employees stated they had observed DePaul near the desk of the female victim in the weeks leading up to the discovery of the camera...
When detectives interviewed DePaul about the matter he admitted to placing the camera under the woman’s desk four to five times and to recording the victim as she sat at her desk, according to the criminal complaint. more
Friday, January 5, 2018
Counter-Espionage For Business Travelers Course
The Counter-Espionage for Business Travelers Course
is a two-day seminar designed to educate those individuals in your
organization who may become targets of espionage, whether knowingly or
unknowingly, from an economic competitor or a hostile intelligence
service.
Unfortunately, most business travelers are untrained, and thus unprepared, to handle even the most common espionage tactics, such as:
If you can't go for the course, at least go for some good books on the subject:
Among Enemies: Counter Espionage for the Business Traveler by Luke Bencie.
Staying Safe Abroad: Traveling, Working & Living in a Post-9/11 World by Edward L. Lee
Unfortunately, most business travelers are untrained, and thus unprepared, to handle even the most common espionage tactics, such as:
- Elicitation
- Bribery
- Blackmail
- Extortion
- Electronic Surveillance
- Electronic Exploitation
- Physical Surveillance
- Hotel/Office Covert Intrusions
- Economic vs. Industrial Espionage
- Foreign Intelligence Collection Methods
- How to Recognize Elicitation and Recruiting Techniques
- Operational Security (OPSEC) Awareness
- Communication Security (COMSEC) Awareness
- Data Attack and Intrusion Methodologies
- How to become an "Invisible Traveler"
- Surveillance Detection Techniques
If you can't go for the course, at least go for some good books on the subject:Among Enemies: Counter Espionage for the Business Traveler by Luke Bencie.
Staying Safe Abroad: Traveling, Working & Living in a Post-9/11 World by Edward L. Lee
Court Rules: Agricultural Spying is Free Speech
A federal appeals court panel says Idaho’s ban on spying at farms, dairies and slaughterhouses violates free speech rights.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday ruled that sections of the law illegally targeted free speech and investigative journalism. However, the panel also ruled the law correctly criminalized those who made false statements to obtain records at an agricultural facility.
Idaho lawmakers passed the law making it a crime to surreptitiously videotape agriculture operations in 2014 after the state’s $2.5 billion dairy industry complained that videos of cows being abused at a southern Idaho dairy unfairly hurt their businesses. more
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday ruled that sections of the law illegally targeted free speech and investigative journalism. However, the panel also ruled the law correctly criminalized those who made false statements to obtain records at an agricultural facility.Idaho lawmakers passed the law making it a crime to surreptitiously videotape agriculture operations in 2014 after the state’s $2.5 billion dairy industry complained that videos of cows being abused at a southern Idaho dairy unfairly hurt their businesses. more
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