RI - Town Councilman Kevin M. Blais may have compromised the confidentiality of a March 28 executive session of the Town Council when he left an assisted-listening device he uses to help him hear better at council meetings unattended in his car that night. ...
The incident has apparently warranted enough concern that the council Wednesday voted 6-1 to notify the attorney general’s office of "a possible/potential compromise" of the executive session in question...
Said Town Manager Michael C. Wood:
"The listening device has a fairly long range and if someone had the device in their possession they could have listened to the meeting outside of the meeting room and within a reasonable distance of Town Hall."...
"Anyone who had the device in their possession could have been listening to the regular meeting and/or executive session outside of the meeting room. It’s very possible that the integrity of future executive sessions is compromised going forward." ...
"As I had indicated during the April 4 meeting, the wireless device used could compromise the integrity of executive session by virtue of its design and operating frequency," said Blais, adding (finally the most important comment) that anyone with a scanner could potentially pickup the frequency. (more)
...in other words, all their meeting are bugged!
Funny he should that and allow the broadcast system to remain installed.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
...whereupon the laughing cop's earphones fell off.
PA - Three people are accused of participating in a forgery scheme that netted $15,000 in furniture, electronics and frozen food.
Quick jump to the Idiot Award part...
Quick jump to the Idiot Award part...
Thomas Richards is charged with 20 counts of forgery and 19 counts each of theft by deception and theft... He also is charged with one count of disclosure of intercepted communications involving a police wiretap for allegedly bragging about "how the state police had wired him up to get his brother in trouble." (more)
'Evil twin' Wi-Fi access points proliferate
There is little consumers can do to protect themselves from hackers eavesdropping on wireless communications...
The next time you splurge on a double latte and sip it while browsing the Internet via the cafe's Wi-Fi, beware of the "evil twin."
That's the term for a Wi-Fi access point that appears to be a legitimate one offered on the premises, but actually has been set up by a hacker to eavesdrop on wireless communications among Internet surfers. Unfortunately, experts say there is little consumers can do to protect themselves, but enterprises may be in better shape. (more)
Enterprises are in better shape because they hire counterespionage specialists. As part of the overall eavesdropping / wiretapping detection effort - usually conducted quarterly - they also test for 'evil twins'.
The next time you splurge on a double latte and sip it while browsing the Internet via the cafe's Wi-Fi, beware of the "evil twin."
That's the term for a Wi-Fi access point that appears to be a legitimate one offered on the premises, but actually has been set up by a hacker to eavesdrop on wireless communications among Internet surfers. Unfortunately, experts say there is little consumers can do to protect themselves, but enterprises may be in better shape. (more)
Enterprises are in better shape because they hire counterespionage specialists. As part of the overall eavesdropping / wiretapping detection effort - usually conducted quarterly - they also test for 'evil twins'.
Like Spying? Wal-Mart's Hiring!
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has been recruiting former military and government intelligence officers for a branch of its global security office aimed at identifying threats to the world's largest retailer, including from "suspect individuals and groups".
Wal-Mart's interest in intelligence operatives comes at a time when the retailer is defending itself against allegations by a fired security employee that it ran surveillance operations against targets including critics, dissident shareholders, employees and suppliers. Wal-Mart has denied any wrongdoing.
Wal-Mart posted ads in March on its own web site and sites for security professionals, including the bulletin of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, for "global threat analysts" with a background in government or military intelligence work.
The jobs were listed with the Analytical Research Center, part of Wal-Mart's Global Security division, which is headed by former senior CIA and FBI senior officer Kenneth Senser. The analytical unit was created over the past year and half, according to published comments by its head, Army Special Operations veteran David Harrison. (more)
Wal-Mart's interest in intelligence operatives comes at a time when the retailer is defending itself against allegations by a fired security employee that it ran surveillance operations against targets including critics, dissident shareholders, employees and suppliers. Wal-Mart has denied any wrongdoing.
Wal-Mart posted ads in March on its own web site and sites for security professionals, including the bulletin of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, for "global threat analysts" with a background in government or military intelligence work.
The jobs were listed with the Analytical Research Center, part of Wal-Mart's Global Security division, which is headed by former senior CIA and FBI senior officer Kenneth Senser. The analytical unit was created over the past year and half, according to published comments by its head, Army Special Operations veteran David Harrison. (more)
Sheriff's Deputy Convicted of Computer Spying
NY - A Monroe County Sheriff's deputy was convicted Tuesday of felony eavesdropping and misdemeanor official misconduct.
Acting state Supreme Court Justice Stephen Sirkin found Investigator Michael Hildreth guilty of planting spyware on a neighbor's computer. The prosecution alleged that Hildreth conducted an unsanctioned investigation of his neighbor, whom he believed posed a threat to young girls in their Rochester-area neighborhood. (more)
Acting state Supreme Court Justice Stephen Sirkin found Investigator Michael Hildreth guilty of planting spyware on a neighbor's computer. The prosecution alleged that Hildreth conducted an unsanctioned investigation of his neighbor, whom he believed posed a threat to young girls in their Rochester-area neighborhood. (more)
School finds illicit photos on cell phone
KS - Prairie Village police are investigating reports that a 12-year-old boy used a cell phone to take pictures under girls’ skirts without their knowledge at Mission Valley Middle School.
The alleged incidents were discovered April 16 by school officials acting on a tip. Police said investigators found three pictures of two female students. Police are investigating the matter as eavesdropping, a misdemeanor offense. No charges have been filed. (more)
The alleged incidents were discovered April 16 by school officials acting on a tip. Police said investigators found three pictures of two female students. Police are investigating the matter as eavesdropping, a misdemeanor offense. No charges have been filed. (more)
Attorney Says Prosecutor Bugged Her
KS - A fired Johnson County domestic violence chief said she will fight for her job, which she feels she lost because she complained about the treatment of women in the prosecutor's office.
Jacqie Spradling alleged that District Attorney Phill Kline or one of his assistants planted a recording device in her office to tape her conversations before the firing. She said the alleged bugging came after she sent a memo to Kline saying she thought women in the office were being mistreated.
Kline denies the gender-bias allegations and the claims of electronic eavesdropping. "The comments about listening devices are bizarre, irresponsible and false," Kline said. (more)
Her termination is the latest in a string of dismissals that have come under Kline. Eighteen employees have either been fired or resigned since Kline took office in January. (more)
Jacqie Spradling alleged that District Attorney Phill Kline or one of his assistants planted a recording device in her office to tape her conversations before the firing. She said the alleged bugging came after she sent a memo to Kline saying she thought women in the office were being mistreated.
Kline denies the gender-bias allegations and the claims of electronic eavesdropping. "The comments about listening devices are bizarre, irresponsible and false," Kline said. (more)
Her termination is the latest in a string of dismissals that have come under Kline. Eighteen employees have either been fired or resigned since Kline took office in January. (more)
Detective agency 'paid to spy'
UK - A private detective firm earned tens of thousands of pounds by hacking into people's computers and bugging telephones, a court has heard. Active Investigation Services (AIS) had a number of "lucrative sidelines" under the title "Hackers Are Us", Southwark Crown Court was told.
These included using "Trojan" viruses to enter computers and hi-tech devices to bug phones, the prosecution claimed. ... Documents found by police during their investigation showed how the firm charged up to £7,000 a month for phone bugging or hacking into a computer, and £2,000 to obtain details about a bank account.
Hi-tech devices used to bug phones were installed by interception specialist Michael Hall, the court was told. Prosecutors said a number of them were fitted to BT's telegraph poles and inside junction boxes, but BT eventually hid a camera in one of the boxes and caught him at work.
Five men associated with the agency deny a total of 15 charges.
One of those accused is American banking heir Matthew Mellon, 43, who the prosecution claim paid AIS to hack into the e-mails of his estranged wife prior to their divorce.
The court was told that Mr. Mellon, a multi-millionaire from Belgravia, central London, asked Hackers Are Us to snoop on spouse Tamara, head of the Jimmy Choo shoe empire. (more)
These included using "Trojan" viruses to enter computers and hi-tech devices to bug phones, the prosecution claimed. ... Documents found by police during their investigation showed how the firm charged up to £7,000 a month for phone bugging or hacking into a computer, and £2,000 to obtain details about a bank account.
Hi-tech devices used to bug phones were installed by interception specialist Michael Hall, the court was told. Prosecutors said a number of them were fitted to BT's telegraph poles and inside junction boxes, but BT eventually hid a camera in one of the boxes and caught him at work.
Five men associated with the agency deny a total of 15 charges.
One of those accused is American banking heir Matthew Mellon, 43, who the prosecution claim paid AIS to hack into the e-mails of his estranged wife prior to their divorce.
The court was told that Mr. Mellon, a multi-millionaire from Belgravia, central London, asked Hackers Are Us to snoop on spouse Tamara, head of the Jimmy Choo shoe empire. (more)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
1900 Prediction of 2000 Police X-Ray Vision
How many lives would be saved if firefighters could see right into buildings?Until recently, few but the U.S. military and certain SWAT teams had radar equipment that could locate people through walls. Now an Israeli startup called Camero is marketing a version of the technology to police, fire, and rescue teams.
The saver... Camero's device, the Xaver (pronounced "saver") 800, emits an ultra-wideband signal that travels through plaster, brick, and even reinforced concrete. It then calculates the distance and orientation of everything on the other side--people, furniture, weapons--in real time.
"A rescue worker can locate trapped people in a matter of seconds," says Camero CEO Aharon Aharon. Dense walls reduce Xaver's maximum viewing distance of 26 feet, but Aharon predicts that within five years, new technology will enable the device to see as far as 300 feet into a building.
Camero isn't the only company trying to commercialize X-ray vision. Alabama-based Time Domain sells a $33,000 gadget called RadarVision2 that displays moving objects as radarlike blips. But the Xaver pieces together a full three-dimensional image of each person it locates. (more)
This, and other postcards, predicting the future in the year 2000, were produced by Hildebrands, a leading German chocolate company of the time as a give-a-way item. (more)
Just Coincidence?
Two former Ferrari employees have been sentenced to suspended jail terms after being found guilty of industrial espionage.Mauro Iacconi and Angelo Santini were found to have spied on the Scuderia while working for Toyota - who sacked them before the case was made public.
Suspicions had been raised when Toyota's TF103 car that was used in 2003 showed similarities to Ferrari's F2002. (more)
Everything is bigger in Texas
Senate approves bill expanding wiretapping powers
The Texas Senate approved a broad homeland security bill on Wednesday that expands wiretapping authorities to include cellular telephones and investigations involving kidnapping, human trafficking and money laundering.
The bill also limits the sale of prepaid cell phones and says the companies that provide the phone service must store customers' names and other identifying information. Additionally, the legislation allows police to use photos and videos taken by cameras at toll booths to prosecute any crime. (more)
The Texas Senate approved a broad homeland security bill on Wednesday that expands wiretapping authorities to include cellular telephones and investigations involving kidnapping, human trafficking and money laundering.
The bill also limits the sale of prepaid cell phones and says the companies that provide the phone service must store customers' names and other identifying information. Additionally, the legislation allows police to use photos and videos taken by cameras at toll booths to prosecute any crime. (more)
"Help me if you can, I'm feeling down Louisiana close to New Orleans..."
Marty Baylor works on solving the "cocktail party problem" that keeps electronic devices from picking out individual voices from a group. Her research at CU could change communications systems, her adviser says.Baylor studies mixed signals, unscrambling them with a laser system.
Leaning over a delicate setup on a laboratory table, long braids pulled back in a practical headband, Baylor points out refractive crystals, modulators, mirrors and beam splitters.
She describes the "cocktail party problem" that she and others are trying to solve: Human ears and brains are great at picking out single voices from a group, but getting electronic devices to do the same task has proved vexing.
An easy and quick solution could improve hearing aids, cellphones, and help intelligence agents eavesdrop on enemy communications.
It also would enable scientists to sort out signals from a set of robots sent to a distant planet.
For nonphysicists, Baylor and her colleagues have developed a demonstration - she creates a mix of the Beatles' "Help," and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" on a computer.
At first, it's cacophony.
Then, within seconds, Berry's guitar fades, and only "Help" remains.
"As far as I know, we're the only people in the world who solve the problem this way," Baylor said. (more)
"And then layin' in the Bombay alley next day..."
India - In a month-long sting operation,Tehelka (a local newspaper)
caught Sawla (a local builder)
on a spycam saying Pasricha (the Director General of Properties) was his ‘guardian’ and had been helping soft-pedal the on-going investigation against him.
Tehelka has Sawla’s cellphone records since January 1, 2007, but even this three-month record shows Sawla to have been calling up Pasricha almost every week, sometimes twice a day. ... In 2004, when Pasricha was chief of the Anti-Corruption Bureau he had booked an entire floor of a residential tower being constructed by Sawla under a slum rehabilitation project in the posh Juhu area of Mumbai. (more)
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