The technology could be used in next generation spy cameras... (more)
Saturday, November 30, 2013
New Spy Camera Takes 3D Photos in Almost Complete Darkness
Spies operating under the cover of darkness might find that their job is about to get easier as U.S. scientists have developed a camera that can take photographs of objects and people that are only very dimly lit.
The camera works by reconstructing 3D images from photons reflected from barely visible objects.
The technology could be used in next generation spy cameras... (more)
The technology could be used in next generation spy cameras... (more)
EU Takes Aim at Industrial Espionage
Brussels is taking aim at industrial espionage with proposals to tighten laws so businesses can better safeguard their “trade secrets” from prying rivals.
The reforms put forward by Michel Barnier, the EU single market commissioner, aim to bolster defences against unlawful acquisition of information that is commercially valuable and secret but not covered by a patent...
Trade secrets range can range from anything from technical processes for making bathplugs, to innovative marketing strategies, valuable customer lists, or recipes for market-beating cakes or pies.
Unlike a book or trademark or patented technology, the holder of a trade secret has no exclusive right to it. Rivals seeking to close a competitive gap can legally reverse engineer the information. The proposed reforms, unveiled on Thursday, only target methods for obtaining information that are illegal, such as espionage, bribery or theft.
Mr Barnier said: “Cybercrime and industrial espionage are unfortunately part of the reality that businesses in Europe face every day. We have to make sure our laws move with the times and that the strategic assets of our companies are adequately protected against theft and misuse.” (more)
The reforms put forward by Michel Barnier, the EU single market commissioner, aim to bolster defences against unlawful acquisition of information that is commercially valuable and secret but not covered by a patent...
Trade secrets range can range from anything from technical processes for making bathplugs, to innovative marketing strategies, valuable customer lists, or recipes for market-beating cakes or pies.
Unlike a book or trademark or patented technology, the holder of a trade secret has no exclusive right to it. Rivals seeking to close a competitive gap can legally reverse engineer the information. The proposed reforms, unveiled on Thursday, only target methods for obtaining information that are illegal, such as espionage, bribery or theft.
Mr Barnier said: “Cybercrime and industrial espionage are unfortunately part of the reality that businesses in Europe face every day. We have to make sure our laws move with the times and that the strategic assets of our companies are adequately protected against theft and misuse.” (more)
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Columbia Engineers Make World’s Smallest FM Radio Transmitter
A team of Columbia Engineering researchers...
led by Mechanical Engineering Professor James Hone and Electrical Engineering Professor Kenneth Shepard,
has taken advantage of graphene’s special properties—its mechanical
strength and electrical conduction—and created a nano-mechanical system
that can create FM signals, in effect the world’s smallest FM radio
transmitter. The study is published online on November 17, in Nature Nanotechnology. (more) (what was transmitted)
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
U.N. - End Excessive Electronic Spying
A U.N. General Assembly committee on Tuesday called for an end to excessive electronic surveillance and expressed concern at the harm such scrutiny, including spying in foreign states and the mass collection of personal data, may have on human rights.
The U.N. General Assembly's Third Committee, which deals with human rights issues, adopted the German and Brazilian-drafted resolution by consensus. It is expected to be put to a vote in the 193-member General Assembly next month.
"For the first time in the framework of the United Nations this resolution unequivocally states that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online," German U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig told the committee.
The United States, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand - known as the Five Eyes surveillance alliance - supported the draft resolution after language that had initially suggested foreign spying could be a human rights violation was weakened to appease them. (more)
"For the first time in the framework of the United Nations this resolution unequivocally states that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online," German U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig told the committee.
The United States, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand - known as the Five Eyes surveillance alliance - supported the draft resolution after language that had initially suggested foreign spying could be a human rights violation was weakened to appease them. (more)
TUMs Solves Wireless Security Headache. Warning: explanation gives headache.
Researchers at the Technische Universität München (TUM) have proven that wireless communications can be made more secure through a novel approach based on information theory."
The method is counter-intuitive and involves information theory and zero capacity channels. "The scheme uses two physical channels – that is, frequency bands in a wireless system – that are inherently useless, each being incapable of securely transmitting a message," says TUM.
Intuitively, combining one zero-capacity with another zero-capacity should result in zero capacity. “But in this case,” Schaefer explains, “it’s as if we’re getting a positive result from adding zero to zero. We find that we are able to ‘super-activate’ the whole system, meaning that combining two useless channels can lead to a positive capacity to transmit confidential messages securely.”
Superactivation is not unknown in quantum theory. It's the combining of zero capacity quantum channels to produce a channel with positive capacity; but is not yet applicable to current technology. But what Boche and Schaefer have achieved "is," says Boche, "the first example of super-activation – where zero plus zero is greater than zero – in classical communication scenarios.”
Huh?
Intuitively, combining one zero-capacity with another zero-capacity should result in zero capacity. “But in this case,” Schaefer explains, “it’s as if we’re getting a positive result from adding zero to zero. We find that we are able to ‘super-activate’ the whole system, meaning that combining two useless channels can lead to a positive capacity to transmit confidential messages securely.”
Superactivation is not unknown in quantum theory. It's the combining of zero capacity quantum channels to produce a channel with positive capacity; but is not yet applicable to current technology. But what Boche and Schaefer have achieved "is," says Boche, "the first example of super-activation – where zero plus zero is greater than zero – in classical communication scenarios.”
Huh?
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Protesters Capture Government Surveillance Van
The Security Service of Ukraine, the nation’s intelligence agency, have its white mini-van back, courtesy of the Berkut anti-riot police officers.
Demonstrators seized the van during a protest rally on the evening of Nov. 25, suspecting that it contained sophisticated equipment for eavesdropping on telephone conversations of protest leaders.
The taking of the van prompted clashes last night between police and protesters. After a 30-minute standoff, punctuated by fighting, the demonstrators recovered evidence from the van and the police reclaimed it.
Opposition lawmaker Mykola Kniazhytsky posted a picture of a passport, car tag numbers and what he said were technical listening devices found in the van on his Facebook page. Opposition leaders promised to analyze the recordings and release their findings.
Equipment believed to be listening devices found in the white mini-van that SBU officers were using while parked near European Square.
That left officials trying to explain what the van was doing at the protest site...
License plates that protesters say they found inside a van used by SBU officers that was parked near European Square...
According to eyewitnesses, protesters overtook the van, prompting hundreds of riot police to descend on the scene, triggering the violent clashes. An SBU officer in the van eventually escaped with police help, while the leaders of the demonstration took to the stage in triumph after police backed off about 9 p.m. (more) (video footage)
Demonstrators seized the van during a protest rally on the evening of Nov. 25, suspecting that it contained sophisticated equipment for eavesdropping on telephone conversations of protest leaders.
The taking of the van prompted clashes last night between police and protesters. After a 30-minute standoff, punctuated by fighting, the demonstrators recovered evidence from the van and the police reclaimed it.
Opposition lawmaker Mykola Kniazhytsky posted a picture of a passport, car tag numbers and what he said were technical listening devices found in the van on his Facebook page. Opposition leaders promised to analyze the recordings and release their findings.
Equipment believed to be listening devices found in the white mini-van that SBU officers were using while parked near European Square.
That left officials trying to explain what the van was doing at the protest site...
License plates that protesters say they found inside a van used by SBU officers that was parked near European Square...
According to eyewitnesses, protesters overtook the van, prompting hundreds of riot police to descend on the scene, triggering the violent clashes. An SBU officer in the van eventually escaped with police help, while the leaders of the demonstration took to the stage in triumph after police backed off about 9 p.m. (more) (video footage)
Indonesia Posts Truth About Government Spying
Indonesia's former spy chief has said intelligence agencies tapping the phones of national leaders is "normal", and dismissed as an overreaction Jakarta's furious response to reports Australia spied on the president's calls. (more)
Monday, November 25, 2013
Smart TVs Lie to You
So-called "smart TVs" have hit the marketplace, essentially turning TVs into computers that let watchers search for videos, install applications or interact with ads. But that connectivity may be a two-way street, as manufacturer LG investigates claims that its line of smart TVs is collecting data on its customers.
According to an LG corporate video, "LG Smart Ad analyses users' favorite programs, online behavior, search keywords and other information to offer relevant ads to target audiences. For example, LG Smart Ad can feature sharp suits to men or alluring cosmetics and fragrances to women."
But what happens when your online behavior trends just a bit naughtier than clothes or cosmetics? Meghan Lopez talks to RT web producer Andrew Blake about spying smart TVs and other trending tech topics in this week's Tech Report. (more)
In other news...
LG has admitted it continued collecting data on viewing habits even after users had activated a privacy setting designed to prevent it.
The TV manufacturer has apologized to its customers and said it would issue an update to correct the problem. (more)
But what happens when your online behavior trends just a bit naughtier than clothes or cosmetics? Meghan Lopez talks to RT web producer Andrew Blake about spying smart TVs and other trending tech topics in this week's Tech Report. (more)
In other news...
LG has admitted it continued collecting data on viewing habits even after users had activated a privacy setting designed to prevent it.
The TV manufacturer has apologized to its customers and said it would issue an update to correct the problem. (more)
DIY Surveillance in India Shows Eye-Popping Growth
India's electronic surveillance market - currently at Rs 10 billion ($160,393,125.35 USD) — is growing at a rate of 25% per year as a growing number of people opt for DIY surveillance.
Cameras are being installed everywhere — outside buildings to prevent burglaries, in cars to keep track of whether the chauffeur is giving unauthorized lifts, inside homes so that people can keep an eye on everything from nannies to grannies. Even the pet dog has a watchful eye on him, as does the teen.
When it comes to security, privacy concerns go out the window - the one with the CCTV attached. (more)
Cameras are being installed everywhere — outside buildings to prevent burglaries, in cars to keep track of whether the chauffeur is giving unauthorized lifts, inside homes so that people can keep an eye on everything from nannies to grannies. Even the pet dog has a watchful eye on him, as does the teen. When it comes to security, privacy concerns go out the window - the one with the CCTV attached. (more)
Not to be Out-Spooked by the NSA...
The FBI is expected to reveal Thursday that because of the rise of Web-based e-mail and social networks, it's "increasingly unable" to conduct certain types of surveillance that would be possible on cellular and traditional telephones.
FBI general counsel Valerie Caproni will outline what the bureau is calling the "Going Dark" problem, meaning that police can be thwarted when conducting court-authorized eavesdropping because Internet companies aren't required to build in backdoors in advance, or because technology doesn't permit it.
Any solution, according to a copy of Caproni's prepared comments obtained by CNET, should include a way for police armed with wiretap orders to conduct surveillance of "Web-based e-mail, social networking sites, and peer-to-peer communications technology." (more)
FBI general counsel Valerie Caproni will outline what the bureau is calling the "Going Dark" problem, meaning that police can be thwarted when conducting court-authorized eavesdropping because Internet companies aren't required to build in backdoors in advance, or because technology doesn't permit it.
Any solution, according to a copy of Caproni's prepared comments obtained by CNET, should include a way for police armed with wiretap orders to conduct surveillance of "Web-based e-mail, social networking sites, and peer-to-peer communications technology." (more)
Shop Owner Installs Surveillance Cameras to... watch the police!?!?
A Miami convenience store owner is fed up with his employees and
customers being allegedly harassed by police. So he installs
surveillance video to get evidence against the local cops. (more)
Help The OSS Society Pass a Law (It's easy.)
What is The OSS Society?
The Office of Strategic Services Society celebrates the historic
accomplishments of the OSS during World War II, the first organized
effort by the United States to implement a centralized system of
strategic intelligence and the predecessor to the US intelligence and
special operations communities. It educates the American public
regarding the continuing importance of strategic intelligence and
special operations to the preservation of freedom in this country and
around the world.
Why pass a law?
The OSS was the World War II predecessor to the U.S. intelligence and special operations communities. It was founded and led by the legendary General William "Wild Bill" Donovan, the only American to receive our nation's four highest military honors, including the Medal of Honor. President Roosevelt called General Donovan his "secret legs."
When General Donovan died in 1959, President Eisenhower said: "What a man! We have lost the last hero."
It's time to honor the "last hero" and all the heroes of the OSS with the Congressional Gold Medal. (more)
Click each link below to show support...
S. 1688 and H.R. 3544: A bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), collectively, in recognition of their superior service and major contributions during World War II.
The Office of Strategic Services Society celebrates the historic
accomplishments of the OSS during World War II, the first organized
effort by the United States to implement a centralized system of
strategic intelligence and the predecessor to the US intelligence and
special operations communities. It educates the American public
regarding the continuing importance of strategic intelligence and
special operations to the preservation of freedom in this country and
around the world.Why pass a law?
The OSS was the World War II predecessor to the U.S. intelligence and special operations communities. It was founded and led by the legendary General William "Wild Bill" Donovan, the only American to receive our nation's four highest military honors, including the Medal of Honor. President Roosevelt called General Donovan his "secret legs."
When General Donovan died in 1959, President Eisenhower said: "What a man! We have lost the last hero."
It's time to honor the "last hero" and all the heroes of the OSS with the Congressional Gold Medal. (more)
Click each link below to show support...
S. 1688 and H.R. 3544: A bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), collectively, in recognition of their superior service and major contributions during World War II.
Bond Car Submarines at Auction
The sale price was below the auction house's initial estimate price of 650,000 to 950,000 pounds — perhaps because the vehicle (a distinctively-shaped white Lotus Esprit) cannot be driven on the road, although it is said to be a fully operational submarine. (more)
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