Thursday, February 15, 2007

Is Your Cell Phone Bugged?

Bugged Cell Phones!!!

A hot 2000's topic delivered with cool retro 50's production values and a 60's tip of the hat to Mr. McGoohan.

Accurate and valuable.

Great job, Lauren!

Tapped Out

MI - Iosco County's insurance carrier will pay more than $800,000 to settle seven lawsuits related to alleged telephone eavesdropping at the county sheriff's department.

Three Iosco County Sheriff's Department dispatchers, two deputies and two employees of the Michigan State Police post in East Tawas sued the department after learning that their private telephone calls were recorded without their knowledge.

The seven plaintiffs will receive amounts ranging from $62,000 to $160,000 as payment for alleged damages and attorney fees, according to the settlement documents.

...the secret taping led to criminal charges against Iosco County Undersheriff Michael C. Bridson, who pleaded guilty in 2006 to two counts of felony eavesdropping under a delayed sentence. (more)

Who are The Gray Berets?

...and what should I expect in addition to eavesdropping?" (more)

Luk, the dark side calls...


LukWerks Spy Camera
Spy Camera Hidden in a Clock


The LukWerks Spy Camera is the world's first ever networked Spy Camera that delivers the power of professional-grade video security.

The Spy Camera masquerades as a sleek, fully functioning digital clock. This hidden camera is perfect for coverage of any area of the home or small business that requires discreet observance.


The spy clock camera has a powerful 400 MHz onboard processor, which powers the camera's ability to provide superior image quality, motion detection, and intelligent image management.
Installation and setup of the Spy Camera is a breeze. Just plug it into any electrical outlet and the hidden camera sends recorded video back to your PC! (more)


Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Strange, but true! -- Bad Cupid

Valentine’s Day isn’t a great day for Cupid, Malik Cupid, that is.

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Malik Cupid, 32, of Manhattan was arraigned Tuesday on one count of eavesdropping (and other charges).

Cupid assumed the identity of his ex-girlfriend ... while she was serving on active duty with the United States Army in Iraq. (more)

SpyCams & Eavesdropping - A global fear

Fear of hidden spycams and bugs is the topic of this blog, from India.

"Your most intimate moments can now be used to humiliate and blackmail you. That sadly, is the flip side of technological advancement. What couldn't be thought of only a few years ago, is now, a nightmare than can happen to the anyone of us.


So, taking some precautions might be in order. Watch out for hidden spy cameras in changing rooms. The bigger stores will, hopefully, not violate your privacy but always be careful in smaller shops. The same thing would be advisable in unfamiliar public toilets and in obviously seedy looking hotel room...

Spycams apart, there are also bugs you need to worry about. Not bed bugs but of the the electronic kind. Private phone conversations have been printed in newspapers, so if you are in top secret business talks, or even just dirty talking to your spouse, you wouldn't want to be overheard. But the greater horror would be if somebody eavesdropped on you with the help of a bug." ~ Manali (more)

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Be Your Own "Q"...

...Make Spy Gadgets!

"I just bought a new 2GB USB flash drive, and it happened to be sitting on the desk the other day next to a tube of Chap Stick. It looked like a perfect match once I got the drive out of it's case, but it ended up being a little too big to fit in the tube. I took it to work and bored the tube out on the lathe during my lunch break, made a few notches in the base and the bottom cap with the die grinder, sanded the edges of the circuit board a little, and finally got it to fit perfectly. Looks pretty good, even the LED shines through the bottom. Hopefully it will fare better when it ends up going through the dryer in my pants pocket than a regular tube of Chap Stick does." ~ Phillip Torrone (more)

Time to Update Your Corporate Policy

You're good!

You ban cameras.
You ban recorders.

You ban cell phones.

You ban digital pagers.


GET READY FOR YOUR NEXT BIG BAN...


Recording wrist watches!

(more) & (more) & still (more)

Wrist Watch Voice Recorder FM Transmitter


Wireless MP3
Wrist Watch Voice Recorder
FM Transmitter
Record classroom lectures, meetings, conversations, etc.
(Yet another bug to worry about.)
(more)

Coincidence or Espionage? You decide.


This is no typo. There is actually a Chinese manufacturer by the name Nokir who makes mobile phones. We have seen companies ripping off the iPod but they were still creative with the naming. The Nokir E828 is a rip off the Nokia N73... (more)

Why VoIP is vulnerable

VoIP is simply data transmitted in digital packet form. This means it can be attacked, hacked, intercepted, manipulated, re-routed and degraded just like packets on the data network. All of the maladies of the data network -- viruses, worms, trojan, DoS attacks and hijacking -- are possible on the VoIP network.

...examples of potential VoIP attacks:
· Toll Fraud/Service Theft -- This will likely be the most common attack in the early stages of VoIP, where an unauthorized user gains access to the VoIP network by mimicking an authorized user or seizing control of an IP phone and initiating outbound long distance calls.

· Eavesdropping -- VoIP services measurement and troubleshooting software makes eavesdropping on a packetized voice calls relatively easy.

· Phishing -- The same techniques used to steal identity information over email are being used over VoIP. Criminals spoof caller identification information so it looks like the call is coming from a legitimate organization and then ask the call recipient for identity information. (more)

Monday, February 12, 2007

Why Your Top Execs Don't Want "Smart Phones"

"...the help desk had been asked to install client software that would allow e-mail to synchronize with upper management’s new smart phones." ~ written by a real security manager, “C.J. Kelly,” whose name and employer have been disguised for obvious reasons.

Why she freaked, and why you should, too...

- Company had no written security policy about smart phones.
- Smart phones require client-side software hooked into Outlook.
- Syncing requires user’s PC to be left running with Outlook open.
- E-mail transfers aren’t encrypted.
- The phones aren’t password-protected.
- Phones not managable remotely. Data can't be wiped if lost or stolen.
- E-mails are cached on the ISP's servers for up to seven days.
- Smart-phone owners [others] can access their e-mail via the Web.

She researched some good compromise solutions. The real solution, however, is a smarter 'smart phone'. Until then, seriously consider more secure communications alternatives. ~ Kevin (more)

TV show builds Spy Gear Room for 7-year old

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Builds Spy Gear Room for 7-Year-Old Boy filled with "The Latest and Greatest that Every Up and Coming Spy Could Possibly Wish For"

Kyle Thibodeau, age 7, is the lucky recipient of the first-ever Spy Gear Room built by the cast and crew of ABC TV's Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Kyle's room was revealed on an episode of EMHE and includes what the show's celebrity designer Tanya McQueen refers to as "the latest and greatest that every up and coming spy could possibly wish for." (more) (video) (mental antidote)

More bugs for your kids...


(from gizmodo.com)
President Bush defends domestic eavesdropping, so why shouldn't you? The Mobile Spy Ear, which completes Wild Planet's trifecta of kiddie 007 gadgets, is moveable car with a microphone that transmits sounds to an earbud from up to 75 feet away.


Too bad the vehicle itself only travels 30 feet, and it's one of those wind up cars (you pull it backwards along the floor and then let go). But the signal supposedly works through walls, which means that the movement is really a secondary feature to being able to listen-in on your sister talking about boys. Ewwww.

Available next fall for between $14.99 and $19.99. – Noah Robischon

WPP Mob Guy Who Was FBI Bug Man Now Icy

Mafia soldier Angelo "Sonny" Mercurio, who helped the FBI land the first-ever bugging of a mob induction ceremony, has died (at 70) in Little Rock, Ark., where he lived in the federal witness-protection program, relatives said yesterday. (more)