MI - The child pornography and eavesdropping case against former Egelston Township Treasurer Brian Lee Hill is back on the local court schedule.
Hill is set for a pretrial conference 9 a.m. March 8 before 14th Circuit Judge Timothy G. Hicks on five counts of making or producing child sexually abusive material and five counts of using a computer to commit a crime, plus three counts of eavesdropping by installing a video device.
The eavesdropping charges, a two-year felony, are for allegedly snooping with a hidden camera on male teenage exchange students using the shower in his home at 1265 Drent. (more)
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
When Spies Go Bad
Estonia - Commander of Estonian Defense Forces, General-Major Ants Laaneots relieved on Tuesday the head of the military intelligence branch from his duties following allegations of spying on government officials.
The General Staff of the Defense Forces said Monday that Major Riho Uhtegi has been transferred to cadre reserve "due to service demands," but experts believe his dismissal is directly related to recent reports in the media that the Estonian military intelligence had been involved in "illegal activities."
Estonian newspaper Eesti Ekspress reported last week that military intelligence officers have been spying on defense ministry's staff and made attempts to recruit informers among officers, politicians and journalists. (more)
The General Staff of the Defense Forces said Monday that Major Riho Uhtegi has been transferred to cadre reserve "due to service demands," but experts believe his dismissal is directly related to recent reports in the media that the Estonian military intelligence had been involved in "illegal activities."
Estonian newspaper Eesti Ekspress reported last week that military intelligence officers have been spying on defense ministry's staff and made attempts to recruit informers among officers, politicians and journalists. (more)
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
"Like this cat was watchin' me, man."
Acoustic Kitty was a CIA project launched in the 1960s attempting to use cats in spy missions. A battery and a microphone were implanted into a cat and an antenna into its tail. Due to problems with distraction, the cat's sense of hunger had to be removed in another operation. Surgical and training expenses are thought to have amounted to over 10 million British pounds.
The first cat mission was eavesdropping on two men in a park outside the Soviet compound on Wisconsin Avenue in Washington, D.C.. The cat was released nearby, but was hit and killed by a taxi almost immediately. Shortly thereafter the project was considered a failure and decided to be a total loss. (more)
The first cat mission was eavesdropping on two men in a park outside the Soviet compound on Wisconsin Avenue in Washington, D.C.. The cat was released nearby, but was hit and killed by a taxi almost immediately. Shortly thereafter the project was considered a failure and decided to be a total loss. (more)
Trojan Horse Trick #742
Security, spy gear disguised as ordinary household items...
Many of his cameras are disguised as ordinary household items - smoke detectors, clock radios and VCRs. They use secure digital video cards, similar to camera memory sticks, that plug into computers and make it easy to find the moment of truth.
And espionage has never been so affordable: Prices on digital video recorders have gone down in the last five years from $1,200 to $499.
So we thought we'd take a look at some of the most covert devices on the market, straight from Q Branch. After all, you only live twice. (more)
Many of his cameras are disguised as ordinary household items - smoke detectors, clock radios and VCRs. They use secure digital video cards, similar to camera memory sticks, that plug into computers and make it easy to find the moment of truth.
And espionage has never been so affordable: Prices on digital video recorders have gone down in the last five years from $1,200 to $499.
So we thought we'd take a look at some of the most covert devices on the market, straight from Q Branch. After all, you only live twice. (more)
Trojan Horse Trick #741
"What a beautiful gift. Thank you!"BIG mistake. One lamp is equipped with a microphone, attached to an always-on GSM cell phone, which is powered-up as soon as you plug your lamp into a wall outlet.
Doesn't matter where you put them - bedroom or office - the person now eavesdropping on you is just a phone call away ...anywhere in the world!
When was the last time you had your lamps checked? How about all those other items which surround you?
Beware of Geeks bearing gifts. (more)
Govt defends ‘spying’ amidst outrage
Kenya - Politicians and church leaders have expressed outrage over reports that the Government was spying on politicians to gauge their individual strengths on an election year. ...
But two Cabinet ministers Mr Amos Kimunya (Finance) and Mr Njeru Ndwiga (Co-operatives) defended Internal Security Minister Mr John Michuki, whose docket includes the Provincial Administration over the move, saying there was nothing about it that was unbecoming. (more)
But two Cabinet ministers Mr Amos Kimunya (Finance) and Mr Njeru Ndwiga (Co-operatives) defended Internal Security Minister Mr John Michuki, whose docket includes the Provincial Administration over the move, saying there was nothing about it that was unbecoming. (more)
Masons hit by bugging
Ireland - Police have launched an investigation into suspicions that meetings at one of Northern Ireland's largest Masonic Halls was bugged, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.
It is understood that the PSNI launched the probe after recordings were received in the post by Masonic officials at the headquarters of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim at Rosemary Street in Belfast.
Police are investigating if the recordings are of secret rituals held in the building which is the main meeting place of freemasons in Co Antrim, one of the largest lodges in Ireland. (more)
It is understood that the PSNI launched the probe after recordings were received in the post by Masonic officials at the headquarters of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim at Rosemary Street in Belfast.
Police are investigating if the recordings are of secret rituals held in the building which is the main meeting place of freemasons in Co Antrim, one of the largest lodges in Ireland. (more)
Who watches you at work?
New Zealand - You might think that you're entitled to a certain amount of privacy at work, but this isn't always the case. Some employers have gone as far as putting secret cameras in employee changing areas and gotten away with it. Katrine Evans, assistant privacy commissioner, says privacy is governed by several principles and no methods of surveillance is completely banned. (more)
Monday, February 26, 2007
You're just 60 seconds away from being spied on!
SnoopStick is a USB flash drive type device that allows you to monitor what your kids, employees, or anyone [including Y-O-U] using your computer is doing while on the Internet. And, you can monitor them live, in real time, from anywhere in the world.Simply plug the SnoopStick into the computer you want to monitor. Then run the setup program to install the SnoopStick monitoring components on the computer. The whole process takes less than 60 seconds.
The SnoopStick monitoring components are completely hidden, and there are no telltale signs that the computer is being monitored.
You can then unplug the SnoopStick and take it with you anywhere you go. No bigger than your thumb and less than 1/4" thick, you can carry it in your pocket, purse, or on your keychain.
Any time you want to see what web sites your kids or employees [or Y-O-U] are visiting, who they [or Y-O-U] are chatting with, and what they [or Y-O-U] are chatting about, [they or Y-O-U] simply plug in your SnoopStick to any Windows based computer with an Internet connection and a USB port. SnoopStick will automatically connect to the target computer.
...snoopstick it to them with some of these features...
- Send the user a pop up message alert. A good way to tell them they're busted!
- Turn off/on Internet access with the SnoopStick locally or remotely.
- Set allowable times for Internet access.
- Prevent users from using certain types of Internet programs.
- Block access to specified ports.
- Block access to web sites.
(more)
Picked as a winner, here, on 2/8.
Germany's "The Lives of Others," a searing look at totalitarian powers once wielded by East German secret police, the Stasi, won the Oscar for best foreign language film on Sunday. The film by first-time filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck won rave reviews for its portrait of a Stasi agent who, while bugging a couple's home, develops an unexpected sympathy for them.
Malaysian state drops plan to spy on unmarried sex
A conservative state in Malaysia has dropped plans to recruit a network of spies to report unmarried couples having sex.
The Chief Minister in the northern state of Terengganu says the plan was scrapped after the Malaysian Prime Minister voiced his opposition to the plan.
The Prime Minister had called the proposed spy network an invasion of privacy, warning that it could also send the wrong message to foreign tourists.
The Chief Minister in the northern state of Terengganu says the plan was scrapped after the Malaysian Prime Minister voiced his opposition to the plan.
The Prime Minister had called the proposed spy network an invasion of privacy, warning that it could also send the wrong message to foreign tourists.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
"Do your own homework!"
A female science professor shares her personal spying experience... (more)
All of us know the feeling. It started in Third Grade when they looked over your shoulder. It continues now in the corporate world with co-workers and other corporations stealing your ideas and hard work.
The accompanying comments to her post are interesting, too. No consensus of moral opinion. Scary.
Nothing has changed except smart people now conduct quarterly searches for bugs and wiretaps.
All of us know the feeling. It started in Third Grade when they looked over your shoulder. It continues now in the corporate world with co-workers and other corporations stealing your ideas and hard work.
The accompanying comments to her post are interesting, too. No consensus of moral opinion. Scary.
Nothing has changed except smart people now conduct quarterly searches for bugs and wiretaps.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
...and you thought they were Sneakers.
Comverse continues to be at the center of an international wiretapping controversy which has serious implications for U.S. security. Interesting investigative report by FOX News, which is now rumored to be classified.
Up the creek...
Mozambique Minister spying on lazy workers...
Mozambique's Labour Minister, Maria Helena Taipo, early this morning surprised her employees, that were supposed to attend the public, by looking into complaints about the Ministry's service. Shocked about the staff's late arrival, she ordered a day's wage cut for all. (more)
Sometimes, surveillance does not require any electronics!
Mozambique's Labour Minister, Maria Helena Taipo, early this morning surprised her employees, that were supposed to attend the public, by looking into complaints about the Ministry's service. Shocked about the staff's late arrival, she ordered a day's wage cut for all. (more)
Sometimes, surveillance does not require any electronics!
Spouse Spies
From mobile phones that double as transmitters to private eyes in far-away countries, companies are banking on the suspicions of spouses...
Responding to popular demand among wives whose husbands frequently visit China on business, due diligence companies are marketing new mobile phone eavesdropping technology for wives to listen in on their hubbies' phone conversations there. ...
When eavesdropping is not enough, many due diligence companies can ratchet up their services to include paying off Chinese police to follow a cheating Taiwanese husband and catch him, literally, with his pants down, the report added. (more)
Responding to popular demand among wives whose husbands frequently visit China on business, due diligence companies are marketing new mobile phone eavesdropping technology for wives to listen in on their hubbies' phone conversations there. ...
When eavesdropping is not enough, many due diligence companies can ratchet up their services to include paying off Chinese police to follow a cheating Taiwanese husband and catch him, literally, with his pants down, the report added. (more)
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