A new bill to tackle rising menace of spyware was passed by the US House of Representatives. The bill will chalk out severe punishment for anyone caught spreading malicious codes around the Internet.
Punishment ranges from heavy fines to five years of imprisonment. While the bill, known as Internet Spyware Prevention Act, or I-Spy, has been sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, it does not contain any provision making it mandatory for software makers to warn the user before installing. (more)(follow the bill's progress)
Sunday, May 27, 2007
E-spying may be legal, but moral?
Listen to a computer preach to you about the morality of electronic spying. (Ms. Hal)
The Case of the Salacious Solicitor
OH - Jackson Township police arrest a local attorney for allegedly spying on his neighbors with a digital audio recorder.
Police say 31-year-old Aaron Ridenbaugh was caught by neighbors as he tried to place the recorder outside one of their windows at the Fox Haven Apartments in Jackson Township.
When questioned by police, Ridenbaugh initially denied the claims but detectives say he later admitted to setting up the recorders for his own "personal pleasure."
According to Harley Neftzer, Jackson Township Police Chief, Ridenbaugh wrapped a wire around the recorder and placed it on the outside of the window with a thumbtack.
Detectives also searched Ridenbaugh's apartment where they discovered a hole in one of his closets, which they believe he used to spy on his next door neighbors. ...
Detectives believe Ridenbaugh is responsible for at least three other incidents that began back in 2005. (more)
Police say 31-year-old Aaron Ridenbaugh was caught by neighbors as he tried to place the recorder outside one of their windows at the Fox Haven Apartments in Jackson Township.
When questioned by police, Ridenbaugh initially denied the claims but detectives say he later admitted to setting up the recorders for his own "personal pleasure."
According to Harley Neftzer, Jackson Township Police Chief, Ridenbaugh wrapped a wire around the recorder and placed it on the outside of the window with a thumbtack.
Detectives also searched Ridenbaugh's apartment where they discovered a hole in one of his closets, which they believe he used to spy on his next door neighbors. ...
Detectives believe Ridenbaugh is responsible for at least three other incidents that began back in 2005. (more)
Prince Charming and the Tell-Tale Tape
Once upon a time, in jolly old England...
The Plot
A police worker was fired after an investigation into a video tape allegedly showing Prince Harry on a night out. The woman was arrested after a raid at her home found police surveillance equipment. The swoop followed a tip-off she had a recording of Harry, 22, that had been taken out of a car known to have been driven by Prince William, 24. The civilian engineer, who worked for an elite covert unit, was nicked on suspicion of theft.
The Twist
She said she was using the surveillance equipment to spy on neighbours who she claimed were harassing her. It is believed she was also questioned about the tape. The fate of the recording is unknown (surprise) and its alleged contents cannot be revealed for legal reasons.
The Turn
But The Sun (the local yellow beacon of truth) understands the playboy prince, famous for his high spirits, was recorded in an unguarded moment. The charge against the worker was dropped but she was sacked for “gross misconduct”.
The Ciiffhanger
But she is appealing (note double entendre) and has launched a claim for sexual harassment against six named cops. (source)
The Plot
A police worker was fired after an investigation into a video tape allegedly showing Prince Harry on a night out. The woman was arrested after a raid at her home found police surveillance equipment. The swoop followed a tip-off she had a recording of Harry, 22, that had been taken out of a car known to have been driven by Prince William, 24. The civilian engineer, who worked for an elite covert unit, was nicked on suspicion of theft.
The Twist
She said she was using the surveillance equipment to spy on neighbours who she claimed were harassing her. It is believed she was also questioned about the tape. The fate of the recording is unknown (surprise) and its alleged contents cannot be revealed for legal reasons.
The Turn
But The Sun (the local yellow beacon of truth) understands the playboy prince, famous for his high spirits, was recorded in an unguarded moment. The charge against the worker was dropped but she was sacked for “gross misconduct”.
The Ciiffhanger
But she is appealing (note double entendre) and has launched a claim for sexual harassment against six named cops. (source)
Saturday, May 26, 2007
How to Kill A Keyless Car Remote
Owners of some new Nissan motor cars are being advised to keep their mobile phones away from the keyless-ignition fobs which are used to start their cars, as the phones can "wipe" the fob memory. The problem is limited to the 2007 Altima and G35, and the problem can be avoided by keeping mobile phones at least an inch away from the fob.
The Tennessean newspaper said that if owners send or receive calls while their phones are touching the fob, there's a chance the fob's electronic code could be erased. Once erased, the fobs cannot be reprogrammed, and owners can restart their engines only by using the spare fobs sold with their cars, a Nissan spokesman told the newspaper.
Nissan expects to be able to issue new fobs within a few months, and is currently replacing damaged fobs free of charge. (more)
The Tennessean newspaper said that if owners send or receive calls while their phones are touching the fob, there's a chance the fob's electronic code could be erased. Once erased, the fobs cannot be reprogrammed, and owners can restart their engines only by using the spare fobs sold with their cars, a Nissan spokesman told the newspaper.
Nissan expects to be able to issue new fobs within a few months, and is currently replacing damaged fobs free of charge. (more)
"I ain't got to show you any stinkin'..."
Mexico is expanding its ability to tap telephone calls and e-mail using money from the U.S. government, a move that underlines how the country's conservative government is increasingly willing to cooperate with United States on law enforcement.
The expansion comes as President Felipe Calderón is pushing to amend Mexico's constitution to allow officials to tap phones without a judge's approval in some cases.
Mexican authorities for years have been able to wiretap most telephone conversations and tap into e-mail, but the new $3 million Communications Intercept System being installed by Mexico's Federal Investigative Agency would expand its reach.
The system would allow authorities to track cellphone users as they travel and allow authorities to identify callers by voice, according to the contract specifications.
The system, scheduled to begin operation within the next month, was paid for by the U.S. State Department and sold by Verint Systems Inc., a politically connected company based in Melville, N.Y., that specializes in electronic surveillance.
Documents describing the upgrade suggest that the U.S. government could have access to information derived from the surveillance. Officials of both governments declined to comment on that possibility. (more)
The expansion comes as President Felipe Calderón is pushing to amend Mexico's constitution to allow officials to tap phones without a judge's approval in some cases.
Mexican authorities for years have been able to wiretap most telephone conversations and tap into e-mail, but the new $3 million Communications Intercept System being installed by Mexico's Federal Investigative Agency would expand its reach.
The system would allow authorities to track cellphone users as they travel and allow authorities to identify callers by voice, according to the contract specifications.
The system, scheduled to begin operation within the next month, was paid for by the U.S. State Department and sold by Verint Systems Inc., a politically connected company based in Melville, N.Y., that specializes in electronic surveillance.
Documents describing the upgrade suggest that the U.S. government could have access to information derived from the surveillance. Officials of both governments declined to comment on that possibility. (more)
SpyCam Story #358
MA - A Plymouth man caught secretly videotaping clients in a massage business he co-owned in Sandwich in 2005 has been sentenced to two to three years in prison.
Patrick Dwyer, 41, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Barnstable Superior Court to 52 counts included in six indictments against him. The former co-owner of The Balanced Body in Merchants Square must now register as a sex offender after admitting that the sexually assaulted at least 15 clients during massage sessions.
Dwyer began serving his sentence — not less than two years and not more than three years — at Cedar Junction in Walpole. ...
Dwyer was also charged with five counts of breaking and entering to commit a felony, 15 counts of photographing unsuspecting nude people, and 14 counts of unlawful wiretapping. ...Dwyer must wear a monitoring device throughout his (10-year) probationary period.
...stemmed from his arrest in October of 2005 after a female tenant living next door to his business caught Dwyer in her apartment. Police found evidence that a video camera had been installed in the vents between the apartments.
...An ongoing investigation by Sandwich police and state forensics specialists turned up more than 30 videotapes, computer disks, and computer equipment in Dwyer’s home and business believed to have been used to tape clients. (more)
Patrick Dwyer, 41, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Barnstable Superior Court to 52 counts included in six indictments against him. The former co-owner of The Balanced Body in Merchants Square must now register as a sex offender after admitting that the sexually assaulted at least 15 clients during massage sessions.
Dwyer began serving his sentence — not less than two years and not more than three years — at Cedar Junction in Walpole. ...
Dwyer was also charged with five counts of breaking and entering to commit a felony, 15 counts of photographing unsuspecting nude people, and 14 counts of unlawful wiretapping. ...Dwyer must wear a monitoring device throughout his (10-year) probationary period.
...stemmed from his arrest in October of 2005 after a female tenant living next door to his business caught Dwyer in her apartment. Police found evidence that a video camera had been installed in the vents between the apartments.
...An ongoing investigation by Sandwich police and state forensics specialists turned up more than 30 videotapes, computer disks, and computer equipment in Dwyer’s home and business believed to have been used to tape clients. (more)
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Wiretapping is the least of his problems...
WI - The man accused of murdering a truck driver in Portage County will also stand trial in Marathon County for rape, false imprisonment and wiretapping a woman's phone.
Michael Haydon, 40, has been in jail, awaiting trial for allegedly shooting Pat Zemke to death in November 2003 after he mistakenly thought the truck driver was seeing Haydon's girlfriend.
Prosecutors say Haydon raped the woman the night before the murder of Zemke.
In court today, the victim testified when she came home that November night, her dogs were missing and there was a boombox on the table with a note saying "press play."
She said what she heard was a phone conversation between her and a friend.
A closer look at the note made it clear that Haydon had taken her dogs, and he wanted the woman to call him.
Sergeant Mike Lukas of the Portage County Sheriff's Department says Haydon had wiretaps on the victim's line to see if she was involved with another man.
But the taps he had also caught threatening conversations he had with the woman... (more)
Haydon is pleading not guilty. (more)
Michael Haydon, 40, has been in jail, awaiting trial for allegedly shooting Pat Zemke to death in November 2003 after he mistakenly thought the truck driver was seeing Haydon's girlfriend.
Prosecutors say Haydon raped the woman the night before the murder of Zemke.
In court today, the victim testified when she came home that November night, her dogs were missing and there was a boombox on the table with a note saying "press play."
She said what she heard was a phone conversation between her and a friend.
A closer look at the note made it clear that Haydon had taken her dogs, and he wanted the woman to call him.
Sergeant Mike Lukas of the Portage County Sheriff's Department says Haydon had wiretaps on the victim's line to see if she was involved with another man.
But the taps he had also caught threatening conversations he had with the woman... (more)
Haydon is pleading not guilty. (more)
OK, now the wheels are starting to fall off.
CA - A federal wiretapping trial involving private investigator Anthony Pellicano and five co-defendants was postponed to Feb. 27.
Prosecutors contend in a 111-count criminal indictment handed down in February 2006 that Pellicano illegally wiretapped the phones of Hollywood stars such as Sylvester Stallone and bribed police officers to run the names of more than 60 people, including comedians Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon, through government databases.
The information gathered was used to get dirt for threats, blackmail and in some cases to secure a tactical advantage in litigation, prosecutors alleged.
Pellicano, 63, has pleaded not guilty and remains in federal prison awaiting trial. (more)
Prosecutors contend in a 111-count criminal indictment handed down in February 2006 that Pellicano illegally wiretapped the phones of Hollywood stars such as Sylvester Stallone and bribed police officers to run the names of more than 60 people, including comedians Garry Shandling and Kevin Nealon, through government databases.
The information gathered was used to get dirt for threats, blackmail and in some cases to secure a tactical advantage in litigation, prosecutors alleged.
Pellicano, 63, has pleaded not guilty and remains in federal prison awaiting trial. (more)
"I'd Like to...
...Buy Sell The World a Coke."
A federal judge ignored a former Coca-Cola secretary's plea for mercy Wednesday and sentenced her to eight years in prison for conspiring to steal trade secrets from the world's largest beverage maker.
U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester told Joya Williams, 42, that he was giving her a longer sentence than recommended by federal prosecutors and sentencing guidelines because, "This is the kind of offense that cannot be tolerated in our society."
Williams had faced up to 10 years in prison on the single conspiracy charge in a failed scheme to sell Coke's trade secrets to rival PepsiCo Inc. for at least $1.5 million.
A federal judge ignored a former Coca-Cola secretary's plea for mercy Wednesday and sentenced her to eight years in prison for conspiring to steal trade secrets from the world's largest beverage maker.
U.S. District Judge J. Owen Forrester told Joya Williams, 42, that he was giving her a longer sentence than recommended by federal prosecutors and sentencing guidelines because, "This is the kind of offense that cannot be tolerated in our society."
Williams had faced up to 10 years in prison on the single conspiracy charge in a failed scheme to sell Coke's trade secrets to rival PepsiCo Inc. for at least $1.5 million.
Industrial Espionage or Coincidence?
The Casio 12.1 megapixel camera (EX-Z1200SR) and the Panasonic 12.2 megapixel camera (DMC-FX100).Great minds thinking alike?
Both are designed alike.
Both feature sets are alike.
Both were announced yesterday - within one hour of each other ...which I like.One difference.
Casio's lens is not a Leica. (more)
P.S. Sony began shipping their 12.1 megapixel camera (DSC-W200) five days ago.
Look familiar...
What do you think the chances are that these three products were developed totally independently of each other?Now, what are you doing to protect your work product?
(one solution)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
"Funny, it doesn't look like a 1984 model Toyota."
(from gizmodo.com)When the AVL-900 is properly installed in a car, it contains enough gadgetry to successfully ruin every high-school student's Friday night.
Not only does it send out the GPS coordinates of the car's current location or alert the owner/parent the second their car has been moved, but it can spy on the driver as well. That's right, with a simple text message you can instantly gain access to all of the conversations going on inside the car. So even though little Jimmy said on the phone that he was going to the library, once dialed in you can hear all about how he and his friends are on their way to the deadly drug party with all the strippers and illegal activities.
Luckily for the young'uns they still have some time, since there's no word yet on where to pick up one of these snitches. But if the moms I knew growing up are any indication, they will find it—and they will use it.– Ben Longo (original)
The 'young'uns' lucky few minutes are over... (more) ...not to mention the spouse'uns.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
SpyCam Story #357 (update)
OH - A 24-year-old man says he installed a smoke detector with hidden cameras in his home to deter his wife from having an affair.
But Steven Dittmer used the wireless camera last November to spy on a teenage female relative and her girlfriend in his shower, Lorain County prosecutors say.
A grand jury indicted Dittmer last week on 11 charges, including illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for supplying beer to one of the girls in 2005 and 2006, court records said.
But Steven Dittmer used the wireless camera last November to spy on a teenage female relative and her girlfriend in his shower, Lorain County prosecutors say.
A grand jury indicted Dittmer last week on 11 charges, including illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for supplying beer to one of the girls in 2005 and 2006, court records said.
SpyCam Story #356
A Canadian man charged with sexual assault is now facing child pornography charges after a search of his home turned up a teddy bear outfitted with a remote-controlled video camera, police said on Thursday.
Police in Durham Region, east of Toronto, said the teddy bear had been fitted with the camera in its eyes and could be operated from some distance away. It was discovered this week inside a 24-year-old man's home during an investigation into the sexual assault of two girls under 12.
Police said they also discovered a watch-like wristband device capable of recording images, as well as tapes showing sexual assaults on young victims.
Computer equipment was also seized from the home of the man who was said to be active with the Salvation Army Church in Bowmanville, about 70 km (44 miles) from Toronto. (more)
Police in Durham Region, east of Toronto, said the teddy bear had been fitted with the camera in its eyes and could be operated from some distance away. It was discovered this week inside a 24-year-old man's home during an investigation into the sexual assault of two girls under 12.
Police said they also discovered a watch-like wristband device capable of recording images, as well as tapes showing sexual assaults on young victims.
Computer equipment was also seized from the home of the man who was said to be active with the Salvation Army Church in Bowmanville, about 70 km (44 miles) from Toronto. (more)
SpyCam Story #355
IL - A McLean County jury convicted a Bloomington man of one count of criminal sexual assault and acquitted him of three other counts in the case involving an incident at his home in 2004.
Jeff Young, 44, of Gerard Drive also was convicted of eavesdropping for videotaping the sexual activity.
The video was found during a police search of Young’s home in 2005 in connection with a similar case involving a different woman. The charges in this case were filed after police found the video and showed it to the woman. ...
Young faces up to 21 years in prison when he is sentenced July 20. (more)
Jeff Young, 44, of Gerard Drive also was convicted of eavesdropping for videotaping the sexual activity.
The video was found during a police search of Young’s home in 2005 in connection with a similar case involving a different woman. The charges in this case were filed after police found the video and showed it to the woman. ...
Young faces up to 21 years in prison when he is sentenced July 20. (more)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)