David Vitter calls spying arrest ‘silly’; Sheriff Newell Normand says Vitter would be ‘worst governor in Louisiana history’
Louisiana - The bungled political espionage that unfolded hours before Saturday’s election has exposed and perhaps deepened the enmity between U.S. Sen. David Vitter and Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand, fellow Republicans who traded barbs Monday as Vitter turned his attention to the gubernatorial runoff next month.
The animus between the two elected officials traces its roots to a similar split between Vitter and the late Harry Lee, Normand’s combative predecessor. And the relationship appears to have reached a nadir after Normand caught a private investigator hired by Vitter’s campaign secretly recording the sheriff’s regular coffee gathering at the Royal Blend cafe in Old Metairie. more
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
A Tale of Two Law Suits - Eavesdroppers Won, Targets Zero
Facebook Wins Dismissal Of $15 Billion Privacy Lawsuit
It’s been more than three years since a federal judge in California heard arguments in a large class-action lawsuit filed against Facebook over its questionable privacy practices. Finally, on Friday that judge sided with the social network and threw out the case — while leaving open the option for plaintiffs to revise and re-file their case.
The complaint involves Facebook’s tracking of users both while they are logged in as Facebook users and after they log off.
The plaintiffs argued that, in exchange for offering free access to Facebook, the company “conditions its membership upon users providing sensitive and personal information… including name, birth date, gender and e-mail address,” and requires that users accept numerous Facebook “cookies” on their web browsers that allow Facebook to track that a user’s Internet browsing history — which is then marketed to advertisers.
Of particular concern to the plaintiffs was Facebook’s continued tracking of users even after they had logged out of Facebook. more
ACLU lawsuit against NSA mass spying dropped in federal court
A federal district court on Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union against the National Security Agency over its mass surveillance program.
Ashley Gorski, a staff attorney with the ACLU national security project told The Guardian the mass spying program was innately harmful, arguing it violates “our clients’ constitutional rights to privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of association, and it poses a grave threat to a free internet and a free society.” more
It’s been more than three years since a federal judge in California heard arguments in a large class-action lawsuit filed against Facebook over its questionable privacy practices. Finally, on Friday that judge sided with the social network and threw out the case — while leaving open the option for plaintiffs to revise and re-file their case.
The complaint involves Facebook’s tracking of users both while they are logged in as Facebook users and after they log off.
The plaintiffs argued that, in exchange for offering free access to Facebook, the company “conditions its membership upon users providing sensitive and personal information… including name, birth date, gender and e-mail address,” and requires that users accept numerous Facebook “cookies” on their web browsers that allow Facebook to track that a user’s Internet browsing history — which is then marketed to advertisers.
Of particular concern to the plaintiffs was Facebook’s continued tracking of users even after they had logged out of Facebook. more
ACLU lawsuit against NSA mass spying dropped in federal court
A federal district court on Friday dismissed a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union against the National Security Agency over its mass surveillance program.
Ashley Gorski, a staff attorney with the ACLU national security project told The Guardian the mass spying program was innately harmful, arguing it violates “our clients’ constitutional rights to privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of association, and it poses a grave threat to a free internet and a free society.” more
A Downer for Drones
There's recently been a run of new anti-drone systems introduced to deal
with potential threats from UAVs, but these have been on the large and
expensive side. To provide an affordable alternatives to plug the gap
between shotguns and truck-mounted systems, national security research
and development firm Battelle is introducing DroneDefender. Billed as
the first portable, accurate, rapid-to-use UAV counter-weapon, it's a
rifle-like raygun device that uses a radio beam to jam drone control
systems and stop them in midair. more
Get Ready for Spectre - Battle of the Bonds Infographic
Battle of the Bonds: Kisses, Cocktails, Kills, Cars & Cash – An infographic by the team at GB Show Plates
Monday, October 5, 2015
Jealous Wives and Girlfriends Can Now Snoop on their Partner using a Spy Belt
Jealous wives and girlfriends can snoop on their fellas with a spy gadget disguised as a belt.
A tracking device hidden in the leather monitors the wearer’s location every 60 seconds. And it can be controlled remotely through Android and iPhone apps without the wearer noticing.
Unwary men could receive one as a present without knowing what they have let themselves in for.
The Belt Tracker, sold by Spymaster, in Marylebone, London, has a 12-hour battery life and can be used in 220 countries without incurring data roaming charges. It even has a flight safe mode to comply with airline regulations.
The GPS device was originally designed to monitor people working in dangerous environments, such as undercover police. And it can be used to track children and give peace of mind to parents. more
Unwary men could receive one as a present without knowing what they have let themselves in for.
The Belt Tracker, sold by Spymaster, in Marylebone, London, has a 12-hour battery life and can be used in 220 countries without incurring data roaming charges. It even has a flight safe mode to comply with airline regulations.
The GPS device was originally designed to monitor people working in dangerous environments, such as undercover police. And it can be used to track children and give peace of mind to parents. more
Scientist Pleads Guilty to Corporate Espionage
Researcher Xiwen Huang pleaded guilty Friday to one count of stealing trade secrets. But the legal battle over the punishment the former Charlotte resident receives already is underway.
Federal prosecutors say the 55-year-old chemical engineer stole proprietary technology and hundreds of pages of documents over the last decade from his government and civilian employers, including a company in Charlotte. Huang’s goal, according to court documents, was to aid both the Chinese government and his own company, which he started in North Carolina to do business in his Asian homeland.
Huang faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced at a later date. Imprisonment is all but certain. more
Huang faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced at a later date. Imprisonment is all but certain. more
Ai Weiwei Discovers Eavesdropping Devices in His Studio
Ai Weiwei has posted a number of pictures of what he says are listening devices found in his Beijing studio.
The Chinese dissident artist captioned one photo of a bug on Instagram with "There will always be surprises".
His friend Liu Xiaoyuan confirmed the bugs were found after the artist returned from a trip to Germany.
Xiaoyuan tweeted that they were found when redecoration started on Ai's home and were found in the office and a living room.
The artist also posted a video clip of firecrackers being set off in a metal bucket next to one of the devices. He wrote "Did you hear it?" next to the video. more
His friend Liu Xiaoyuan confirmed the bugs were found after the artist returned from a trip to Germany.
Xiaoyuan tweeted that they were found when redecoration started on Ai's home and were found in the office and a living room.
Gang Using Spy Cam, Bluetooth for Exam Paper Leaks Busted
India - Police have busted a New Delhi-based gang involved in assembling spy cameras and bluetooth devices in undergarments and shirts to facilitate question paper leaks in important competitive exams across the country.
...the accused used to assemble spy cams and bluetooth devices in shirts, briefs and vests, mobile hardware kits, and other equipment to get the question papers leaked out from the exam centres...
...the kit included an android smartphone which was connected with a spy cam in cuff of a shirt. The question paper was clicked by some candidate or a staff member through spy camp and smuggled outside the examination centre through drop box application.
The paper was then distributed through e-mails or WhatsApp to a team of six to eight teachers, who solved the paper. The candidates, who paid for the solved paper, were given a bluetooth ear device which did not require mobile handset and acted just as receiver. The accused had assembled a set with 40 mobile phones through which the answers were dictated to the candidates... more
...the kit included an android smartphone which was connected with a spy cam in cuff of a shirt. The question paper was clicked by some candidate or a staff member through spy camp and smuggled outside the examination centre through drop box application.
The paper was then distributed through e-mails or WhatsApp to a team of six to eight teachers, who solved the paper. The candidates, who paid for the solved paper, were given a bluetooth ear device which did not require mobile handset and acted just as receiver. The accused had assembled a set with 40 mobile phones through which the answers were dictated to the candidates... more
Phone on Drone Hacks Wireless Printer
You might think that working
on a secured floor in a 30-story office tower puts you out of reach of
Wi-Fi hackers out to steal your confidential documents.
But researchers in Singapore have demonstrated how attackers using a
drone plus a mobile phone could easily intercept documents sent to a
seemingly inaccessible Wi-Fi printer. The method they devised is
actually intended to help organizations determine cheaply and easily if
they have vulnerable open Wi-Fi devices that can be accessed from the
sky. But the same technique could also be used by corporate spies intent
on economic espionage. more
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Operation Armchair - Son of The Thing, or...
...how a small Dutch company, helped the CIA to eavesdrop on the Russians.
"A small company from Noordwijk, Dutch Radar Research Station, worked for the CIA for decades. It built sophisticated listening devices that the Americans used against the Soviet Union. I came across this story when a schoolmate gave me papers of his grandfather. Along with intelligence expert, Cees Wiebes, I reconstructed in eighteen months the never told key role that this Dutch company played during the Cold War." ~ Maurits Martijn
(A long, but interesting story.)
(A long, but interesting story.)
Friday, October 2, 2015
IP Protection: Don’t Expect Government Help
If actions – or in this case inaction – speak louder than words, the message from the U.S. government to the private sector regarding defense against cyber economic espionage by China is clear: “You’re on your own.”
That remains true, in the view of multiple experts, even after Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama announced an agreement last week that, according to a White House press secretary Fact Sheet, “neither country’s government will conduct or knowingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, including trade secrets or other confidential business information, with the intent of providing competitive advantages to companies or commercial sectors.”
...the agreement refers only to the governments of both countries – not their private sectors...
Kevin Murray, director at Murray Associates, said the reality is that, “both leaders know economics comes first. “Waving an ‘agreement’ in the air may mollify some of their constituents,” he said, but the subtext of promising that “governments” won’t do it acknowledges the reality that they, “can't control all the rogue hackers out there. All they can say is that their governments are not behind it, and they don't condone it. Meanwhile, cutouts will manage the "consultants" who make money with their data-vacuums." more
That remains true, in the view of multiple experts, even after Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama announced an agreement last week that, according to a White House press secretary Fact Sheet, “neither country’s government will conduct or knowingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, including trade secrets or other confidential business information, with the intent of providing competitive advantages to companies or commercial sectors.”
...the agreement refers only to the governments of both countries – not their private sectors...
Kevin Murray, director at Murray Associates, said the reality is that, “both leaders know economics comes first. “Waving an ‘agreement’ in the air may mollify some of their constituents,” he said, but the subtext of promising that “governments” won’t do it acknowledges the reality that they, “can't control all the rogue hackers out there. All they can say is that their governments are not behind it, and they don't condone it. Meanwhile, cutouts will manage the "consultants" who make money with their data-vacuums." more
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
In China Counterespionage is Everyone's Job... by law
Counter-espionage Law of the People's Republic of China (interesting highlights)
Adopted at the 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress on November 1, 2014.
Article 20: Citizens and organizations shall facilitate and provide other assistance to anti-espionage efforts.
Article 25: Individuals and organizations must not illegally hold or use special-purpose spy equipment needed for espionage activities. Special-purpose spy equipment will by verified by the State Council department responsible for national security in accordance with relevant national provisions.
Article 32: For those in unlawful possession of state secret documents, materials and other items, as well as those who unlawfully possess or utilize specialized spying equipment, state security organs may conduct a search of their person, items, residence and other relevant locations in accordance with law; and confiscate the state secrets documents materials and other items they unlawfully possessed, as well as the specialized spying equipment they possessed or utilized. Where the unlawful possession of state secrets documents, materials or other materials constitutes a crime, pursue criminal responsibility in accordance with law; where it does not constitute a crime, state security organs give warnings or administrative detention of up to 15 days.
Adopted at the 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People's Congress on November 1, 2014.
- Chapter I: General Provisions
Article 4: Citizens
of the People's Republic of China have a duty to preserve national
security, honor and interests; and must not endanger national security,
honor or interests. All
State organs, armed forces, political parties and public groups, and
all enterprises and organizations, have the obligation to prevent and
stop espionage activities and maintain national security. State
security organs must rely on the support of the people in
anti-espionage efforts, mobilizing and organizing the people to prevent
and stop espionage conduct threatening state security .
- Chapter II: Functions and Powers of State Security Organs in Anti-Espionage Efforts
Article 12: As
needed for investigation of espionage activities, and on the basis of
national provisions, state security organs may employ technological
investigative measures upon strict formalities for approval.
Article 13: National
security organ counterintelligence work, organizations and individuals
can check electronic communication tools, equipment, and other equipment
and facilities in accordance with the regulations. Where situations
harmful to state security to national security are discovered in the
course of an inspection, the state security organ shall order
rectification; and where rectification is refused or after the
rectification requirements are still not met, they may be sealed or
seized.
Where
situations harmful to state security to national security are
discovered in the course of an inspection, the state security organ
shall order rectification; and where rectification is refused or after
the rectification requirements are still not met, they may be sealed or
seized.
- Chapter III: The Duties and Rights of Citizens and Organizations
Article 20: Citizens and organizations shall facilitate and provide other assistance to anti-espionage efforts.
Article 25: Individuals and organizations must not illegally hold or use special-purpose spy equipment needed for espionage activities. Special-purpose spy equipment will by verified by the State Council department responsible for national security in accordance with relevant national provisions.
- Chapter IV: Legal Liability
Article 32: For those in unlawful possession of state secret documents, materials and other items, as well as those who unlawfully possess or utilize specialized spying equipment, state security organs may conduct a search of their person, items, residence and other relevant locations in accordance with law; and confiscate the state secrets documents materials and other items they unlawfully possessed, as well as the specialized spying equipment they possessed or utilized. Where the unlawful possession of state secrets documents, materials or other materials constitutes a crime, pursue criminal responsibility in accordance with law; where it does not constitute a crime, state security organs give warnings or administrative detention of up to 15 days.
- Chapter V: Supplementary Provisions
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Bugged: Russian Roach Rampage (Warning: Sensationalist Reporting)
The terrifying cockroach robo-SPY that could soon perform reconnaissance missions for the Russian military...
Researchers have created insect bots, inspired by the Blaberus giganteus species of roach, capable of scanning rooms and tracking their surroundings.
Fitted with sensors, these mechanical bugs can cover 12 inches (31cm) a second and the technology has already piqued the interest of the Russian military.
Researchers have created a robotic cockroach (pictured main), inspired by the Blaberus family of roaches (B. craniifer shown on top of the robot), capable of scanning rooms and tracking its surroundings. The mechanical bug can cover 12 inches a second
The bionic cockroaches were designed by engineers Danil Borchevkin and Aleksey Belousov at Kaliningrad's Kant University.
Each robot is 4-inches (10cm) long and fitted with photosensitive sensors, as well as sensors that detect contact, meaning they can constantly look out for obstacles. more
- Robot is fitted with photosensitive sensors to track its surroundings
- The 4-inch (10cm) mechanical roach moves like the Blaberus giganteus
- A sample of the robo-bugs is being planned for Russian armed forces
- Future models will be able to camouflage themselves, spy on people with portable cameras and carry out reconnaissance missions
Researchers have created insect bots, inspired by the Blaberus giganteus species of roach, capable of scanning rooms and tracking their surroundings.
Fitted with sensors, these mechanical bugs can cover 12 inches (31cm) a second and the technology has already piqued the interest of the Russian military.
Researchers have created a robotic cockroach (pictured main), inspired by the Blaberus family of roaches (B. craniifer shown on top of the robot), capable of scanning rooms and tracking its surroundings. The mechanical bug can cover 12 inches a second
The bionic cockroaches were designed by engineers Danil Borchevkin and Aleksey Belousov at Kaliningrad's Kant University.
Each robot is 4-inches (10cm) long and fitted with photosensitive sensors, as well as sensors that detect contact, meaning they can constantly look out for obstacles. more
Man Admits Wiretapping, Harassment of Judge... and DUI
PA - An East Goshen man who secretly recorded telephone conversations with his ex-wife, her attorney’s office, two police officers and others, and who also made profane telephone calls to a Common Pleas Court judge and officials in the Chester County Domestic Relations Office, has admitted his culpability in those crimes.
On Wednesday, William Robert Wheeler pleaded guilty to charges of wiretapping and harassment, as well as driving under the influence, before Judge Patrick Carmody, who deferred formal sentencing to allow Wheeler to apply for the county’s alternative sentencing program for repeat DUI offenders. more
On Wednesday, William Robert Wheeler pleaded guilty to charges of wiretapping and harassment, as well as driving under the influence, before Judge Patrick Carmody, who deferred formal sentencing to allow Wheeler to apply for the county’s alternative sentencing program for repeat DUI offenders. more
Spying Coffee Cup Lid Worthy of James Bond
This may look like an ordinary coffee cup.
But the innocent-looking container could soon become a potent new weapon in the fight against criminals, fraudsters and enemy spies.
The plastic lid is similar to those handed out by coffee chain giants, such as Starbucks and Costa.
The lid, which looks like it could have been devised by James Bond's gadget guru Q, has been created by Bodmin-based LawMate UK.
Inside, it is fitted with hi-definition filming equipment and an eavesdropping device that can listen in and record conversations, even in a room full of people.
Investigators will be able to use the device to gather crucial evidence, and can activate it by pressing the letter H – which stands for Hot – on the lid.
The firm, based at the Mid-Cornwall town's Callywith industrial estate, has already sold more than 100 of the gadgets, which are designed to fit any takeaway cup in the UK. more
The plastic lid is similar to those handed out by coffee chain giants, such as Starbucks and Costa.
The lid, which looks like it could have been devised by James Bond's gadget guru Q, has been created by Bodmin-based LawMate UK.
Inside, it is fitted with hi-definition filming equipment and an eavesdropping device that can listen in and record conversations, even in a room full of people.
Investigators will be able to use the device to gather crucial evidence, and can activate it by pressing the letter H – which stands for Hot – on the lid.
The firm, based at the Mid-Cornwall town's Callywith industrial estate, has already sold more than 100 of the gadgets, which are designed to fit any takeaway cup in the UK. more
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