The temptation to use technology for spying has been with us for a long time. Carl Stormer purchased his first hidden camera- a "C.P. Stirn Concealed Vest Spy Camera"- when he was a young student of mathematics in Oslo. It was so small that the lens fit through the buttonhole in his vest with a cord that led down to his pocket, allowing him to snap his secret photos.
Interesting story of a man who listened to radio signals for a living. Mickey monitored the airwaves for the state-run Israel Radio and passed on information to his editors — and, sometimes, intelligence agents — to hijackings, invasions and revolutions, even intercepting a telephone call between the White House and Air Force One.
The last month has been a bit busy so we were not able to post articles as regularly as we had hoped. News hasn't stopped though. Here are a few recent articles worth looking at. >The Corporate Ecosystem >Loss of Confidential Thumb Drive >Is Facebook Listening?
A camera was discovered on September 14 in the office of Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno when staff noticed a warm spot on the wall. Moreno later claimed that former President Correa was spying on him. The camera was apparently installed many years ago but his daily countermeasures sweeps didn't notice it.
CEO of robotics firm Medrobotics noticed a stranger in the conference room. The individual falsely claimed to be there for meetings with top executives but appears to have been a spy, going after their trade secrets.
Voice recognition systems built into your phone, computer, or other devices, such as Siri, Google Now, Cortana, or Alexa, can respond to ultrasonic sounds far above your hearing range. If a computer or smartphone has the voice features activated, the device could secretly be given commands to make phone calls, access malicious websites, or many other vulnerable features without the user being aware. This could be used for deliberate eavesdropping, surveillance, or other form of espionage attack.
An interesting article on WeLiveSecurity.com looks at the security risks that may come from allowing the use of smart phones in banks. The author is quick to point out that the same concerns can also apply to any corporate environment.
Alexa is not alone. Yes, the Amazon Echo was hacked and turned into a listening device. That shouldn't be too surprising, though. Spies have been hacking devices and appliances for decades. Here is a look at some of the hacks and modifications that have turned many common items into eavesdropping devices.
Magician Derek DelGaudio does a special type of show with strict policies against any type of recording in the theater, but someone in the audience was trying to steal his secrets.
Bugging device with recorder and microphone was discovered in the union staff lounge at LG Chem, South Korea's leading chemical firm. The company was in the process of negotiating salaries at the time of the discovery.
A look into the anatomy of a bug. Reports reveal that a bugging device was found installed in a Coat of Arms plaque in the office of the Ghana Lands and Natural Resources Minister. A previous occupant of the office claimed to have installed the bugging device over two years ago for his own security, but for the past two years the office was occupied by someone else who was unaware of the bug's existence. A new minister who took office in January, 2017, had the TSCM sweep performed that found the bug.
One of the challenges that eavesdroppers have faced over the years is being able to provide long lasting power to their devices. Researchers at the University of Washington have developed what they call a battery-free cell phone. For power, the unit can use ambient light and radio "backscatter" supplied by a base station up to 50 feet away.
The targets of spies are not just big corporations. Sports teams and sporting events are rife with confidential information and adversaries looking to get an edge on their competition. Here are two recent reports, one on spying concerns at the America’s Cup in Bermuda and the other on the Lyons rugby team .
If your company has valuable assets of any kind- be it information, technology, even your own valuable personnel- you can be sure there is a target on your back for someone who would like to either bring you down or at least take part of your value for themselves. Not all enemies are cyber hackers trying to break in to your computer network or people walking out with a thumb drive of documents. Many may be insiders already within your walls looking to intercept any piece of information or communications they could use for their own benefit. This information could include executive schedules, hiring and firing plans, new product development and timing, or anything else they could turn around and use against you or sell to a competitor.
A recording device found in the Ray County, MO commissioners’ office. The device was discovered late Friday morning, May 19, just before a meeting among the commissioner, a prosecuting attorney, and the sheriff. The secretary discovered it lying on the chair when she was arranging chairs for the meeting.
Employee guilty of eavesdropping? We are always warning our clients about this. Establish clear privacy policies, let everyone know, then check your work. With the proliferation of devices being sold, the temptation to eavesdrop is soaring (everybody wants to be a spy).
Regular proactive sweeps should be scheduled for all sensitive locations, and be wary of any suspicious activity in the workplace.
Here are accounts of two recent incidents of employee eavesdropping.
Henrietta, NY:
A Town of Henrietta employee has been accused of recording coworkers’ conversations.
Marlene Youngman, 57, of Henrietta was charged on May 3 with eavesdropping, a felony, and possession of an eavesdropping device, a misdemeanor, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Employees told Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies that when Youngman’s bag was jostled at work one day, a recording device tumbled out, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cpl. John Helfer. The device was reportedly actively recording at the time, he said. […]
Alpha Group Investigations recently posted: Thanks to Hollywood and TV Dramas like CSI, the average citizen might imagine a private investigator has the right to legally bug and wiretap anyone’s office or home. However, that is an incorrect and morally wrong picture of a reputable investigator. The laws in each State and Country, for what accounts for legitimate electronic surveillance, vary greatly. A good Private Investigator has a responsibility to both to protect his or her client from illegal electronic countermeasures and to abide by the privacy laws of the region.
Wikileaks recently tweeted out a link to a declassified CIA document, first released in 2001. A microphone and transmitter was implanted into a feline in an attempt to develop new ways to collect information from the Soviets. The project was called "Acoustic Kitty" and ran from 1960-1967.