Welcome to 2023.
I apologize for the lack of recent news posts! Even though I took a little time off from the blog, eavesdropping and espionage in the news has continued.
Here are a few items that should be worth paying attention to.
Lawmakers are reaching across the aisle to reintroduce legislation that would require the Federal Trade Commission to create disclosure guidelines for products that have audio or visual recording components that are not clearly obvious – such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, or dishwashers.
See:
Here is good description of eavesdropping and espionage concerns from Retail Banker International:
Covert eavesdropping is on the rise and businesses aren’t paying attention. As devices become increasingly inexpensive and accessible, fraudsters don’t need the skills of a former MI6 officer to deploy them. In fact, the only ‘skill’ they may need to steal information is to gain access to a wall or under desk socket and simply plug something in.
Wireless Hacking Device Causes Bomb Scare in Paris, Leaves More Questions Than Answers
On December 30, 2022, French authorities were conducting a security checkpoint outside of the Strasbourg Saint-Denis metro station in Paris when they stopped a vehicle for a routine check. Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers discovered a suitcase in the trunk that contained wires and antennas, according to the French media outlet el Parisien.
…Hacker Fantastic broke down the components of the device in a post, saying that “It’s so beautiful, power modules on top, fans for cooling, what look like modular radio blocks, amp, filter, SDR radio and the icing on the cake is the “decoy” antenna system made to look like a hotspot. Whatever they are hacking with this, someone spent money to build it.”
Israel sending spy cows in Palestine, claim authorities
According to Palestinian villager Rushd Morrar, ‘These are hired and trained cattle. They hang a medallion with an eavesdropping and recording device, occasionally with cameras, on the neck of each cow to keep an eye on every little thing.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/israel-sending-spy-cows-in-palestine-claim-authorities-11950262.html