Corporate Espionage and Countermeasures News
News updates and articles are presented regarding corporate espionage, eavesdropping, electronic countermeasures, and TSCM. Please subscribe for automatic updates by entering your email address in the box on the right. You can search past articles and view archives in the column on the right.
Excerpts from recent posts are shown below. Click on the title to view the entire article.
Battery-free cell phone device could lead to long lasting bugs.
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.
Discovery of recording device leads to multiple charges against Canadian soldier
from CBC.ca May, 2017 A soldier at the Canadian military base in Oromocto, N.B., is facing several charges, including sexual assault, voyeurism and possession of child pornography, after electronic devices and videos were seized from his former residence near Washington, D.C., in February. The charges involve two [...]
50 years of ATM fraud, and a holiday weekend… watch out for skimmers
This past week marks the 50 year anniversary of the Automated Teller Machine, and probably 50 years of fraud as well. Krebsonsecurity offers advice: You are far more likely to encounter ATM skimmers over the weekend when the bank is closed (skimmer thieves especially favor long holiday weekends when the banks are closed on Monday). Also, if you have the choice between a stand-alone, free-standing ATM and one that is installed at a fixed location (particularly a bank) opt for the fixed-location machine, which is typically more secure against physical tampering. Most ATM skimmer devices can still be foiled by simply covering the PIN pad while entering your PIN...
SA Advocate suspended for ordering installation of listening device.
It doesn't take much to motivate someone to spy or eavesdrop. Spy devices are readily available to anyone with online access. Even those who should know better are willing to breach the privacy of others for their own benefit. Duty of care may require security sweeps be scheduled for law offices, accountants, and many other businesses who handle the confidential affairs of their clients. South Africa: Advocate Penny Hunt has been suspended from practicing as an advocate for six months. Judgment handed down on Tuesday that Hunt was responsible for instructing a surveillance technician, Houston Wayne Impey, to plant a “listening bug” in the ceiling of the advocates’ chambers. She was also accused of having a GPS tracking device attached to the car of a fellow advocate.
Sports teams concerned about spying: America’s Cup and Lyon’s rugby team
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 .
Google to pull in the reins on email snooping.
Google to stop scanning Gmail for ad targeting SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 — Google said yesterday it would stop scanning the contents of Gmail users’ inboxes for ad targeting, moving to end a practice that has fueled privacy concerns since the free email service was [...]
Corporate spying costs billions, can it be stopped? article from CNBC
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.
Concealed camera at animal shelter prompts sweep of other city facilities.
The recent discovery of a hidden camera in the city animal shelter won’t spur a criminal prosecution, authorities say, but is the subject of an ongoing internal inquiry, and it factored into the dismissal June 2 of longtime City Marshal Mike Harris. The discovery of the camera prompted a search of other city facilities, which turned up another concealed camera focused on an office/storage area doorway related to a specific loss prevention concern.Â
Chipotle Covert Camera Cover-up
From the "the cover up may be worse than the crime" department: Chipotle accused of covering up for manager who put hidden camera in women's bathroom.
Eavesdropping discovery in county office highlights the need for regular proactive sweeps.
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.