Kevin's Security Scrapbook

FutureWatch: Canada's CALEA

2012-05-24T09:50:00.000-04:00

Canada - As authorities in the United States and United Kingdom push for greater Internet surveillance powers, the Canadian government is locked in its own controversial struggle to wiretap the Web.

Canada’s C-30 surveillance bill is much like the FBI’s recently revealed effort to force Internet communications providers such as Skype and Facebook to provide “back doors” for eavesdropping. In some cases, the Canadian legislation would allow police to obtain user data without a warrant. C-30 had appeared dead following a Supreme Court ruling in April that deemed warrantless wiretaps unconstitutional, plus a storm of opposition from privacy groups. But the government said last week it is still moving forward with the plan.

Now, new documents obtained under Access to Information laws have revealed Canada’s largest telecoms providers held secret meetings with government officials about the wiretapping proposals. The documents show that after forming a behind-closed-doors working group, the companies and government officials discussed the technical reality of introducing new mass eavesdropping capabilities in fascinating detail. (more)

Bugs found at Russian cultural center in Estonia

2012-05-24T09:41:00.001-04:00

Estonia - A wiretapping device has been found in a cultural center for Russian-speaking Estonian citizens in Tallinn. The NGO is run by the mother of the city’s vice mayor, who is suspected of lobbying for Russian interests in the Baltic country.

The wiretap, discovered Tuesday, is the second such device found in the Lira cultural and sports center, after a thorough inspection carried out by center’s security.

The first eavesdropping device, which was clumsily wired into the facility’s alarm system, was found on May 15. Inspectors believe the bugs were installed between September and December 2011. The police opened an investigation but so far no official statements have been made on the issue. (more)

No Sir'ee. No Siri here. Seri-ously!

2012-05-23T20:27:00.000-04:00

If you work for IBM, you can bring your iPhone to work, but forget about using the phone’s voice-activated digital assistant. Siri isn’t welcome on Big Blue’s networks.

The reason? Siri ships everything you say to her to a big data center in Maiden, North Carolina. And the story of what really happens to all of your Siri-launched searches, e-mail messages and inappropriate jokes is a bit of a black box.

IBM CIO Jeanette Horan told MIT’s Technology Review this week that her company has banned Siri outright because, according to the magazine, “The company worries that the spoken queries might be stored somewhere.”

It turns out that Horan is right to worry. In fact, Apple’s iPhone Software License Agreement spells this out: “When you use Siri or Dictation, the things you say will be recorded and sent to Apple in order to convert what you say into text,” Apple says. Siri collects a bunch of other information — names of people from your address book and other unspecified user data, all to help Siri do a better job.

How long does Apple store all of this stuff, and who gets a look at it? Well, the company doesn’t actually say. (ask Siri!) (more)

Cell Phone Door Key App?!?!

2012-05-23T20:10:00.000-04:00

via Gizmodo.com...

"The UniKey app transmits a Bluetooth signal from the user’s iPhone, Android or BlackBerry smartphone, which is picked up by a paired UniKey deadbolt lock as it is approached by the user.

All the user has to do when they subsequently reach the door is simply touch the outer surface of the lock, at which point the bolt will electronically withdraw. A touch of the lock can likewise be used to engage it when the user is leaving.

While not having to dig out a key and stick it in the lock may be somewhat convenient, what’s more intriguing is the system’s ability to send, revoke, and limit access to virtual “copies” of the key." (more)

Cell Phone Tracking Trick Explained

2012-05-23T10:49:00.002-04:00

Stingrays locate a mobile phone even when it's not being used to make a call.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation considers the devices to be so critical that it has a policy of deleting the data gathered in their use, mainly to keep suspects in the dark about their capabilities, an FBI official told The Wall Street Journal in response to inquiries. (more)

Out of Bond - Spy Movie Web Site Just Launched

2012-05-23T08:23:00.000-04:00

via spymaniac.com...
"Spymaniac.com, the ultimate online guide to all your favorite spy flicks.

What’s fact, what’s fiction? History or fantasy? Which are the best spy films and why? The outrageous duds? Did the James Bond movies have any impact on real life? And would Angelina Jolie’s Evelyn Salt have learned all those stunts at the Farm?

Get answers to these and other questions here. Share your faves and reviews on Spymaniac.com, and discover great films you may never have heard about. Spymaniac is your community for exploring and sharing spy films, which are rated from zero daggers (worst) to five daggers (best)." (more)

Turkey Bird Spy Found Dead

2012-05-23T08:10:00.000-04:00

Turkey - In the latest bizarre espionage claim leveled at Israeli intelligence services, Turkish authorities claimed that a dead bird found by a Turkish farmer in a field may have been conducting covert surveillance for Israel.

Merops apiaster

The dead Merops apiaster bird -- commonly known as the European Bee-Eater -- was discovered by the Turkish farmer wearing a band on its leg with the word "Israel" written on it.

The bird also had "unusually large nostrils," leading to speculation that it was implanted with a surveillance device and sent to Turkey on an aerial espionage mission. (more)

"How Much Is Your Privacy Worth?"

2012-05-22T10:10:00.000-04:00

"How Much Is Your Privacy Worth?" just opened at The Dutch Museum of Communications located in The Hague, Netherlands.

Illustrator and graphic designer Noma Bar designed this and other posters for the museum, which conducted research into the theme of privacy for its latest exhibition.

...the museum conducted an official survey, the results of which are now displayed in the museum and on its website. They also conducted a series of street interviews. Bar used some of the findings to create the posters.

The following is a little cryptic due to Google's translation abilities, but you'll get the idea...

"The Museum for Communication pays special attention to the issue of privacy. Ruigrok research was commissioned by the museum research into the value of privacy among the Dutch public. Following this study, street interviews. The street interviews are presented in the museum, including exhibitions in the WE Blog, the Empire of back and forth Letter Secrets is the theme.

Of course, also to the visitor the question "How much is your privacy worth?" Made. In exchange for personal information they receive discounts on admission."

Private Investigator Blogs Worth Checking Out

2012-05-22T09:49:00.000-04:00

I came across a blog by Sheer Investigations. It is worth checking out. Don't know how they scooped me with this photo. Well done! Many more interesting posts there, too.

Other well respected investigations blogs. (As compiled by PInow.com; and a great blog in and of itself.) and many more. Explore!

Security Tip: On Keeping Your Perscriptions Private

2012-05-21T15:45:00.000-04:00

via a Security Scrapbook Blue Blaze Irregular... (Thanks!)

"To get the label off the bottle just fill the empty pill bottle with boiling hot water. The glue will soften and you can then pull it off the bottle easy. You can then apply the label to a piece of scrap paper and shred it.

What one does with the now empty and very clean pill bottle is up to the person."

Ideas here!

Breaking Spy Cam News - Rutgers Student Sentenced

2012-05-21T12:55:00.001-04:00

11:27 AM - Dharun Ravi could face 10 years in prison and be deported to his native India when he is sentenced Monday for spying on and intimidating his gay Rutgers University roommate, who then killed himself by jumping off New York's George Washington Bridge.

12:49 PM - Ex-Rutgers student Dharun Ravi gets 30 days in jail for using webcam to spy on roommate who later killed himself. (more)

Android Malware ...using real apps as disguise 'wrappers'

2012-05-21T12:42:00.000-04:00

The ominous trend is that quarter-on-quarter malware is not only getting more common but more sophisticated.

An important technique is the use app ‘wrappers’ to allay the suspicion of users that rogue software might have been installed. These work by bundling legitimate apps with malware in order to gain permissions without the user understanding what it is being granted for. (more) (sing-a-long)

Trend Spotting - Chief Spies Become Political Leaders

2012-05-21T11:37:00.000-04:00

Croatia's main opposition party HDZ elected former spy chief Tomislav Karamarko as its leader on Monday... (more)

George H.W. Bush, ex-CIA; former American President
Heydar Aliyev, Former head of Azerbaijan SSR KGB; former Azerbaijani President

Vladimir Putin, Lieutenant colonel KGB, FSB director; Russian President (again)

Leonid Tibilov, former KGB chief; President, South Ossetia

12/28/11 - ...top posts went to former officers in the K.G.B.

Industrial Espionage Charges - A Public Relations Nightmare

2012-05-21T11:11:00.000-04:00

John Donovan says, "Shell is notorious for its predatory appetite for the intellectual property of other organizations, its business partners, contractors, etc. Industrial espionage is a way of life at Shell. Shell management has apparently even targeted the US defense establishment," and then he goes on to post: Another alleged case of IP theft hits Royal Dutch Shell

Geezzz, true or not, who needs that kind of publicity?!?!

How can you protect your organization against accusations of industrial espionage?

Step 1. Start by writing business ethics into your corporate Credo. This codifies your standards for all the world to see. It is an especially good anchor for employees.

Don't have a Credo?

Don't know where it fits into the picture?

via Small Business USA...

"The Credo ties the company’s Vision to the company’s Mission and Values Statements. The Vision could be seen as the way the entrepreneur sees his company in the future general business environment. The Mission is what he intends to create to secure his place in the Vision. The Values statement indicates what the parameters of operation look like while attempting to achieve these goals. The Credo tells the reader how the company intends to execute these goals. It could be seen as the way the objectives can be reached to realize the Mission inside of the Vision while adhering to certain Values."

Step 2. Post your Credo where it can be see and read by all employees, often. Johnson & Johnson is one company which does this very well.

Step 3. Aggressively investigate all alleged deviations. Make corrections swiftly if the allegations are true.

Step 4. Institute a regular schedule of intellectual property (IP) security surveys, coupled with Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) audits.

Don't be covert about it. The benefits are many...

• The impression that IP theft is bad, as opposed to being an unspoken business practice, is reinforced.

• Employees see you caring about their privacy. They appreciate that.

• They see that you value the IP assets which makes your company strong, and assures their continued employment.

• Caring is contagious. If you care, employees will care, and they will assist and support your security initiatives with more enthusiasm. Apple is an excellent example of Step 4.

• You create a safe environment where ideas and strategies can be discussed and developed without fear or compromise.

• And, maybe most important of all, you will thwart IP theft, thus making your company more profitable. Stockholders love that.

Cell Phone SpyWare App is Vulnerable to... being spied upon!

2012-05-21T09:56:00.000-04:00

The irony is too significant to ignore: A smartphone app that enables customers to spy on others' phones may itself be vulnerable to attackers looking to spy on them.

The surveillance app, called "Mobile Spy," is designed to let its customers monitor the information, including text messages, GPS location and call logs, of other phones installed with the app. That private info is then uploaded to the app user's account and can be viewed in any Web browser, either on a computer or phone.

Unfortunately for those doing the watching, Mobile Spy contains several security vulnerabilities that allow an attacker to inject malicious code into the target's phone, via SMS message, and hijack their spy session, according to researchers at Vulnerability Lab, who disclosed the flaws. (more)

Meet Your New Back Door Friend...

2012-05-20T14:49:00.000-04:00

Will Congress require social networks, online voice over IP (VoIP) services, and Webmail providers to build in backdoors that could be used for electronic surveillance purposes by the FBI?

According to one news report, FBI officials have been meeting with Facebook, Google, Microsoft (which owns Skype and Hotmail), and Yahoo, among other companies. The goal apparently isn't to promote the bureau's push for expanded wiretapping capabilities, but rather to ask how that be implemented while causing minimal disruption for the companies with networks that would be directly accessed...

Six Key Points to Consider

1. Bureau Warns About Going Dark. The bureau has already been asking Congress for broader surveillance powers to help it keep up with new technologies....

2. Proposed CALEA Revisions Would Update 1994 Law. Accordingly, the FBI wants Congress to expand the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)...

3. Questions Remain Over Wiretapping Scope. Just how often does the FBI need to use wiretapping during an investigation? That's not clear. According to an FBI website about CALEA, wiretapping "is used infrequently and then only to combat the most serious crimes and terrorism."...

4. Civil Liberties Groups See Slippery Slope. Civil rights groups have warned that granting law enforcement agencies new surveillance powers could lead to a decrease in the privacy protections that people currently enjoy...

5. Will Technology Companies Back CALEA Expansion?...

6. Backdoors May Facilitate Unauthorized Access. Wiretapping backdoors could also make online services more vulnerable to attackers.... (more)

Bustin' A Move Could Get One Busted

2012-05-20T14:46:00.000-04:00

TX - Galveston police are on the lookout for the “dancing burglar” who was captured on video busting some moves during the break-in of a Duck Tours amphibious vehicle.

The 38-second video released by Galveston police Capt. Jeff Heyse on Wednesday shows a man apparently chatting with someone before he busts the dance moves.

The dancer (later identified as a juvenile) is one of three people sought in connection with the March 27 burglary of a Duck Tours amphibious automobile, which takes sightseers along Galveston streets and the bay. (more)

"One can never be too far away, or too thin. Besides, what's in a name?"

2012-05-20T08:49:00.000-04:00

NJ - An appeals court has ruled that police in New Jersey can wiretap a suspect in another state without obtaining a warrant from the judge of that state.

Thursday’s ruling also confirms the murder conviction of Edward Ates, a Florida man who was sentenced to life in prison after failing to persuade a jury of the argument that he was too fat to have committed the 2006 murder of his son-in-law.

Ates was convicted in 2009 of fatally shooting his former son-in-law. An investigation by Bergen County prosecutors included wiretapping calls Ates made from Florida to his mother and sister in Louisiana. (more)

Security Tops Boardroom Agendas

2012-05-19T15:10:00.000-04:00

via the Financial Times...
Securing corporate intellectual property assets, customer data and other information in the face of an onslaught of attacks from cyber thieves, spies and “hactivists” is now a top priority for most chief information officers and – increasingly – for the corporate boardroom.

“It is definitely something I think about all the time,” says the chief information officer of a US-based consumer goods multinational that, like many other companies, particularly those in the financial services sector, now has an IT security team led by a chief information security officer (CISO.)...

“Our companies are targeted for insider information and our universities and national laboratories are targeted for their research and development,” Robert Mueller, Federal Bureau of Investigations director told a US congressional panel last year...

Meanwhile companies and other organizations have begun to spend more on identifying and protecting their key data using multiple layers of defense and, perhaps most importantly, monitoring and detection systems that can identify security breaches quickly and efficiently. (one example) (more)

This Time the Janitor is Spied Upon

2012-05-19T12:05:00.004-04:00

AK - Educators at Gilson Junior High were shocked and outraged to learn janitorial supervisors had planted a hidden camera in the ceiling tiles of the teacher lounge above a computer workplace, ostensibly in hopes of catching janitors goofing off on the computer rather than working. Outrage spread when a second camera hidden in a clock was discovered in a custodial closet at Valdez High School. It was later learned the same camera had been located in the teacher lounge at the junior high days before it was found at the high school. (more)

Possible Surveillance Drone Strike? In Colorado?!?!

2012-05-19T11:38:00.000-04:00

CO - A mystery object, thought to be a military or law enforcement drone, flying in controlled airspace over Denver almost caused a catastrophic mid air crash with a commercial jet Monday.

The pilot of the Cessna jet radioed air traffic controllers to warn them that “A remote controlled aircraft” had flown past his plane far too close for comfort.

“Something just went by the other way … About 20 to 30 seconds ago. It was like a large remote-controlled aircraft.” the pilot said in the transmission that was captured on the live air traffic audio website liveatc.net (Look for 2012-05-16 15:00:51 in the archive section. Free registration required.) (more)

"Spy, the Secret World of Espionage" Now open in NYC

2012-05-19T11:20:00.002-04:00

The mysterious cloak and dagger world of international espionage and its real-life heros and villains are exposed in a new exhibition, the first to be sanctioned by U.S. intelligence agencies.

"Spy, the Secret World of Espionage," which opens at the Discovery Times Square on Friday, includes hundreds of artifacts, some from the vaults of the CIA and FBI and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

They range from a World War Two-era collapsible motorbike that could be dropped by parachute and deployed in 10 seconds and a German ENIGMA machine to create secret messages to a camel saddle used by one of the first CIA agents in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks to bugging devices, microdots and surveillance equipment.

"This is the first and only time these items will ever travel. It is kind of an unparalleled cooperation and collaboration with the CIA and FBI," said H. Keith Melton, author, intelligence historian and expert on spy technology who contributed items from his own collection. (more)

Facebook's Trading Day Begins with... a Wiretap Lawsuit

2012-05-18T18:50:00.000-04:00

Facebook is being sued for $15 billion for tracking users, even after they have logged out of the social network, and violating federal wiretap laws.

Today’s lawsuit, filed in Federal Court in San Jose, California, combines 21 separate cases across the U.S. in 2011 and early 2012... If the claimants are successful in their case against Facebook, they could prevent Menlo Park from collecting the huge amount of data it collects about its users to serve ads back to them.

Like the previous lawsuits, Facebook is once again being accused of violating the Federal Wiretap Act, which provides statutory damages per user of $100 per day per violation, up to a maximum per user of $10,000. The complaint also asserts claims under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Stored Communications Act, various California Statutes, and California common law. It’s worth noting that similar cases against Facebook and others filed under the wiretap law have been thrown out because browser cookies are simply not considered wiretaps and plaintiffs have difficulty proving any harm. (more)

Android Cell Phone Users Security Alert

2012-05-18T14:22:00.004-04:00

Malware targeting Android users has nearly quadrupled since 2011. As you can see in the graph, 10 Android malware families were detected in Q1 2011. This number increased for two quarters in a row, then dipped for one, and then finally settled at 37 in Q1 2012. That means a year-over-year growth of 270 percent.

The data comes from security firm F-Secure. The trend was revealed today in the company’s 47-page Mobile Threat Report Q1 2012 (PDF).

It makes sense that both the number of malware families and malicious Android APKs is increasing, but it’s still staggering to see that the latter number is now over 3,000, whereas last year it was just above 100.

The increase in malware numbers is indicative of a wider increase in mobile threats, according to F-Secure. Even more worrying, however, is that the Finnish security firm warned many of the apps are targeting Android users’ financial data, noting that 34 of the current malware families are designed to steal money from infected smartphones. (more)

Tip: Do not download, open or install anything unless you absolutely need it and are 100% confident it is coming to you from a trusted source. ~Kevin

Kevin's Security Scrapbook

FutureWatch: Canada's CALEA

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