jbond ( 007 ) Power Seller

UK - Police are investigating the sale of a digital camera said to contain MI6 images of terror suspects, the Foreign Office has said. The camera was bought for £17 on auction website eBay by a 28-year-old from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. The pictures were also said to include rocket launchers and missiles. ...refused to comment on the report that the camera was sold by an MI6 agent. (more)

MacSpy - Video Surveillance Goes Franchise

The 1970's dream of Dictograph Surveillance Centers has finally come true. Franchise video monitoring is now real.

Dictograph pioneered franchise security and even had a "Video Surveillance Center" before it was technologically feasible.

The center consisted of a wall of wooden outlines of TV monitor screens with photographs of client locations pasted in the screen spaces. To add realism, the photos had horizontal TV scan lines superimposed over the picture.

A poster-sized photograph of this wall – complete with an official surveillance person eyeing the wall carefully – was placed at client locations to let employees know that they were being watched. Hollywood, but it worked.

In fact, usually only one of the client location cameras was hooked to a local monitor. The rest of the cameras were empty shells with a big red blinking tally light on the front.

The future is here, and so are new video surveillance franchises, like MonitorClosely.com

and SightMind

FutureWatch – "Neighborhood Watch Alarms" A sales technique to convince entire neighborhoods to sign on with one provider. The hook... When trouble is spotted on one system, all the neighbors will be instantly alerted.

How do I know about the fake video wall?
I was one of those official surveillance persons.
And, I kept the secret, until now.

SpyCam Story #476 - Follow Me Roaming

Singapore - A brain might well be added to those all-seeing eyes along streets, train stations and shopping centres.

The Home Affairs Ministry wants those surveillance cameras put to more pro-active use, with new technology that can detect a face in a crowd, for example.

Last month, it made public two 'request for information' (RFI) documents asking about two similar types of technology: one that can recognise suspects by their facial features and another that can pick out objects of interest - from video footage. (more) (spoof video)

FutureWatch - Although facial recognition and tracking didn't catch on the first go-around (the Tampa, Florida experiment), it is ripe for a come-back. 5 years from now, this will be commonplace – along with automatic license plate readers and motion-intention evaluators.

Flashback - August 23, 2003
It is with sadness we note the demise of our favorite city motto... Tampa - "You're only a stranger here once."

August 2003 - Tampa police have scrapped their controversial security camera system that scanned city streets for criminals, citing its failure over two years to recognize anyone wanted by authorities.

History...
July 2001 - The Tampa City Council took a fully-informed look at Ybor City's controversial high-tech face-scanning software. When the dust settled, the council split down the middle with a 3-3 vote on whether or not to do away with the face-scanning software.
http://www.spybusters.com/SS018.html (search word: Ybor)

A Nobel Change of Heart

Sweden's ruling four-party coalition added a series of amendments on Thursday to a law for monitoring cross-border internet and telephone traffic, bowing to pressure from privacy advocates and worried legislators.

Under the revised bill, the military National Defence Radio Establishment will be allowed to monitor Swedes' internet usage as well as content from e-mails, phone calls and mobile text messages, but only after getting court approval. (more)

Spys Under Fire

Grenada's former spy chief, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Anthony De Gale has finally been questioned in connection with reports of missing files from the department. De Gale was questioned on Tuesday by members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at their location on Hillsborough Street, St. George's. The Spy Master was sent on his 120 days accumulated leave by newly installed Police Commissioner, James Clarkson after it was discovered that at the files at Special Branch were destroyed immediately after the July 8 General Elections which brought the then opposition National Democratic Congress of Tillman Thomas to power. (more)

Former India coach Greg Chappell on Saturday laughed off speculation that he was passing on secret information about the Indian team to Australia. Chappell, who quit as India coach last year after the team's first-round exit at the World Cup, is now touring with the Australian team as their assistant coach. (more)

And... they fire back!
A former MI5 chief, Dame Stella Rimington, has criticised the government's plans to extend the period under which suspects can be held without charge.

In comments cited by the Guardian newspaper, the ex-intelligence supremo said the 42-day detention plans were excessive.

Dame Rimington was speaking at the Crime Scene festival where she was launching her espionage thriller, Dead Line. (more)

Bonus points:
Guess who is who.
--------------------------------
Update - The winner is my very knowledgeable conterespionage colleague from Australia, who writes...
"Dame Stella Rimington was the former head of the domestic counter intelligence agency 'The Security Service' (aka MI5) whereas Dame Judy Dench plays the role of M (head of the Foreign Intelligence Service 'The Secret Service' aka MI6) in the James Bond Series.
So they don't represent the same agency... small point I know :)"

And I thought the casting department was being clever. Never underestimate the vast knowledge of the Security Scrapbook readership!

Have a spy question? Send it in. If I don't know the answer, I am sure one of our readers knows.

Tracking a Corporate Spy

May 1988: On behalf of the U.S. Surgical Corp., Mary McFate begins monitoring an animal rights group protesting the company's use of dogs in surgical training at its Connecticut headquarters. As an undercover agent, McFate meets activist Fran Trutt at a rally and records her making threats to kill company president Leon C. Hirsch. McFate reports the threat to Hirsch and begins extensively monitoring Trutt.
From here the story gets weirder... (more)

August 2008: After reports of connections to the NRA, gun safety advocates try contacting McFate. Unable to do so, they expel her.

Put us on our team before you corporation has to deal with espionage issues like these.

Eavesdrop on Astronauts

Conversations between astronauts aboard the International Space Station and flight controllers on the ground now are available for the public to hear live, 24 hours a day, seven days a week on NASA's Web site.

The streaming audio of space-to-ground communications includes NASA commentary during specific station mission events and regularly scheduled space station commentary on NASA Television Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. Central time. NASA already provides this space-to-ground communication with commentary during space shuttle missions.

The streaming station and shuttle mission audio is available on the following NASA sites:
- Under the NASA TV (Live) tab at: http://www.nasa.gov
- Under the left navigation at: http://www.nasa.gov/station and http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
- In the list of channels at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Spouse Spying Causes More Problems

New Zealand - Suspicious spouses who use spy software to track phone calls and text messages on their cheating partner's cellphone may be breaking the law.

One website to offer the spyware service, Flexispy, allows people to download the software to a suspected adulterer's internet-capable phone for a fee. The virtually undetectable software tracks every text and phone call made from the phone and a summary can be viewed online. But New Zealand Institute of Professional Investigators president Trevor Morley says use of the software would amount to phone-tapping, which is illegal in this country.

"Even if it was not an offence under the... Crimes Act provisions to use that software, we suggest that its use would definitely be a breach of various provisions of the Privacy Act.

Assistant privacy commissioner Katrine Evans said there were cases where spying or surveillance by a parent of a child or within a couple did not breach privacy laws. (more)

The same is generally true in the United States of America.

Low-Tek, Bones

OH - A Strongsville chiropractor was convicted Friday of spying on female patients as they undressed in his offices.

James Starek, 38, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of voyeurism and obstruction of justice. Berea Municipal Judge Mark Comstock found him guilty. A sentencing date was not immediately set.

Mary Ann Suchan said she quit working for Starek after her daughter Stephanie raised concerns about unusual behavior by the doctor and a suspicious mirror in a room where she undressed.

Stephanie Suchan said she suspected the mirror was actually two-sided. Her mother later removed the roughly 8-by-10 mirror while Starek was away and found a large hole in the wall, she said. The women took photos of the hole and shared them with Strongsville police and reporters. (more)

SpyCam Story #475 - Vermont Made

A former University of Vermont student is admitting he used cameras to spy on people.

Jordan Yarosh, 18, pleaded guilty in court Tuesday to three counts of voyeurism. Yarosh placed hidden cameras, disguised as clock radios, in various bathrooms. (more)

Spycam Story #474 - Sign of the Times

35+ Surveillance cameras spy on the product in a window display.

Overkill for shoplifters?
Hardly.

"Everyone notices you when you carry the right bag, even all the surveillance cameras. It's a sign of the times."

Louis Vuitton: luxury leather luggage, French fashion designer, society's pulse taker. Seen in Century City, CA by Secret Agent AT.

Bin there... dunned that.

Pakistan recovers 'US spy drone'
A military spokesman told the BBC that the drone was recovered on Tuesday in the South Waziristan tribal area and the wreckage was being examined. (more)

"Me, too"
Georgia today said it had shot down a Russian drone over territory close to the breakaway province of South Ossetia, which is due to be patrolled by EU observers. (more)

Estonia Catches Its First Spy!

Estonian police have arrested high-ranking member of the Defense Ministry Herman Simm on accusations of espionage. His wife Heete Simm, a police lawyer, faces similarly charges. Estonian authorities have not named the country the couple were providing information to, but Estonian media and local experts claim it was Russia. (more)

SpyCam Story #473 - His Indespensible Disposable

UT - A man is accused of hiding a camera in the bedroom of an acquaintance so he could watch her undress. In charges filed Monday, police wrote that the victim found an electronic surveillance camera May 10 in her Millcreek home. The camera was hidden inside a disposable camera and placed behind her desk, pointed toward the area in the bedroom where she dresses, police wrote. A small antenna was attached to transmit the images, police wrote. In July, another woman told police that her boyfriend admitted to putting the camera there, saying he was "addicted to pornography and wanted to see it in real life," investigators wrote. The man was charged with voyeurism and obstruction of justice, both misdemeanors. (more)

A Different Governmental Drummer

The Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union (GPTWU) has called on the government to withdraw legislation that will allow the authorities to tap and intercept telephone conversations. (more)

SpyCam Story #472 - Adult Swim

Lorrie John Trites is wanted for allegedly making video and voice recordings of several young women as they changed their clothing in the ladies locker room of the aquatic center of a college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. These recordings were made without the knowledge of the female victims. This occurred between December of 1997 and February of 1998, while Trites was the head swimming coach at the college. Trites was charged with six counts of violating the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act in a local arrest warrant issued on March 10, 1998.
Date of Birth Used: November 19, 1961 Hair: Brown
Place of Birth: New Mexico Eyes: Brown
Height: 6'7" Sex: Male
Weight: 250 to 290 pounds Race: White
NCIC: W150879142 Nationality: American
Occupation: Former swimming coach
Scars and Marks: None known
Remarks: Trites has ties to New Mexico, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, Canada, Trinidad, and the Bahamas. He may have facial hair. Trites is an avid swimmer and may be involved in some way with the swimming community.
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PERSON, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FBI OFFICE OR THE NEAREST AMERICAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE. (more)

SpyCam Story #471 - D'oh!

SD - A Sioux Falls man accused of spying on women in his home bathroom pleaded guilty today. Nate Campbell will have to serve 20 days in jail. He was accused of using a web cam to record women using the bathroom at his former apartment in Sioux Falls. (more) In the complaint, it says authorities were notified after Campbell reportedly showed recordings of the two women on two occasions: one to a friend, the other to one of the victims. (history)

SpyCam Story #470 - Wrong Way Rubbed

TX - Police have arrested an Austin massage therapist accused of improper photography. Austin police investigators have confiscated a computer that belonged to Jason Charles Thompson, 34, that contains 120 files of his clients, and police say they may contain pictures or video of women getting dressed and undressed before and after massages.

"Apparently his room at the spa had towels and candles and a couple of cabinets. He had some personal items, so it would be easy enough to hide a video machine, a video camera," said Stephen Andreini, APD detective. (more) (video)

SpyCam Story #469 - New Record, 20 Years!

PA - A 45-year-old Phoenixville man who owned 16 apartments in Norristown is in custody on charges that he spied on female tenants, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said today.

Ferman said Norristown police, responding to a complaint from a tenant of Thomas Daley, discovered hidden cameras and audio equipment in three of four apartments Daley owns at 566 Stanbridge Street. The charges against him include invasion of privacy and criminal use of a communication facility, Ferman said.

She described the charges as "the tip of the iceberg." She said Daly admitted spying on female tenants for 20 years. The cameras were located in the women's bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms, Ferman said.

She said that investigators are still interviewing potential victims and that more charges are likely. (more)

UPDATE...
Thomas Daley, 45, covered his face as he left police headquarters Tuesday under the weight of over 1,000 new counts of spying on his female tenants.

"We have been inundated. Norristown police have been absolutely inundated with more people coming forward, more victims," Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

Daley stands charged with secretly recording every intimidate detail of the young women who lived in at least seven apartments he owned around Norristown. He has admitted he installed hidden cameras and recording devices in bedrooms, bathrooms and the showers at the women's apartments.

Daley also installed cameras on the outside of the property so he could see when the women came and went. Police said he had an elaborate computerized surveillance setup in the basement of this home. All of it was working and active when police busted in Friday.

Daley told police he installed the cameras himself... Daley was being held Tuesday night on $2 million bail. (more) (video)

SpyCam Story #468 - Uncloaking SpyCams

Wireless SpyCam (color with audio) – $29.90.
Amazing size.
Amazing price.
Anyone can be a spy.

SpyCams are just one of the many surveillance devices we detect during the course of our corporate eavesdropping detection audits. One of the detection methods we use is a technique we developed ourselves, Thermal Emissions Spectrum Analysis® (TESA)

(more about TESA) (more about our bug detection techniques)

The First Real Dick Tracy Wrist Radio

Who invented the first real Dick Tracy wrist radio?

Wendy Rejan, Historian's Office, DCSOPS, Fort Monmouth, NJ knows...

"...yesterday’s science fiction became Fort Monmouth’s latest engineering endeavor in 1953 when scientists here developed one of the first electronic spy gadgets ---the Dick Tracy transistor watch radio.

Weighing in at just over two ounces, the radio could pick up radio stations from here to New York City. A hearing amplifier was connected to the radio by a wire concealed in the wearer’s sleeve. The mercury battery of the first model lasted about ten hours and a knob on the face of the watch allowed the wearer to select a frequency.

Signal Corps scientists here were ordered to come up with the wrist watch transistor radio on a Friday in August 1953. They had accomplished their mission by the following Monday.

First lieutenant Paul W. Cooper, an electrical engineer, was working in the Search and Intercept Department of the Signal Corps Engineering labs at the time. The department was responsible for research and development work with transistors.

The watch was invented by Cooper and Joseph F. O’Brien. Harry H. French was responsible for the printed wiring board and fabrication. According to Cooper, the scientists manufactured many of the components themselves." (more)

Stolen Cell Phone Tracker - Available NOW!

Ken Westin, founder of Gadgettrak advises...
PhoneBak is a unique patent-pending theft recovery solution that allows phone owners to have their phones "call them" in the event they are lost or stolen.

PhoneBak is triggered when the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) in your phone is replaced with an unauthorized one. When this occurs PhoneBak will silently send SMS messages) to pre-defined numbers you have entered (spouse, IT department etc), the information gathered will depend on the platform, but will usually include:
• The new phone number of your phone
• The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)
• The IMSI (International Mobiel Subscriber Identity)
• GSM Area Code
• Cell ID - GSM Localization
With this information you can contact the person who has your phone in the event it was simply "lost," or contact law enforcement with the details who can follow up with the service provider to get locate the phone.

Operating Systems include: Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian. Network Type: GSM. Not compatible with CDMA networks such as Verizon and Sprint.

OK, so GadgetTrak's PhoneBak doesn't turn your phone into a screamin' mimi, or let you spy on the cretin who glommed your phone, but... you can get protected today ($24.95), and "in the coming weeks," iPhone protection as well!

Other innovative products Ken has developed include:
• Lost & Found Tags (Use them on anything!)
• Laptop Theft Recovery Software
(Mac version also takes a photo of the thief.)
(PC version allows remote destruction of your data!)
• Removable Media Tracking

Maybe it was only "methodical and thorough"

Lidl (a German supermarket chain) has been fined about 1.5m Euros ($2,192,876.00) for spying on its employees, according to Guenter Schedler, the data protection commissioner in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Earlier reports had mentioned unconfirmed figures of a million-euro fine. Lidl said it "accepted" the fines, but denied the existence of any "systematic and comprehensive" company policy to spy on its staff. (more)

FutureWatch - Stolen Cell Phone Alarm / Tracker

Reportedly, coming soon.
From the inventor's web site...
Maverick Secure Mobile (MSM) is a security application.
Secure mobile helps you protect your data, track your stolen device, retrieve your phonebook & disable the stolen device remotely. The application works in hidden mode and cannot be viewed in the device...

1. Protects Your Data In case of theft/loss, the moment SIM change is detected, Secure mobile will encrypt all the data on the device like the phonebook, images, messages etc.

2. Track Device In case of loss/theft the application will send the phone number, device id, country code, operator name and area code(location) to the reporting device through sms. Secure Mobile will also report about activities performed on the stolen device via SMS; like Outgoing Calls made, etc.

3. Retrieve Phonebook The most important data on any device are the contacts. Using MSM one can retrieve phonebook from the stolen device.

4. Spy Call Spy call will switch on the loudspeaker & mic of the stolen device remotely, so that the caller can actually listen to the conversation other person is engaged in. This call will not give any notification/ ring to the stolen device.

5. Raise an alarm and disable the phone To disable stolen device remotely, send sms = hang from the Reporting device to the stolen device, and it will raise an alarm and start playing a loud Siren. MSM will also display a customized message.

6. Data Back-up Secure Mobile has a distinctive feature of incremental Data Back up. Using this feature one can back up all the data from the device to secure remote server using GPRS. So now all your data is very much secured and you can retrieve it without any hassle. All the above mentioned features can be used even if the SIM is not changed,
a. In case the device is lost by sending SMS “Activate” from the reporting device.
b. For Parental control of child’s mobile device by sending SMS “Track” from reporting device (more) (videos)

"Did too." "Did not!" "Did TOO!" "It's my ball..."

New Zealand - The All Blacks will complain to the Australian Rugby Union that Robbie Deans used secretly filmed footage of their trainings to prepare for Saturday night's test. (more)

Australia - The Wallabies were forced to angrily deny All Black allegations of spying yesterday in a bitter postscript to the Kiwis' thrilling triumph in Brisbane on Saturday night. (more)

Laptop Searches at US Borders (update)

News...
Customs and Border Patrol agents can grab your laptop, BlackBerry, or external hard drive without needing so much as a reason,
Good news...
but a new bill introduced last week to Congress would at least put some limits on how border searches could be done.
Bad news...
Coming so close to the end of this Congressional session, Sanchez's bill is unlikely to see action this year. It currently sits in the House Committee on Homeland Security, where it will likely expire when Congress adjourns. (more)