Security Oddballs - Airplane Trap Door and More

Some security inventions are truly useful and will undoubtedly save lives, whereas others are so bizarre that one wonders how in the world they got patented. This list is about the latter...
Behold the Top 10 Strangest Anti-Terrorism Patents! (more)

The New Jersey Ninja
Officials in Barnegat briefly locked down five schools in the township Wednesday because... a librarian said a man dressed as a ninja, carrying a large sword, was running through the woods... the man (a camp counselor) wearing a karate gi, was carrying a plastic sword and was attending a party at a local middle school. (more)

"Don't have a karate gi?
How about a nice tie?"
The Walking Timebomb Tie
"This is our first in a series of 'Concealed Weapons' neckties. They are each double printed - a more subtle graphic is on the front only giving a slight clue to a more "loaded" graphic hidden on the back. The second image is concealed on the reverse until the wearer pulls it out for show and tell - or keeps it a secret to his/her self." (more)

George Carlin on Airport Security (Not safe for work.)

Unbreakable Fighting Umbrella Splits Watermelons, Defends Presidents
The entourage of the Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has an unusual secret weapon. Her security team defends the head of the government with umbrellas. Not ordinary umbrellas, but unbreakable fighting umbrellas. Watch the video to see the combat-brolly in action, and marvel as Thomas Kurz ("the world's foremost expert on flexibility training") viciously splits a watermelon in two. (more) (more)

Spybusters Shades - Poop on the Paparazzi

Proof of Concept. Very effective. Murray's Prediction: Look for some sharp sunglass manufacturer to put this into production.
"Spy", perhaps?!?!

Abusive Teacher Caught On Tape

A Houston mother, who said her daughter was well-behaved at home, was worried about what was going on in her child's classroom because the girl had been suspended four times for bad behavior.

Teacher: 'Y'all Are Just Stupid Kids'
So, Diana Mijares decided to secretly bug her daughter's backpack and was shocked to hear what was on the tape.

"It made us concerned," Mijares said on "Good Morning America" today. "It was enough and we needed answers."

Megan Mijares' digital tape recorded mostly mundane moments at Memorial Elementary School's prekindergarten class, but then it captured the teacher yelling at the group of 4- and 5-year-olds. All of it happened without Megan's or her teacher's knowledge.

"You're just a bad kid," the teacher says on the six-hour tape. "You're mean to me, so I get to be mean to you."

The teacher, who was not identified, continues to harshly scold the children.

"You are all just stupid kids. I swear to God," the teacher says. "You are just all stupid kids." (more) (video)

SpyCam Story #436 - SpyCam Goes to School

from "blammocamo"...
"I 'hid' my camera and caught some clips of what people were doing during spare period." (boring video) (many many more boring videos)

We've come a long way from the days of Alan Funt. SpyCam'ing is an acknowledged worldwide pass-time. One second you are anonymous, the next second your are a star on youtube.com. Laws are always about 10-years behind the technology. Look for spycams to make some creative legislation.

In the meantime, at least take some steps to protect your workplace and the intellectual property kept there.

Ideas...
- Establish security policy which includes videography.
- Conduct periodic sweeps for video bugging devices.
- Learn to recognize the spycamer's tricks. (1) (2) (3), for example.

"Please, speak into my lapel."

Wireless CCTV, a UK-based provider of mobile surveillance systems, has launched its 3G body-worn services that are aimed at providing enhanced security to agents in the field.

Wireless says that the systems, which have been developed in response to the growing demand for body-worn surveillance equipment whether overt or covert, offer evidential quality recording of suspects and enable security supervisors to coordinate and carry out tactical operations that involve multiple members. (more)

Men! Grab your Trench Coats!

NY - The queen of US designers, Diane von Furstenberg, offered a spy-themed collection harking back to wartime Berlin as she presented her latest creations at New York's Fashion Week.

Opening with the sensual voice of onetime German cabaret singer Marlene Dietrich, the show entitled "Foreign Affair" seemed intent on convincing the audience that women can look elegant even in times of crisis. (more) (Trench Coat)

SpyCam Story #426 - Long Arm Gets Third Eye

Scotland - Spy cameras are to be fitted to the uniforms of Scottish police officers for the first time, in a new hi-tech initiative in the fight against crime.

The cameras will be in open view on the uniforms or body armour of officers on patrol and will be used to gather evidence to help secure convictions.

Initially, recorded footage taken by the CCTV cameras will be downloaded to a computer, but SCS Security Design, the company behind the scheme, is developing software that will allow images from the cameras to be beamed back live to the force's CCTV control room. (more)

Normal looking belt buckle...

(from the seller's website)
...is a high quality Audio Video recorder.

"Our Buckle DVR gives you the ability to perform personal investigation, conduct secret video surveillance or for any ideal covert operation where gathering evidence is important.

Ideal for hidden camera use where wireless camera can be detected easily with a wireless camera detector." (more) (sample video)

Why do I mention it?
So you know what you're up against.

She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy...

I said, "Be careful...

(From the website...)
"The World's Smallest Color Pinhole Camera built-in the fashionable tie. When tie this tie with your clothes lets you record exactly what you saw. No external power needed, just connect it directly with MP4 player to hidden recording so you will not miss any action. It is also great as a surveillance camera, a toy for hobby enthusiasts, as body worn solutions and so on." (more)

Is that a battery clip, or are you just happy to see me?

"So, uh, does this mean the Invisible Fence idea is out, too?"

Taiwanese high school students have launched a campaign to boycott a multi-function electronic identification card. They argued that the radio frequency identification (RFID) student card required by the Taipei City's Bureau of Education violates their rights to privacy.

According to Taipei Times, the High School Student's Rights Association (HSRA) launched the boycott campaign on Sunday. The newspaper quoted the HSRA's secretary, Wang Hao-zheng, as saying that the ID keeps students under strict surveillance like convicts or animals. (more)

UK - Ten students in a secondary school in the United Kingdom are being tracked through RFID implants in their school uniforms in a pilot program. (more)

Not all parents are thrilled. (more)
Not all governments are thrilled. (more)
(In case you don't know... Invisible Fence)

Forget Valerie Plame...

Forget OS X 10.5...

The Spy Museum 2007 Holiday Catalog gets 'outted' today!

That's right, folks. Their cover is blown and everyone is after this document! Over 200 of the world's most wanted spy gadgets, clothing, toys, games, books and music ("there's a man who leads a life of danger...") (more)

This just in... "I'm not going away."

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Keep your flock together with this new Bladerunner product, a tyke-tracker GPS jacket!

Bladerunner teamed up with one of the U.K.'s leading GPS operators and have developed a childrens trackable Jacket.

Features:
- Very long battery life
- Fast signal aquisition
- 2 Quick Dial buttons for SOS situations

You can set a boundary and if your child wanders outside of this then you will be notified by mobile phone. There is a £10 monthly charge which gives you access to a secure website where you can view every movement of your child whilst wearing the jacket. This even expands to a historical view where past days/weeks or even months movements can be viewed. (more)

The Ultimate Eavesdropping Tool?

...now on ebay! (ugh)

"Haunted 925 Silver Ornate Chalcedony Ring - Witch Spell - Read Other's Minds! Telepathy! Pick Up on Thoughts."

"This is a Ring that Albina imbued with an incredible spell!. She says that Chalcedony has always been highly regarded beacuse of it's natural power to increase thought transmissions. As a result, Albina consecrated this ring with her "Mystical mind reader" spell. This powerful spell allows one to actually "read the mind's of others as well as hear their thoughts and pick up on their feelings". She says that this is a form of psychic ability only it is focused solely on mind reading and not the ability to see future events.

In turn, Albina says that wearing this ring will allow one to "tune into and pick up on other's thoughts and feelings" which is as she says "very beneficial in many situations. She does caution one however, to using this power to "eavesdrop on the feelings and thoughts of those who dislike or are an 'enemy' to one. She says that she herself has 'felt hurt' by some of the information she has received. Yet, overall, she says "this power offers one a great advantage especially in business and career matters. She goes on to say that this ability is "key" when one is facing important decisions and chioces. Albina says that before purchasing a summer home, she wore this ring and was able to "hear the realtor become fearful" that she would discover the 'bad' plumbing in the lower level of the home! She adds that this is only ONE example of how this imbued ring has "given me information that I was VERY grateful to receive". This is a VERY special piece and my GREAT Thanks and Blessings go out to Albina for donating such a cherished item!

My reader says that the energy emitted from this ring is "very consistent and carries a low, humming frequency". She said that the piece "gave me the chills and seemed to open a door" that allowed her own ability to increase.

She went on to say that she could feel the ring "connecting to those around one on a level in which one would be able to read thoughts". She added that the longer she held the ring, she felt the ability getting stronger, and this was only within a few minutes. She went on to say that "if this ring can allow this within such a short period of time, one who wears this ring often should be able to achieve geat abilities and gain a very clear pathways to another's mind".

She adds that she senses that this particular ring "knows it's true owner" and that the person it will go to "will feel a pull towards this piece and not rest until it is in their possession'. She also could view a brilliant green and dark, sharp pink aura around this piece. (more) ...currently, only $20.50 - whattabargain :)

SpyCam Story #361

Thanks to new "Shot Guard" underwear from Cramer Japan, female athletes, students and children are now protected from infrared photography.

Yes indeed, Japan's legendary "hentai" (perverts) have found a new way to get their jollies: snapping photos of female athletes through their sports wear.

It seems that these Bizarro Superman wannabes are adapting the night-function capabilities of ordinary camcorders to take infrared photos of unsuspecting women & children in the daytime.
Since infrared radiation (known to us regular folks as heat) is emitted by the skin, the modified cameras can record the surface of said skin.

The result is kind of dark and grainy, much like the thoughts of the perverted paparazzi. from inventorspot.com (more)

In case your crotch concerns run more along the lines of, "Hope that cell phone in my pocket doesn't fry my nads," check out radiation-proof Slipways underwear, by ISA Body Wear. (more)

Saayyyy, how about a nice hat to go with your new ensemble?

School finds illicit photos on cell phone

KS - Prairie Village police are investigating reports that a 12-year-old boy used a cell phone to take pictures under girls’ skirts without their knowledge at Mission Valley Middle School.

The alleged incidents were discovered April 16 by school officials acting on a tip. Police said investigators found three pictures of two female students. Police are investigating the matter as eavesdropping, a misdemeanor offense. No charges have been filed. (more)

RF Condoms

Protect cell phones, PDAs, laptops and even cards with embedded RFID chip from eavesdroppers. EM-SEC Technologies makes and sells special cases which protect your electronics from secretly communicating with ether-snoops.

Need to protect something larger... like a whole room?

They also make paint that blocks radio waves! EM-SEC Coating is applied as an interior surface coating to individual rooms or entire facilities to provide a secure “Electromagnetic Fortress” for the safe operation of both wired and wireless networks and other electronic equipment.

My teacher had one in the back of her head.

UK - Tiny CCTV cameras could soon be used by wardens or police on the streets of Norwich as the latest weapon in the war on yobs.

The devices, which are discreetly placed on officers' headwear, have been trialled in other parts of the country... the cameras could be used to capture images of youths spraying graffiti or behaving in other anti-social ways and used, if needed, as evidence.

“It means people can walk around recording what's going on and gathering evidence. ... an incredibly powerful tool because youngsters don't misbehave when they are being recorded. (more)

Gumshoe Surveillance Trick #623

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington - The Nike+iPod kit consists of a sensor which is placed in the sole of your left Nike+ shoe and a receiver which plugs into the bottom of the iPod Nano. The sensor in your shoe detects when you take steps (while walking or jogging) and transmits this information to the receiver.

When you walk or run the Nike+iPod sensor in your shoe will transmit messages using a wireless radio. These messages contain a unique identifier that can be detected from 60 feet away. This information is potentially private because it can reveal where you are, even when you'd prefer for a bad person to not know your location.

From Nike... Simply slip the Nike+ sensor into the Air Zoom Moire shoe pocket, or any other Nike+ Ready shoe, and head out. The Nike+ sensor slips unobtrusively into a pocket under the sockliner. Waterproof and virtually unbreakable. $29.00