A predator drone
Border patrol drones are increasingly being borrowed by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for domestic surveillance operations, newly released records show, a harbinger of what is expected to become the commonplace use of unmanned aircraft by police.
Robin Speronis lives off the grid in Florida, completely independent of the city’s water and electric system. A few weeks ago, officials ruled her off-grid home illegal. Officials cited the International Property Maintenance Code, which mandates that homes be connected to an electricity grid and a running water source.
Continue reading… “Living off the Grid is now Illegal in the State of Florida”
Der Spiegel based on internal NSA documents, reports that the signals intelligence agency’s elite hacking unit (TAO) is able to conduct sophisticated wiretaps in ways that make Hollywood fantasy look more like reality. The report indicates that the NSA, in collaboration with the CIA and FBI, routinely and secretly intercepts shipping deliveries for laptops or other computer accessories in order to implant bugs before they reach their destinations.
Continue reading… “NSA installed spy malware on laptops purchased online”
Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden has been named the 2013 Lifeboat Foundation Guardian Award winner in recognition of his quest to get the U.S. government to be transparent about the surveillance it is engaging of its citizens. It is worth noting that no government is being transparent in how it does surveillance so this issue is relevant to all countries.
Continue reading… “2013 Lifeboat Foundation Guardian Award has been given to Edward Snowden”
The TSA Is Supposed to Regulate Itself.
The TSA is a remarkably unpopular bunch of people. Nobody likes going through security at the airport, but you probably figured most of it had a point. All those hours spent in line with other shoeless travelers are a necessary precursor to safe flying. It’s annoying, but at least it wards off terrorism.
Continue reading… “A security expert’s perspective of why the TSA sucks”
Start-up Chile
Foreign entrepreneurs are drawn to the U.S. market. However, the U.S. immigration system throws up roadblocks to entrepreneurs. There is no “startup” visa, and the visa options that exist are unwieldy and often impractical.
Continue reading… “The Start-up Chile visa program is a loss for the U.S.”
RSA had been paid by the NSA to set the backdoored algorithm as the default method of random number generation.
A secret $10 million deal between the NSA and the security firm RSA has resulted in RSA incorporating a flawed algorithm for generating random numbers into its products, creating a backdoor into encrypted communications.
2013 changed everything by demonstrating the extent and power of state — and commercial — surveillance.
2013 was an extraordinary year for those of us who are interested in privacy and data protection. What was previously seen as the domain of paranoid nitpickers has exploded into the public consciousness, shaking international ties and making many people re-evaluate how they live their lives online.
Continue reading… “2013 blew apart our notions of privacy”
The NSA described games communities, such as World of Warcraft, as a ‘target-rich network’ where potential terrorists could ‘hide in plain sight’.
Because of leaks from the former National Security Agency employee, Edward Snowden, the NSA is still under the microscope. The NSA has been straddling a fine line between being a terrifying and comically inept government institution. Now, in the latter category: a report that the NSA infiltrated the dark world of online gaming.
Continue reading… “NSA infiltrated online games in hunt for terrorists”
How far will the FBI will go with its use of malware to spy on people?
The FBI has had the ability to secretly activate a computer’s camera “without triggering the light that lets users know it is recording” for years now, according to a Washington Post report.
Carriers don’t want anti-theft software for fear it would eat into the profits.
Lawmakers in San Francisco and New York have been pushing hardware makers like Samsung to provide anti-theft software for cell phones that would allow owners to remotely deactivate a phone should it get stolen, rendering it useless. But according to the San Francisco district attorney, George Gascón, carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint aren’t crazy about the idea of implementing such a “kill switch.” Why? Because they’d lose money.
Continue reading… “Cell phone carriers reject kill switch for stolen smartphones”
Beijing has long mistrusted foreign technology companies and the Snowden revelations have exacerbated those concerns.
The fallout from the U.S. spying scandal is starting to take its toll as U.S. technology companies including Cisco Systems Inc and IBM Corp are facing unprecedented difficulties selling their goods and services in China.
Continue reading… “Fallout from NSA leaks hurting U.S. tech sales in China”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.