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Global articles on espionage, spying, bugs, and other interesting topics.

Keep abreast of the espionage threats facing your organisation.

Hacked security firm to shut down

DigiNotar head office, AP

A report into the DigiNotar hack found a “severe breach” of the firm’s network

Dutch security firm DigiNotar has filed for voluntary bankruptcy following a series of attacks by a hacker.

The attackers penetrated DigiNotar’s internal systems and then issued fake security certificates so they could impersonate web firms.

The certificates are believed to have been used to eavesdrop on the Google email accounts of about 300,000 people.

The hacker behind the attacks claims to have penetrated four other firms that issue security certificates.

No tears

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Facebook makes it easier than ever to eavesdrop

The new mini stream feature makes it simple to see what people are saying, even when they might not realize you’re listening

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Not content to let Google+ hog the spotlight the day of its grand opening, Facebook caught many users off-guard last night as it rolled out a host of changes without much in the way or warning or direction. What’s evident is that Facebook and Google+ are pulling out all stops to win over social networkers of the world, though at least one of the changes to Facebook may have users scrambling to alter their privacy settings and friends lists.

The timing of Facebook’s move was not necessarily too surprising: Zuckerberg and company correctly view Google+ as a threat to their platform’s popularity, judging by the quantity and types of changes it has made since its rival’s platform was born. What better way to retain attention on the day of Google+’s coming-of-age celebration than by setting off noisy fireworks outside?

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Rep. Holt: Special counsel should investigate NYPD

WASHINGTON (AP) — A New Jersey congressman has called on the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel to investigate New York Police Department intelligence-gathering programs that mapped and monitored Muslim neighborhoods in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

An Associated Press investigation recently revealed the existence of a secret NYPD team that used plainclothes officers to eavesdrop inside Muslim businesses and maintained a list of 28 countries that, along with “American Black Muslim,” it considered “ancestries of interest.”

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Police bust smartphone tapping ring

The Israel Police have arrested 22 people suspected of distributing and installing smartphone bugging software. The police searched 11 bugging equipment businesses and private investigators. The gag order on the case was lifted today. The Police National Fraud Squad and Computer Crimes Division carried out the investigation.

The suspects allegedly distributed and installed the bugging equipment, and even advertised their product on the Internet. They are suspected of planting bugging software, bugging, and invasion of privacy.

The police say that the software was designed to be used in two ways on smartphones: controlling spyware, which sent information about all incoming and outgoing calls and SMS. On the basis of this information, the victims’ smartphones could be controlled to hear conversations in real time as well as turn them into remote listening devices to bug the surroundings. Another software sent this and other information, such as GPS data, to a special Gmail address set up for the listener.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – www.globes-online.com – on September 19, 2011


Bandera cops deny bugging city offices

BANDERA — Concerns that municipal offices were bugged by police led to an emergency City Council meeting Wednesday, where Police Chief Jim Eigner denied the claim and said he welcomes an inquiry.

A motion to suspend the entire force with pay pending an investigation was defeated on a 3-2 vote.

Councilwoman Maggie Schumacher said the alleged bugging was mentioned by an officer upset that a computer technician was told Wednesday — without advance notice to Eigner or others — to copy police computer hard drives.

Eigner said the officer’s comment was misinterpreted by Schumacher, who joined Councilwoman Binky Archer in voting for the suspensions.

Council critics at the meeting praised the force, blasted the council for micromanaging it, and said they don’t want to rely on Bandera County deputies for law enforcement.