Archive for the ‘gps’ Category

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Supreme Court Rules: Warrant Needed for GPS Tracking

By Dawn in court cases, gps, gps tracker, invasion of privacy, MSI Detective Services, Technology at January 23rd, 2012 | No comments

GPS Tracker

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a story posted on 11/23/11, I wrote about how the Supreme court was hearing a case about a man, Antoine Jones, who was convicted of drug charges after a court supported the use of police placing a GPS tracking device on his car.

A federal appeals court in Washington had overturned Jones’ drug conspiracy conviction because police did not have a warrant when they installed a GPS device on his vehicle and then tracked his movements for a month. The Supreme Court agreed with the appeals court.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that police must get a search warrant before using GPS technology to track criminal suspects.

The ruling represents a serious complication for law enforcement nationwide, which increasingly relies on high tech surveillance of suspects, including the use of various types of satellite technology.

A GPS device installed by police on Washington nightclub owner Antoine Jones’ Jeep helped them link him to a house used to stash money and drugs. He was sentenced to life in prison before the appeals court overturned the conviction. Read the full article »

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The Security of Obama’s Blackberry – Much Ado About Nothing?

By Dawn in Debugging - Electronic Countermeasures, eavesdropping, gps, gps tracker, Hacking, MSI Detective Services, Politics, Technology at January 11th, 2012 | No comments

 

 

 

 

 

Much has been written about the security concerns of the President of the United States using a Blackberry – in particular about President Obama as he is more tech-savvy than previous Presidents.

I don’t claim to be an expert on how hackers do their thing, but I find it disturbing when journalists/media print or talk of the ways in which security can be breached. Why would we want to give the crazies of the world any tips on how to breach our national security? Exposing techniques for hacking or eavesdropping  on the President of the United States is quite irresponsible - whether you know what you are talking about or not. Even if there is a justified vulnerability concern, don’t publicize it!

Two such articles do just that (links provided at the end of this story). My head was spinning after reading about the various technologies, the proposed vulnerabilities written by non-security experts, and the comments written by readers explaining why/how it would be virtually impossible to hack into the President’s Blackberry.

Both stories seem more focused on concerns that carrying around a Blackberry places the President at risk because his location could be determined either via GPS tracking of his device or by hackers being able to hone in on which device belongs to the President by discovering the serial number (IMEI) of his device. Read the full article »

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Cellphone Spying Becoming Easier for Abusers and Stalkers

By Dawn in Cheaters, Cheating spouse, Debugging - Electronic Countermeasures, eavesdropping, gps, harassment, Infidelity, invasion of privacy, MSI Detective Services, Safety, stalking, Technology at January 9th, 2012 | No comments

 

 

 

 

 

Here is one company’s promise on its website to anyone who wants to eavesdrop on someone else’s cellphone: “You could now listen in 100% completely undetected.”

The average person now has easy access to spy technology allowing them to gather cellphone information, read private emails, and track someone’s location using GPS. Experts say that the technologies are being used by spouses and partners to track, harass and stalk. “Technology has just exploded. It’s so sophisticated now and it’s very easy to utilize these different technologies to keep tabs on a person and find out where they’re going,” said Gina Pfund, chief assistant prosecutor of the Domestic Violence Unit in Passaic County.

This is very scary stuff when this type of technology gets into the wrong hands or is abused. I know of one woman who was being stalked by her ex-boyfriend and eventually learned he was tracking her whereabouts via her cellphone.

Experts say the person watching or listening is often a family member and frequently a suspicious or controlling partner. They have scanned Facebook pages, viewed online web-browsing histories, and exam­ined cellphone records for proof. However, some take it a step further, planting spyware on smart phones and computers.

Spyware is being aggressively marketed online as a means to find out if a spouse is cheating. It can be in­stalled on computers to monitor keystrokes, emails and passwords and to take screen snapshots. Spy software can also be installed on a smart phone to allow a third party to monitor calls, view text messages and photos, and track a person’s location and movement via GPS. A built-in microphone can also be remotely activated and used as a listening device, even when a phone is turned off. Technology experts say the phone user has no idea they are being spied on. Read the full article »

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Stolen Taxicabs and Robbery Suspect Located With GPS Tracking Device

By Dawn in Crime, gps, gps tracker, Investigations, MSI Detective Services, robbery, Stolen Property, Technology, Theft Investigations at January 5th, 2012 | No comments

 

 

 

 

 

Two stolen taxicabs were located and one robbery suspect was captured because GPS tracking devices were installed on the taxicabs.

Stolen Taxicab Tracked in Denver

In the first incident, a man was arrested in Denver, CO this past Wednesday after law enforcement officials said he stole a taxi, robbed a convenience store and then led police officers on a chase that ended when he crashed the cab into a tree in a park.

The suspect stole an orange Union Taxi mini-van and then drove it to the Diamond Shamrock convenience store at around 1 a.m., according to a local police report.

The man robbed the convenience store and then took off in the stolen cab. The taxi was equipped with a GPS tracking device, allowing police to track the precise location of the vehicle. The suspect led officers on a chase. The chase ended with the cab going off the street and onto a sidewalk, where he then smashed into a tree near downtown Denver.

The police took the man into custody and the suspect was taken to a hospital to have his injuries checked out.

Stolen Taxicab Found in San Antonio

In a similar incident, a cab driver had his taxi stolen from him at gunpoint in San Antonio, TX.

Cesar Alvarez told police he picked up a fare at a motel around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. After driving the man to his destination, he found himself staring into the barrel of a gun. Read the full article »

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