March 8th, 2011 § § permalink
Security in-a-box is a project that provides various resources for enhancing your security and privacy both on and offline. The site contains a how-to booklet and a number of hands-on guides for using free software such as TrueCrypt, Tor, Eraser, and more to strengthen your digital security.
Security in-a-box is a collaborative effort of the Tactical Technology Collective and Front Line. It was created to meet the digital security and privacy needs of advocates and human rights defenders. Security in-a-box includes a How-to Booklet, which addresses a number of important digital security issues. It also provides a collection of Hands-on Guides, each of which includes a particular freeware or open source software tool, as well as instructions on how you can use that tool to secure your computer, protect your information or maintain the privacy of your Internet communication.
Security In-a-Box: Tools and tactics for your digital security
January 26th, 2011 § § permalink
As a result of recent court cases, it is now legal in California and some other areas of the United States for law enforcement officers to search your cell phone upon arrest without a warrant. An article on Ars Technica provides an explanation of the law and instructions and tips for securing your phone and protecting yourself. Even if you live in an area where these laws do not affect you, it’s still a good idea to ensure the data on your phone is secure, should it fall into the wrong hands.
Last week, California’s Supreme Court reached a controversial 5-2 decision in People v. Diaz (PDF), holding that police officers may lawfully search mobile phones found on arrested individuals’ persons without first obtaining a search warrant. The court reasoned that mobile phones, like cigarette packs and wallets, fall under the search incident to arrest exception to the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
[...]
On the other hand, if you are arrested with a mobile phone in your possession but not immediately associated with your person, police may not search your phone without a warrant once you’ve been taken into custody and your phone is under police control.
The takeaway from Diaz, therefore, is that you should store your mobile phone in your luggage, footlocker, or in some other closed container that’s not on your person, particularly when driving an automobile
[...]
Therefore, if you care about your privacy, password-protecting your smartphone should be a no-brainer. Better yet, you should ensure your smartphone supports a secure implementation of full-disk encryption. With this method of encryption, all user information is encrypted while the phone is at rest. While it isn’t absolutely foolproof, full-disk encryption is the most reliable and practical method for safeguarding your smartphone data from the prying eyes of law enforcement officers (and from wrongdoers, like the guy who walks off with your phone after you accidentally leave it in a bar.)
Why you should always encrypt you smart phone via Lifehacker
September 9th, 2010 § § permalink
Secret Stash 2010 is a project by artist Yiting Cheng that features seemingly ordinary objects modified into deceptive hiding places. Check out the project page for a video and a gallery of pictures.
This project is about concealing valuables, secrets, bad habits and personal information in our workplaces. Here, hidden spaces/ messages were created within 8 general objects such as wood boards, lamps and disposable coffee cups.
[...]
We make judgments based mainly on our experiences and what we see. This dependency on visual information can create large blind spots. Thus, usual stereotypes of how we perceive solid, transparency and lighting are employed in this project to play with notions of ‘solid and void’, and ‘true and false’.
Secret Stash 2010 via Boing Boing
August 19th, 2010 § § permalink
This USB iPhone spy stick from Brick House Security is capable of viewing deleted files from any iPhone. The stick can recover contacts, photos, text messages, and even map histories. It might be a bit pricey at $199, though, considering there are ways to securely erase data on your iPhone.
The iPhone Spy Data Recovery Stick is the ultimate recovery tool for anyone who wants to capture deleted information from any iPhone (running iOS to 3.x). The iPhone Spy Data Recovery Stick makes it easy to recover deleted text messages, contacts, call and web history, as well as photos, voice memos and calendar appointments — giving you a unique look into exactly what the user has been searching for, who they’ve been talking to, and even the types of pictures they’ve taken. With features like saved map search history, web searches, and text messages, the iPhone Data Recovery Stick is the only tool you need to catch a cheating spouse, monitor your kids, or backup your own iPhone data.
iPhone Spy Stick via Gizmodo
July 30th, 2010 § § permalink
Have you noticed that your cell phone has been acting strangely? Somebody could be listening in on your conversations and invading your privacy. The following article offers six signs that your cell phone may be tapped, as well as tips on deceiving the eavesdropper.
I’m not trying to scare you, but do you know how easy it is to tap one of these phones? That is to say, if someone wanted to, they could listen in on your conversations, read your messages, and yes, even monitor your location through GPS. Privacy is a growing concern with today’s technology, especially with how we communicate.
Tapping someone’s phone without their permission is illegal but it still happens anyway, usually without the owner’s knowledge. It’s not likely to happen to you, but in case you have your suspicions, here are some simple tips you can follow to tell if your cell phone is being tapped.
6 Possible Signs Your Cell Phone May Be Tapped
February 16th, 2010 § § permalink
Post by John from Destiny Survival
I’m from the old school. I’m a middle aged man from a rural
background, who’s been around for some time before the Internet,
blogging, Twitter, ad nauseam. People today have no sense of what it
means to keep things private. For example, teens don’t have the sense
to know how serious sexting is. Not until they’re fined or jailed will
they get a clue.
But why fine or jail them? Everything else is out in the open, isn’t
it? What’s the big deal?
Sorry, but I don’t operate that way.
Now, to tell you just a little about my own prepping. I do have a
couple of water filtration devices because water’s extremely
important. We’ve got a little storage food set by, but not nearly
enough. Can there ever be? If a mouth breathing knuckle dragger comes
down my driveway, he’ll be met with an unfriendly welcome, and that’s
all I’ll say about that.
So if you’re disappointed in me for not disclosing all, I know it’s
tough, but you’ll get over it.
I write regularly about survival and prepping at Destiny Survival, where some of it is based on my
own experience and some is frankly intended to get you to buy things
you need for your own prepping. But even there I don’t tell all.
I’m a firm believer in the importance of having a survival mindset.
Your best survival tool lies between your ears. Thankfully, nobody can
ever know everything you’re equipped with up there.
My advice to you? Be a prepper for your own good. Keep your mouth
shut and don’t use your keyboard to blab about what you’re doing.
You’re sure to invite trouble one of these days if you spill your guts
to the whole world… and don’t think they’re not watching.
[Editor's note: This article has been edited down for Lone Iguana. Opinions from guest writers may not reflect the opinions of Lone Iguana. Be sure to read the complete article at Destiny Survival.]
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February 2nd, 2010 § § permalink
Ever gone to a site, and wish that the site couldn’t know where you were in the world, or who you were? Perhaps giving away secrets, or anonymously submitting articles? Volunteer Your Computer for Global Privacy details using TOR, software that doesn’t give away your location. Enjoy.
Google revealed last week that network intruders have read email messages in the Google accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Someone–still unknown–is determined to spy on Chinese dissidents. Other someones are determined to identify undercover police officers, ferret out employees who secretly inform the police about their company’s crimes, and stalk their own wives who have left home to escape battering. Hundreds of volunteers are now running an Internet service for people who need to protect their privacy. The service is called Tor, the Onion Router. Anyone can provide Tor, for free. Anyone can use Tor to protect his privacy, for free.
[Volunteer Your Computer for Global Privacy — Wild Bee]
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