Spy Review

It seems having CCTV cameras popping up on every street corner is not enough, now councils are being granted permission to spy on people at the individual level. They are being given permission, upon approval, to spy on residents who they believe are causing them problems.

The local authorities involved are taking advantage of legislation that allows, at least in some cases, for individuals and households to be monitored over what seems pretty trivial issues such as whether dog owners are picking up waste. They are using a variety of techniques such as spy cameras and binoculars, depending on the situation.

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Researchers in the US claim to be able to develop a device that is able to eavesdrop on mobile phone conversations by hacking into GSM networks, for a cost of mere $1,000. Previous attempts to develop such a device have cost upwards of $100,000.

The 64-bit A5/1 Network Encryption used on GSM networks has been cracked for almost a decade now, but after the developments that occurred at this year’s 2008 Black Hat Conference in Washington D.C., the technology is that much closer to being developed.

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A company is in the process of manufacturing and selling bullet-proof hoodies that can withstand 9mm Magnum handgun bullets, in response to high rate of gun crime in some areas. Although the manufacturer claims it is designed for innocent people that live in areas where gun crime is rife, some are suggesting the target group may be teenage gang members.

The news about the hoodies has caused quite a bit of consternation among these groups because it is possibly seen as encouraging gang-culture among teenagers as it could give them an aura of invincibility.

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The subprime losses have taken a toll on the banks and other finance houses in the US with billions of dollars in losses being reported. This is an interesting story from the US to counter the problems caused as a result of people defaulting on payments on their cars. The unusual step taken by car dealerships that offer financing to customers on used cars is to install a device on the car to ensure payments are made on time.

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