spying
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QNAP's NVR-1012 network surveillance kit watches goons, your wild offspring
Ever peered up in a dimly lit parking lot only to spot a smattering of cameras peering at your every move? Now you too can have such a sophisticated monitoring system right around your own home thanks to QNAP's NVR-1012. The network surveillance kit is designed to provide "professional grade" live video recording abilities in homes and offices where hoodlums and malefactors tend to linger. The entire system is Linux-based and comes with a single NVR-101 server and a pair of IP cameras; reportedly, the solution is a breeze to install and every recording function can be carried out via an Internet Explorer window. Best of all, you'll even find 2-way audio capabilities, so you can have a quick chat with any caught-red-handed crooks or mischievous youngsters right before the fuzz / man of the house swarms in for capture. Talk about a thrilling way to spend a Thursday evening.
Remote control spy glasses offer built-in camera, music playback
Comically enough, these aren't the first sunglasses we've seen with a hidden camera built right in, but for those who don't need full motion video to catch someone red-handed, this much cheaper alternative should certainly do the trick. As you can tell from the not-at-all-noticeable modules flanking the sides, there's a 1.3-megapixel camera up there along with a rechargeable Li-ion, 1GB of storage and a pair of earbuds to keep the elevator music going even after you reach the eleventh floor. You'll also find USB 2.0 connectivity and a remote control for slyly snapping shots, but really, if you roll into a debutante ball with these gracing your face, expect your cover to be blown in record time.[Via The Red Ferret Journal]
COM-BAT swoops in to gather data on reconnaissance missions
The University of Michigan's COM-BAT most definitely isn't the first mechanical animal to get its inspirations from the bat, but it's probably the best equipped to play a vital role in modern day warfare. A select group of Wolverines have been blessed with a $10 million grant from the US Army in order to concoct a "six-inch robotic spy plane modeled after a bat [that] would gather data from sights, sounds and smells in urban combat zones and transmit information back to a soldier in real time." Purportedly, the critter will eventually boast a bevy of sensors, miniature microphones and detectors for picking up nuclear radiation and poisonous gases. Even more interesting, creators are hoping to implement "energy scavenging," which would enable the bat to stay charged from wind / solar energy along with vibrations and "other sources." So much for being nocturnal, eh?[Via UberGizmo]
DIY spy sunglasses cost just $40
On the real, spy glasses are old hat, but building a set on your own for under $40 is most definitely notable. An engineering fellow has managed to do just that by snagging a micro camera from eBay for around $18 and wiring it up to a $20 pair of Solar Shield shades. From there, he connected the camera to a pocket-friendly MiniDV camcorder -- which we're sure could be done wirelessly for those with extra time -- and continued on to snag quite a few questionable reels of footage from a day at the beach. Of course, you won't find us recommending that you let your inner voyeur loose or anything, but feel free to tag the read link for all the instructions you need (and a video to boot).
Build your own underwater ROV for $250
Granted, this here project isn't nearly as inexpensive as the $100 underwater ROV from years back, but at least this one is propelled by something a bit more advanced than a pull string. Regardless, the ROV-in-a-Box Project Kit -- created by folks from Carl Hayden High School for use in the National Underwater Robotics Challenge -- is a $249.95 package that "includes all the parts needed to build a working underwater robot: a frame, motors, underwater light, camera, 50-foot tether, operator control box, and a dry-cell battery." Of course, you'll still be required to provide your own tools and TV monitor, but to take a closer look at exactly what a nickel under $250 will buy you, click on through for a detailed video (but do tap Mute beforehand, okay?).[Via GoRobotics]
Two-timing air purifier doubles as spy camera
It's not like we haven't seen air purifying functionality crammed into nearly everything under the sun before, but the latest iteration doubles up in an entirely more discrete fashion. The Air Purifier Spy Camera does precisely what you'd think, as it innocently cleans air while waiting for movement to be detected in front of it. Once that happens, it records video (no audio, unfortunately) of the scene until 15 seconds after the motion ceases. To store the incriminating evidence, it writes the video to the built-in 16MB MMC, but if you expect a whole lot of naughty to be going on, you can certainly implant a larger card. Notably, this sucka most definitely does not come cheap, as the basic version rings up at a staggering $725, and you'll be asked to throw down an additional $179.95 if you like your videos in color.[Via TRFJ]
Examear: helping students make the best of exam day
Sure, quite a few intrepid students have tried to slip on an earpiece of some sort to gain an unfair advantage come test time, but those DIY attempts oftentimes lack the top-notch qualities found in professional, in-ear cheating liaisons. Enter Examear, which aims to "help students succeed" by offering up a trio of wireless earphones that enable test takers to hear recorded content on a nearby DAP or the voice of an abettor. Each of the models fit sneakily within your ear and sport varying levels of battery life / features, and while you can snag the low-ender for a mere $185, the Bluetooth-equipped platinum edition looks to be the best bet for the avid cheater at $300. 'Course, we certainly wouldn't recommend nor condone actually using these things for subverting an exam, but presenters who often forget their lines and those who long to be an undercover spy could certainly find a good bit of utility here, too.[Via MetaFilter]
Accused child killer's alibi busted thanks to GPS
GPS systems that end up helping the fuzz track down the baddies are nothing new, and a recent case involving a Piscataway man has an inconspicuous tracking system to thank for solving a gruesome mystery. Reportedly, the culprit had informed police that he had taken a 12-year old babysitter to view horses on their way back to her domicile, but "accidentally backed over her" during the outing. Closer inspection of the GPS system -- which was installed just days earlier by his suspicious wife -- revealed that the "horse stop" lasted three hours, which led police to believe that the girl was "ran down" after trying to escape. Needless to say, murder charges have since replaced the comparatively minor accusations of "reckless endangerment" that he had previously been dealt.
GPS-equipped spy squirrels 'arrested' by Iranians
Talk about getting into some hot water. Reportedly, some 14 implike squirrels were recently "arrested by Iranian authorities for espionage," as the critters were apparently found to have various amounts of "spy gear from foreign agencies" on (er, in) their bodies. Some reports even mention that the animals were sporting embedded GPS sensors, but due to the high level of secrecy surrounding the capture, things are still a bit foggy. Nevertheless, Iran has apparently claimed that the "rodents were being used by Western powers in an attempt to undermine the Islamic Republic," and while it doesn't seem that anyone is really aware of the squirrels' fates, it looks like sending in the animals to do a human's dirty work isn't as effective as it once was.[Via DailyWireless, image courtesy of UMT]
Rootkit hack taps Greek prime minister's phone
In 2005, Greek authorities discovered a plot hatched and executed by unknown sources which allowed the tapping of wireless phones on the Vodafone network belonging to the country's Prime Minister and other top officials, making it one of the furthest reaching covert infiltrations of a government in history. A recent report from IEEE Spectrum shows that the tap was made possible by a 6,500 line piece of code called a rootkit, the first-ever to be embedded in a phone switch's OS. The complex hack took advantage of aging phone systems by disabling transaction logs on calls and allowing call monitoring on four switches within the teleco's computers, thus sending the call to another phone for monitoring (similar to a legal wiretap). The spies covered their tracks by creating patches on the system which routed the calls around logging software which would have alerted admins, and were only discovered when they tried to update their software. The case clearly exposes holes in call security amongst providers (due largely in part to outdated systems), and suggests the possibility that this kind of thing could easily happen again... to you![Via textually]
Remaining charges in HP spying case dropped
It looks like the three defendants in the HP spying case can rest easy for the time being, as the judge in the case has now dropped the remaining charges against them, the AP reports. While Superior Court Judge Ray E. Cunningham didn't find that the individuals' actions rose to the level of criminal activity, he clearly wasn't too impressed with them either, calling their conduct a "betrayal of trust and honor." This latest development is apparently the result of the deal reached in March, in which the three men (one HP exec and two private investigators) each agreed to complete 96 hours of community service. They apparently aren't entirely off the hook just yet though, as a federal investigation into the matter is still ongoing.
Vortex's wall climbing robot peeks in windows
While not the first wall climbing machine we've come across, Vortex's VRAM Mobile Robot Platform (VMRP) machine weds ascension and undercover surveillance in fine fashion. Aimed at law enforcement tasks, military missions, and fanatical hobbyists, this clinger is remotely controlled with the capacity to add "onboard intelligence and sensors to monitor VMRP status and health." It utilizes a vortex vacuum to suction itself to vertical surfaces, and then relies on the wheels to get it movin'. Moreover, this bot was built to withstand mild weather hazards and communicate wirelessly back to the user, and its ability to wield microphones, video cameras, and proximity sensors make this the ultimate eavesdropping tool. Sadly, we've no idea how much it'd take to get one of these in your needy palms, but free free to indulge in the video waiting after the break.[Via OhGizmo]
QSTARZ BT-Q1000 GPS data logger syncs with Google Earth
QSTARZ is taking its familiarity with GPS receivers and integrating a data logger to form the newfangled BT-Q1000. This two-faced device doubles as a Bluetooth GPS receiver to navigate your course and allows you to "record your routes" in order to plot points on Google Earth and disseminate the map to your envious pals. Moreover, you can use the device to more accurately tag where your travel photos were snapped along the way, and if you're in the fleet management biz, this here tool can keep your motorists from straying too far off the beaten path. Designed to last a whopping 32-hours without a recharge, the BT-Q1000 can make your next journey a whole lot more memorable for $119 when it lands later this month.
Logitec intros digital recorder for consumer telephones
Personal voice recorders simply aren't likely to start up any serious controversy anytime soon, but Logitec's latest spin on taping audio just might raise a few hairs. The LIC-TRA056SD is a "private telephone recorder" that plugs right into your home phone and captures conversations conveniently on the built-in 128MB of storage. If those 50 hours of capacity aren't enough to catch someone red handed, you can also throw in a spare SD card and create an audio archive of every phone call you'll ever make. Additionally, the USB connectivity ensures that extracting dubious MP3 / WAV files won't be a chore, and considering that everything looks to be password protected, the digital eavesdropping crowd will be out of luck. Unfortunately, there's no word just yet on how much this dodgy device will run you, but it should hit the shelves of Japan before the month's end.[Via AkihabaraNews]
GoPass AVL-900 monitors action in your car, lets you listen in
GoPass' sneaky new device isn't a foreign concept, but the AVL-900 definitely ups the ante by not only allowing the installer to track the vehicle's every turn via GPS / GPRS, but it sports an integrated microphone to let the uber-curious listen in. Although parents may gleam and teens may fume, this portable tracking system packs a SiRF Star III GPS receiver, supports quad-band GSM communications, and can report positions on a timed interval or send an alert to your cellphone if the vehicle is moved (read: stolen) while you're away. The company claims that you won't be charged any monthly fees for the voyeuristic luxuries, and if seeing a moving dot wasn't close enough to being in the backseat, you can simply text the device or ring it up to enable a listen-only conversation to what's happening within. Moreover, the AVL-900 will even let you monitor the movements from your smartphone, and while we know the suspicious parents in the crowd have their credit cards ready, there's sadly (or fortunately, depending on perspective) no pricing or availability deets to hand out just yet.[Via NaviGadget]
Rugged Recon Scout invades enemy camp, snags video
Heading into the enemy's camp isn't something that Marines take lightly, and rather than finding out which private has the most experience in Call of Duty and shuffling him / her in, they're letting a robot do a soldier's job. Developed by the University of Minnesota using funding from DARPA, the Recon Scout resembles your average barbell weight, but when you're not workin' those triceps, this little fellow can be heaved across flatlands, over fences, and into brick walls in order to secure a location and start feeding back video of its surroundings. The two-wheeled bot is equipped with a low-resolution monochrome camera that feeds images back to the Operator Control Unit, and since it weighs just a single pound and fits in most cargo pockets, the whole platoon could carry their own in order to really scope out the next bend. Of course, the current iteration will only broadcast video up to 250 feet, and onlookers at a recent demonstration weren't thrilled by its quickness, but a titanium-based wheeled spying machine is fairly impressive regardless. Reportedly, the Recon Scout has been sold to "law enforcement agencies" for around $6,500 apiece, but we've no idea how much this rugged inspector will run the general public.[Via Wired]
Stealth Cam Prowler snags undercover pics, videos
The zany methods available to spy on something (or someone) are constantly becoming more plentiful, and for hunters and stalkers alike who are tired of undercover nighttime footage turning out black, the Stealth Cam Prowler is your answer. This inconspicuous device sports a five-megapixel sensor for color day time captures, a two-megapixel sensor for monochrome nighttime images, and the ability to capture footage in the pitch black wilderness sans a flash. Apparently, the camera / camcorder hybrid utilizes 42 infrared emitters to "illuminate the area up to 50-feet away," after which it can snag programmable burst shots or videos up to 90 seconds in length. It also packs 32MB of internal memory in case a clever animal snags the evidence held on your SD card, and the built-in battery pack should ensure a night full of remote shooting fun in case you're too frightened to hang out in the rough. No word yet on pricing or availability, but we're sure those details will sneak out soon enough.[Via BeSportier]
KTF's surveillance canine beams snapshots via HSDPA
It just makes sense that the same Korean provider that offered up a pet translator service would attempt to give back to the owners, as KTF has launched a robotic puppy that just melts the hearts of gizmo-lovin' gals abroad. Specifically, it garners a crowd of individuals wherever it's at, and then pulls double duty as an undercover surveillance agent, snapping mobile images and channeling them straight to your cellphone via HSDPA. For the paranoid 'rents in the crowd, this here ought to be a perfect way to monitor what really goes down in the house while you're away for the weekend, and while it's no guard dog per se, the evidence this bad boy captures could indeed be quite frightening. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]
Laptops and flat panels also vulnerable to Van Eck eavesdropping
Those who wander into the realms of spying, phreaking, and dubious eavesdropping are likely familiar with Wim Van Eck, but for those new to remote screen-grabbing scene, you should probably take note. Back in the day, Mr. Eck "proved it was possible to tune into the radio emissions produced by electromagnetic coils in a CRT display and then reconstruct the image," effectively rending the images on a distant monitor without the user knowing. Now, however, a modern day guru in his own right has found that the methodology used in 1985 can still be potent today, albeit on laptops and flat panel LCDs. Markus Kuhn has since discovered that by tuning into the radio emissions produced by the cables running into a monitor, hackers can garner the pixels one at a time, and carefully stack them together to form a picture of someone else's screen. Reportedly, Markus was able to "see a PowerPoint presentation from a stand 25 meters away (pictured)," and he also noted that laptops with metal hinges were particularly good targets as they tended to broadcast the necessary signals quite well. Of course, we aren't encouraging the act of on-screen voyeurism without appropriate consent, but if you're interested in seeing what's behind the (faraway) LCD, be sure to hit the read link and push aside those morals for a moment. [Warning: PDF read link][Via Slashdot]
Judge limits New York police surveillance practices
Sure, we're all well aware that surveillance practices have been ratcheted up a notch or two since six or so years ago, but a judge in Manhattan has recently rebutted his own go-ahead from four years back to give the NYPD "greater authority to investigate political, social and religious groups." The most recent ruling states that by "videotaping people who were exercising their right to free speech and breaking no laws," the cops had ignored the milder limits he had imposed on it in 2003, seemingly squirming out from under his own misjudgments and placing the blame elsewhere. Nevertheless, he was clear that the voyeuristic limits only applied at events where people gather to exercise their rights under the First Amendment, while bridges, tunnels, airports, subways, and street traffic points could maintain their current level of surveillance -- and we thought this would mean those lamppost cameras couldn't pick us off whilst crossing the street with our iPod jamming.[Via BoingBoing]
