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From / Date: |
Question / Answer: |
| 5936. |
Drake
LA, CA
Age: 34
May 21, 2009
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European Employer Spying on employees
Remember when Patricia Dunn lost her position at HP in 2006 for using 'inappropriate investigative techniques' to locate a leaker and protect her organization?
Cnet [dot] com reported "...HP announced that George Keyworth is resigning from the board, effective immediately. Dunn earlier this year had identified Keyworth as a source of media leaks." In other words, she found him. His phone records showed that he was contacting the media, and spreading information he had no right to disclose. None. But she got caught in the process due to sloppy tradecraft.
It seems Germany's Deutsche Telekom wasn't watching the news wires back then. They've been doing the same thing for the same purpose - to catch a mole.
However, read the story linked below, they've been caught doing MUCH worse than checking phone records. The human resources department drifted quite far over the line.
The European version of HTBI ought to be an immediate best seller!
Submitted Link #1: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20090520-19393.htm...
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| 5935. |
Drake
LA, CA
Age: 34
May 21, 2009
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Freaky RFID patent
This kind of silliness is what riles up the masses. 'Not only will they track you, but they can kill you with remote control!'
Submitted Link #1: http://www.thelocal.de/sci-tech/20090515-19313.htm...
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| 5934. |
Josh
Hackensack, NJ
Age: 30
May 21, 2009
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Using 'different' names
Perhaps, this could be of interest.
Excerpt from the article: " Jesse Jackson’s FEC reports list payments as being made to J. Donatella & Associates, which Bryant described as “Sandi’s sole proprietorship” for her consulting work. The couple’s oldest child is 9-year-old Jessica Donatella Jackson.
From 2003 through mid-2005, the recipient is shown on Jackson’s reports as “Lee Stevens” or “Lee Steven” at the J. Donatella firm. Sandi Jackson’s middle name is Lee. Her maiden name is Stevens.
Different Names
“Using all these different names to describe the same person raises questions as to whether they’re intentionally disguising information on their FEC reports,”
Submitted Link #1: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtons...
...
Using various names is perfectly legal ... unless fraud is involved. And when it comes to anything involving Jesse Jackson ...
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| 5933. |
Lee
Flagstaff, AZ
Age: 35
May 21, 2009
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Re: Anonymous Cell Phones
Robert, search this site for the keywords "Gift Cards". Visa gift cards are 100% anonymous provided you set them up right, and you can register with any address you want online. Buy the highest denomination you can, register it under your ghost name/address, and use this Visa card for your recurring billing. For $10 a month, you should get a lot of use from a standard $100 or $200 gift card. The $5.95 fee is the price you pay for privacy. A little tip though. I've found that its easier to get a separate card per service, so that you don't mix purchases. Therefore you keep each online service as its own "island" with no links to anything else should the cover be blown.
Also, people shouldn't go to the hassle to set up something anonymous and make the purchase with a Sams club or Costco card that is connected with your person or someone you know. Likewise you don't want to activate a cell phone from a number connected to you, do something online from an IP address connected with your name. Go the extra hassle to ensure there is nothing connected with your name.
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| 5932. |
Sebastian
Knoxville, TN
Age: 59
May 21, 2009
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RFID shielding
If you want the best shielding for RFID, you need magnetic field shielding in addition to electric field shielding; this is due to the majority of the coupling to the RFID close in is magnetic. The best materials to make your own customized electric field shield are found at: www.lessemf.com/fabric.html#1212 Be sure to check out the instructions for making a combined electric and magnetic shield at the bottom of the page. The lower the resistance of the shielding material, the better is the shielding. Magnetic shielding material is available from the same company at: www.lessemf.com/mag-shld.html#278
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| 5931. |
Mike
Orange County, CA
Age: 29
May 20, 2009
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Hollow Nickels
Just want to give a heads up on the hollow nickels from Shomer-Tec. I recently purchased one, and while it is of excellent quality, the nickel (even with a memory card inside) is MUCH lighter in weight than a regular nickel. I'm sure this wouldn't be an issue if the coin was mixed in with others, but if someone were to examine the nickel by itself (especially next to a regular one for comparison), it would be obvious that there is something "special" about it.
There is a bit of empty space in the nickel with a memory card inside of it, so it's possible that a small piece of lead or gold could be placed inside to increase the weight. The only problem with this is that the nickel would "rattle" when shook.
Hope this helps...
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| 5930. |
Hu
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Age: 54
May 20, 2009
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Tagged as a US Citizen
" The concern I have is that if the chip responds to a "ping" AT ALL it can identify your location and potentially that you are a US citizen."
Should you visit a country for any length of time, the safest thing to do is to have a copy of the first page of your passport-the one with the picture. When staying a Hotel keep your passport and other valuables in the Hotel safe where it should be safe. .When asked to see your passport just show that, it is safer than always caring your passport with you in case it is stolen. That is what I do and many other visitors here in Thailand. The RFID will be in your passport so you can not be singled out except as a foreigner in an Asian country. If you wish to be really safe you can make your own RFID wallet and only open it up entry to the country. It may not look stylish, but you are looking for function, not style.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.rpi-polymath.com/ducttape/RFIDWallet.ph...
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| 5929. |
Robert
Towson, MD
Age: 43
May 20, 2009
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Anonymous Cell Phones
I was reading some past questions & answers about anonymous cell phones. Based on what I read, I paid cash for a TracFone & some minutes and also paid cash for a WalMart Gift Card. I registered the GiftCard online so I could make payments with it (in a fictitious name of course) and tried to open an account at Vumber.com where you can get a number that points to another number making your number anonymous. The challenge is that apparently I cannot use the WalMart Gift Card for recurring payments and Vumber is $10/month. I also looked at a PrePaid Visa but I read the instructions and it said I would have to register online with my SSN...so much for privacy with that. So my question is basically what's the best way to anonymously pay for Vumber (or any other service that requires recurring monthly billing)? Thank you.
Submitted Link #1: http://www.vumber.com...
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| 5928. |
Robert
Towson, MD
Age: 43
May 20, 2009
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PrePaid Phone Cards
I recently paid cash for an AT&T PrePaid Phone Card at Sam's Club so I could make long distance calls in the US. The first time I used it, I was surprised that the other party knew it was me. I was calling from my office, my work # showed up on caller id, and they knew it was me. Luckily in this instance, that's OK because it was a friend but how am I supposed to call someone who I don't want to know my number? As far as I know other calling cards I've used did NOT show the number I was calling from. Is this new? Is this specific to AT&T PrePaid cards?
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| 5927. |
Greg
tulsa Ok
Age: 35
May 20, 2009
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NM LLC
If I paid tomorrow for having my NMllc formed how long would it take until I had the paperwork in my hands? Thanks
...
Greg, I do have shelf LLCs on hand but ONLY for my consulting clients. Contact Kitty McMenemy. Ask her that question. (If she does not answer in 24 hours, contact me by e-mail.)
UPDATE 24 HOURS LATER -- Kitty sats you have NOT contacted her.Her e-mil address is on my CONTACT link.
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| 5926. |
Bruce
Bairdford, PA
Age: 30
May 20, 2009
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College
Possibly of interest to your readers:
Hernan Castillo is treading water, trying to survive under the weight of $5,200 in credit card debt and $30,000 in student loans ...
Submitted Link #1: http://invisible-privacy.com...
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Bruce, I cut the rest of your message because most readers have already read about that case in my blog entry of Monday, May 18th.(See my link below.)
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| 5925. |
Pat
Punta Gorda FL
Age: 69
May 20, 2009
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RFID-blocked case
Is this the only way to block this RFID? What makes the case able to block? Is there anything else besides a case?
...
Most cases have a foil insert, or a mesh of fine copper wire. You can wrap the passport in foil, yourself.
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| 5924. |
Jesse
Coconut Grove, FL
Age: 24
May 20, 2009
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re: passport cards 5916
Dorothy wrote: "I'm curious where, specifically, anybody has had a passport ID card refused for use as identification?" ANSWER: BB&T, SunTrust, Regions, Wachovia, PNC, Citibank, FL Dept of Children and Families, Dept of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Orlando Police and not as a driver in a traffic stop, Post Office even though they're a place you can apply to get the passport card and should know about it, Friday's, Plus Wine and Spirits, O'Malley's Pub, many bars and liquor stores around the country when I go to visit friends they card and only accept driver licenses or regular passports. This does not mean, say, all SunTrusts everywhere will always refuse a passport card. Most places will accept it after a lengthy explanation, but some people just refuse and tell you no, like at least one person, sometimes several, has at each place I listed, even after I talk about card, point out the government website for the card, and asked to see their book on state IDs that they use to verify if someone's ID is real. Also the reason to get a book over a card isn't because of the chip, it's because the book is widely recognized and the card no one really recognizes yet. Bottom line, fork over the extra $50 or whatever it is for a regular passport, the convenience of a wallet-sized card is not worth the scrutiny and hassle.
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| 5923. |
Seth
collbran, co
Age: 50
May 20, 2009
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Passports, Passport cards & RFID chips
All the talk about getting a booklet type passport instead of a passport card to avoid RFID is moot, because ALL new passports issued have an RFID chip in them as well, and this chip contains more information than the card does.
It contains "biometric" identification data, which means it includes a code used by facial recognition software generated from the passport photo that is transmitted to the port of entry computer. This code is compared with the code generated by the video camera that views your face as you stand at the entry station, and if the two don't match, the operator gets a notification and you're checked more thoroughly.
It also contains a code linked to your personal file at Customs which calls up your personal record when scanned.
According to the website below, the chip system has been constructed to be secure and encrypted, to prevent tracking, skimming and other such problems, if you care to believe them, though the "tracking" part has issues, as I'll explain.
The good news is that the chip is in the BACK cover of the passport booklet, and the passport is still valid even if the chip doesn't work. This means that microwaving your passport is a real possibility, even if it mars the booklet, because the document is still valid.
The idea of microwaving a passport is very, very attractive as it makes it absolutely certain that it can't be misused, hacked or used to track you, which is a possibility, even given the "random UID" features of the chip. The concern I have is that if the chip responds to a "ping" AT ALL it can identify your location and potentially that you are a US citizen. With proper high-gain equipment, someone could ping passports at quite a distance, though I don't know just how far. Imagine dressing locally so as not to attract unwanted attention and then having your efforts frustrated by someone pinging your passport. Perhaps a bit paranoid, but still...isn't that what we're here for?
I see no reason not to zap the chip except that it will mean a bit more scrutiny at a US port of entry. If they ask what happened to your passport, just tell them your wife or girlfriend microwaved your wallet while trying to dry it out after you fell into a lake. Girls can be SO....well, you know. Works even better if you're a blonde.
I don't have to worry for about another eight years though, I made sure I got one of the last non-RFID passports issued, right before they deployed them. I replaced my still-valid passport specifically for that reason.
Submitted Link #1: http://travel.state.gov/passport/eppt/eppt_2788.ht...
...
Carrying your passport in an RFID-blocked case eliminates someone pinging your passport. Also, I prefer not to be subject to "more scrutiny at a US port of entry."
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| 5922. |
Giovanni
Fort Myers
Age: 36
May 19, 2009
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21st Insurance
I am just curious why everyone uses 21st Insurance? Do they not share personal info? Because I follow the majority of the principles of information I get from this site I did go with them for car insurance. I did notice however that they were able to retrieve all my information (liability limits and what type of coverage) from my previous provider (Progressive) while I was getting a quote from them. I at no point had to give them my ss# however, Im assuming that because they were able to retrieve all my information from Progressive they probably got my SS# as well.
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"Everyone" does NOT use 21st Insurance.
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| 5921. |
Josh
Hackensack, NJ
Age: 30
May 19, 2009
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Re: 5886 Data Privacy and Real ID
In post 5886, George mentions "covert coins" as means of storing MicroSD cards when traveling.
Unless I'm missing something, I see potential problems with this. For daily routine travel, such coin needs to be easily distinguishable so not to be 'spent', yet not to attract anyone else's attention. That can be easily resolved by placing such coin away from other money.
The primary purpose of such disguise, though, was to cross the borders with encrypted and hidden data. Now, coins are usually metalic, and hence have to be placed on the tray and go through the X-ray detector machine. That will readily reveal "strange" nature of those coins and point out the contents.
Here was also discussion regarding strenghtened requirements in state of Florida. Those are recent changes as printed on the web site "Previously we printed the mailing address on your driver license/ID Card. A recent law change requires us to now print the physical residence address. Also, you have to provide proof of the residence address. "
In the "Why the changes?" on the bottom there is also a link to Real ID Act.
Has anyone successfully obtained/renewed since October, 2008?
Submitted Link #1: http://www.flhsmv.gov/realid/ ...
...
(Josh, I deleted the second URL. You can only list one, in this system.)
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| 5920. |
Elizabeth
Monterey, CA
Age: 54
May 19, 2009
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For Kammi, #5918, Re: File Size
Kammi,
I bought and downloaded Invisible Money a couple of years ago and had no problem. I have a 56K modem that rarely connects over 46K. FYI: I have downloaded sound files from other sites that are at least five or six times larger than the largest of these HTBI text files. I don't think you'll have any problem.
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| 5918. |
Kammi
Carmel, NY
Age: 60
May 19, 2009
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E-Book & E-Report File Size(s).
Is there (could there, should there be) a listing of the file size for your e-publications. Some guide we could use before entering the purchase process. At present, I do not have broadband internet service - Thank you.
...
Skip College 2052 KB
Invisible Money 1242 KB
Least-Worst Car 1035 KB
How to Survive 774 KB
Dirty Tricks 502 KB
Off the Grid 335 KB
Crash-Proof 454 KB
Nominees 220 KB
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| 5917. |
CharlesB
Athens, GA
Age: 42
May 18, 2009
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Canary Islands telephone number?
Hello. Does anyone have any idea about a telephone number to use with a Canary Islands ghost address? Something like a K7.net service except with a Canary Islands city code? I've read where Jack says no one ever asks for a telephone number, but what if someone did need one? Or would one have to fly to the Canary Islands or Spain and purchase a prepaid cell phone and bring it back to the USA? I've got a 1866 number that someone posted recently, thanks a lot, 1866 394 4493 that is always busy, but no idea for a Spanish one. Thanks for any ideas.
...
I just checked with a UK friend who is a permanent resident in Lanzarote. He is willing to set up a legitimate number. When called, he will let the phone ring but never answer it. This would be a low-cost solution because various clients could give out the same number.
Might this help, or do you need an actual answering service?
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| 5916. |
Dorothy
Topeka, KS
Age: 40
May 18, 2009
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passport cards
I recently opened a bank account using ONLY the passport ID card and my verbal statement of my address (a PO box and a CMRA) and my social security number... Yes, the passport ID card was a bit of a novelty at the bank, but since the card doesn't give anything but my name, DOB, and passport number, there was no harm in being an object lesson for the manager that day. I'm curious where, specifically, anybody has had a passport ID card refused for use as identification? It hasn't happened to me yet.
...
See #5914: "I'm usually singled out for more scrutiny ..."
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