Author Archives: Cloak Meister

Jul 31
2014

FBI Terrorist Screening Database Grows by 468,749 in 2013

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Cloak Meister

Data revealed during a civil lawsuit shows that over 1.5 million have been added to the list over the past five years, reports the Associated Press. The rate of growth is accelerating: 2009: ~250,000 2010: ~250,000 2012:  336,712 2013:  468749 Clearly … Continue reading →

Posted in Identification and Personal Data | Leave a comment
Jul 19
2014

Estonia: Getting ID Cards Right?

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Cloak Meister

Many people are opposed to ID cards. It seems to me that ID cards on their own are immensely useful – try to imagine international travel without passports – but the concern lies with their potential misuse. In Estonia, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Identification and Personal Data | Leave a comment
Jul 16
2014

Your Credit Card Spending Is Being Monitored

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Cloak Meister

This was in the Wall Street Journal a while back: NSA also obtains access to data from Internet service providers on Internet use such as data about email or website visits, several former officials said. NSA has established similar relationships … Continue reading →

Posted in Government Surveillance | Leave a comment
Jul 11
2014

NSA Spies on Linux and Tor Fans

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Cloak Meister

This is why I reiterate that the privacy problem lies in the “grey area”. Squeaky clean citizens have nothing to hide. Real criminals have everything to hide. But what if you are the fan of something that is alternative, risqué and … Continue reading →

Posted in Government Surveillance | Leave a comment
Jul 08
2014

TSA: Unpowered Devices Not Allowed Onboard

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Cloak Meister

As the traveling public knows, all electronic devices are screened by security officers. During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Weapons | Leave a comment
Jun 25
2014

Stealth Hoodie – Convenient Face Shield

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Cloak Meister

In modern-day news footage of riots we are used to seeing people wearing hoodies, dark glasses and scarves to conceal their appearance. Not the most elegant solution. This is the new way for anyone to quickly shift from casual, ordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding Detection | Leave a comment
Jun 23
2014

Google Buys SkyBox – Armchair Spying Coming Soon!

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Cloak Meister

It is rare for Google to buy an informational product that doesn’t end up free for the public to use… (The second video is of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai) Google has agreed to buy satellite start-up Skybox Imaging … Continue reading →

Posted in Eye In The Sky | Leave a comment
Jun 19
2014

DNA Reveals Facial Features

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Cloak Meister

Until now DNA has help solved crimes by matching samples found at the scene with those taken from a suspect. In some cases DNA has been used to determine racial background and hair color. But now a big leap has … Continue reading →

Posted in Facial Recognition | Leave a comment