Carer Caught on Hidden Camera Stealing From Elderly Stroke Victim
September 18, 2019 | Security
Moment carer, 48, is caught stealing from elderly stroke victim by her family who set up secret camera hidden in a clock. Shocking footage shows carer Sharon Wilcox taking money of client's purse The incident was captured by a hidden camera inside a clock in the living room Wilcox pleaded guilty and was handed a suspended nine-month prison sentence Court heard that Sylvia Williams had been mistreated on more than one occasion A carer has been caught stealing from an elderly stroke victim by her family who set up a secret camera hidd...
Spyware and GPS Tracking: The Next Frontier for Family Violence
August 26, 2019 | Security
We understand when a woman is murdered. We understand the hundreds and thousands of incidents that take the police to homes all over New Zealand and Australia.Now there’s something more – and it’s so prevalent that family violence services are changing the way they operate. New research from Deakin University tells us that spyware is the next frontier – a “particularly acute threat” – in family violence. In fact, the manufacturers of spyware actively encourage and promote the use of their products for the surveillance of intimate part...
Risks of Sharing Your Phone Number
August 16, 2019 | Technology, Security
For most of our lives, we have been conditioned to share a piece of personal information without a moment's hesitation: our phone number.We punch in our digits at the grocery store to get a member discount or at the pharmacy to pick up medication. When we sign up to use apps and websites, they often ask for our phone number to verify our identity.This column will encourage a new exercise. Before you hand over your number, ask yourself: Is it worth the risk?This question is crucial now that our primary phone numbers have shifted from l...
The Sound Of Silence - Otago Daily Times Speak With Mike Gillam of The Investigators
July 8, 2018 | Security
A recent Otago Daily Times phone interview with Prof Karen Willcox, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, went eerily silent in the middle of a conversation about advanced military technologies.Those working in the field of communication security and intelligence operations certainly think it is a possibility. They are divided, however, over whether it is likely.The curious incident occurred shortly after this newspaper reporter asked Prof Willcox about her work on new commercial aircraft designs with pote...
'It's All About Control'. Stalking: A Crime On The Rise In New Zealand
May 13, 2018 | Security
When Jane* received a beautiful bunch of flowers at work her colleagues thought it a desperately romantic gesture. For Jane it was a message: "I know where you are".She had tried to disappear, changed jobs several times, deleted her digital profile. But her former partner-turned-stalker always found her.Stalking is a very real part of domestic abuse in New Zealand and as we discovered, it's frighteningly common. Statistics are difficult to come by but one security specialist and former detective, Darren Morton, says globally, around o...
Donal MacIntyre's Estranged Wife Is Arrested After Spy Camera Found In His Home
February 16, 2018 | Security
Donal MacIntyre's estranged wife has been arrested after he allegedly found a spy camera disguised as a coat hanger in his home. Ameera MacIntyre, 43, is accused of using his credit card to buy it on Amazon and getting a third party to plant the device. Ameera MacIntyre (left), 43, is accused of planting a spy camera disguised as a coat hanger in Donal MacIntyre's Surrey home.The device is disguised as a hook and it has a tiny lens concealed at the top and a microchip to record sound.Detectives are investigating how the device, which ...
Exclusive: Life Online: How Big Is Your Digital Footprint?
February 12, 2018 | Security
Radio NZ's Emma Hatton speaks with Mike Gillam of The Investigators.The average person's online presence is larger than ever, as more of what we do is carried out digitally. But what information is out there, how easy is it to find, and who's using it? RNZ reporter Emma Hatton used herself as a guinea pig, and filed this report.Watch Here: Life Online - How Big Is Your Digital Footprint?Listen Here: Life Online - How Big Is Your Digital Footprint?From grocery shopping to making travel plans the average person's online presence is l...
Exclusive: How Do I Trespass Someone?
November 22, 2017 | Security
From a feud with a neighbour who won’t respect your property boundary, to an ex-partner who shows up at your house unannounced, there are many reasons why you would want to stop a person from entering onto your property.Trespassing can include behaviour where someone:Refuses to leave your property after you warn them to leave; Returns after you warn them not to return; or Wilfully or recklessly disturbs a domestic animal on your land. This applies whether you own or rent your property.Fortunately, the Trespass Act 1980 stipulates that...
Exclusive: Discreet Debugging and TSCM Bug Sweeps in New Zealand
November 15, 2017 | Security
New Zealand is not immune to the threat of espionage. From the America's Cup Racing “spy gate” to the All Blacks' incident in Sydney, one does not have to look hard to find examples of corporate spying.While it is true that very few live bugs are found during bug sweeps - known as Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (“TSCM”) sweeps, many corporates are beginning to understand that the risk is very real.We look at the “bugging” risk scenario in terms of likelihood and consequences based on the standards set by AS/NZS4360:1999. Alt...
Exclusive: Finding 'Bugs'/'Listening Devices'
October 20, 2017 | Security
A recent "find" was the result of a physical sweep which we always do in conjunction with and immediately after a technical sweep.The location was a multi-national hotel suite, which was to be used by a CEO. The electronic sweep showed no obvious and active devices.During the physical sweep it was noticed that the screws on the back of a new flat screen TV were scratched so were definitely not "factory state". When the back was removed and the inside examined it was discovered a device had been inserted and concealed amongst the circ...