Senator Al Franken Spearheads Investigation into Carrier IQ Snoop Software

Minnesota Senator Al Franken head of the Senate's privacy panel is spearheading the investigation into Carrier IQ. Carrier IQ has potentially violated multiple federal statutes. The Senator is asking questions and is holding AT&T, Sprint, HTC and Samsung accountable to explain exactly what data they retrieved using the snoop software. They have been given until December 14, to respond.There is no penalty for not responding by this date, however the companies are probably very concerned with the possibility of multiple civil law suits, accusing them of violating laws like the Federal Wiretap Act and the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. It is very common that companies do however respond to requests of this type. ~ NML

US Undercover Agents Launder and Smuggle Money For Mexican Cartels

Undercover US anti drug agents, mostly US DEA have smuggled and laundered millions of dollars for Mexican drug cartels, in an effort to find out how they move their money, root out their leaders, and find out where they keep their assets, reports the New York Times Sunday paper. DEA officials declined to discuss the details of the operations, citing concerns of compromising their investigations. Critics claim these operations violate the law, and are turning these agencies into criminals themselves.

“My rule was that if we are going to launder money, we better show results. Otherwise, the D.E.A. could wind up being the largest money launderer in the business, and that money results in violence and deaths.”

Since 2006, when the government of Mexico decided to launch military action against these cartels, some 45,000 people have been killed. The cartels have terrorized border towns as they battle over lucrative smuggling routes.

US agents have deposited proceeds in accounts designated by drug traffickers, or into shell accounts set up by agents. As undercover agents launder drug money, the agency often allows cartels to continue their operations over months or even years before making seizures or arrests,  said the New York Times Sunday paper.

Michael Vigil, a former senior official, working for a private contracting company named Mission Essential Personnel, was quoted by the paper saying: "We tried to make sure there was always close supervision of these operations so that we were accomplishing our objectives, and agents weren’t laundering money for the sake of laundering money."

T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint Recording our Conversations???

First the news broke that Android applications were snooping on users and sending the snooped information to a third party called Carrier IQ. Now in a fit of honesty, three major phone manufacturers have admitted to using the not so honest applications in our phones.Carrier IQ is trying to deny any wrong doing over the spying.

The Phone manufacturers have also been very hush hush on how exactly they will be using the stolen information.

AT&T has confirmed using the software, but only for legitimate services and quality related purposes. Mark Siegel, executive director of media relations at AT&T, says "We're really not going to offer more detail than what's in the statement." So in turn their not telling us if Carrier IQ is in all of their hand sets or not.

I have heard, but not been able to confirm that Carrier IQ is in everything IPhone related up to but not including IOS 5. I suggest you upgrade your phone ASAP. Apple is also being a little hush hush on which products are using Carrier IQ. Here is what apple says about the snoop software: “We stopped supporting Carrier IQ with IOS 5 in most of our products and will remove it completely in a future software update. With any diagnostic data sent to Apple, customers must actively opt-in to share this information, and if they do, the data is sent in an anonymous and encrypted form and does not include any personal information. We never recorded keystrokes, messages or any other personal information for diagnostic data and have no plans to ever do so.”

T-Mobile is admitting to using Carrier IQ as a diagnostic tool similar to the way Sprint is using the application. Here is what a T-Mobile Spokesperson has to say: "T-Mobile does not use this diagnostic tool to obtain the content of text, email or voice messages, or the specific destinations of a customers' internet activity, nor is the tool used for marketing purposes." Personally I have a hard time believing they don't but then again who am I?

Sprint is also admitting to using the snoop app, but also claiming it is only for legitimate services. "I am concerned what the definition of legit is to these corporate snoops", although Sprint is a little more willing to discuss things than AT&T. spokeswoman Stephanie Vinge-Walsh said Sprint uses Carrier IQ's data to work out handset performance and to identify problems sooner: "We collect enough information to understand the customer experience with devices on our network and how to address any connection problems, but we do not and cannot look at the contents of messages, photos, videos, etc., using this tool.... The information collected is not sold and we don't provide a direct feed of this data to anyone outside of Sprint."

The explanations that these corporations are giving is not very encouraging to me. I think it opens up a can of worms just because the information has been collected. In an instance where one of these companies is subpoenaed by law enforcement, private conversations will more than likely be given up. Are we living in a police state in the USA today? THis whole thing is very unsettling to me. ~ NML

Under Ground Czech Steroid Lab Busted

Czech Police bust ring producing counterfeit anabolic steroids and other hormone-based drugs for the sports and other markets

Chris Johnstone | 26.07.2011

Czech Police said Tuesday that that they bust a ring composed of ex-sportsmen, body builders, fitness trainers and organizers of competitions in the sector which produced and sold counterfeit anabolic steroids and other hormone-based drugs.

The special unit for combating organized crime (ÚOOZ) said eight Czechs and three Slovaks were arrested after a surveillance operation started in 2010 of their secretive production site in the eastern Zlín region. The action was prepared in cooperation witht the National Anti-Drug Center (NPC).

The tablets, promising success in the conventional sporting and sexual arenas, were sold not just to sportsmen but to people suffering from specific illnesses such as liver and kidney problems and erectile disfunction, the  police said in a statement.

At the factory site, which was protected by sophisticated security equipment, police found hundreds of thousands of tablets. Around 24 kilograms of a blue tablet “for men” — no doubt a Viagra rip off — was discovered on site, for example. Cash totaling around Kč 500,000 was also found at the factory.
The drugs were distributed around the Czech Republic, Slovakia and other EU countries, police added.
Three of the eleven have been detained in custody with the others released on bail. Charges include production and distribution of hormone affecting substances, flouting protected copyright and brand protection, illegal commerce and illegal production and distribution of psychotropic drugs and preparations.
Members of the group could face sentences of between five and 12 years in prison if found guilty of their charges.

Mistrial in Clemens Case

Wow this is great news for those of us who are tired of the witch hunt against athletes and people wanting to improve overall health.

Reggie Walton, United States District Judge has angrily declared a mistrial in the case against baseball great Roger Clemens. The governments case against Clemens has been grounded for at least a few weeks and quite possibly for good. Judge Reggie Walton set a Sept. 2 date for a hearing to inquire if it is at all possible for Clemens to receive a fair trial, after prosecutors showed jurors video evidence that was previously ruled out of bounds! Walton apologized to the jurors for wasting their time and tax payer money, only to call off the trial.

Walton told the jury, "There are rules that we play by and those rules are designed to make sure both sides receive a fair trial,  such ground rules are critical when a person's liberty is at stake.
"If this man got convicted, he would go to jail,"

Prosecutors suggested to Walton that the problem could be fixed by instructing the jury to disregard the evidence, Judge Walton was not buying it. He replied to prosecutors saying "I don't see how I un-ring the bell".

RC and his lawyers are under a court gag order and did not comment to the press as they left the courtroom. Clemens signed autographs and a couple of baseballs for fans, hugged courthouse workers, and shook hands with security officers on his way out. "I say good for you RC"

DEA and Florida Department of Health Bust Treasure Coast Pharmacy

Treasure Coast Pharmacy, a Florida compounding pharmacy was raided by DEA agents just before 9:00 AM Tuesday morning.Witnesses in the shopping center said they saw DEA Agents draw weapons, breach the front door and remove things from the premises.

DEA spokesman, David Melenkevitz, would only say that this was part of an ongoing federal investigation and no one was arrested as of  Tuesday.

An immediate suspension order, as it is called by the DEA was served to the pharmacy, preventing Treasure Coast from selling any and all controlled substances. The Florida Department of Health also stepped in issuing an emergency order to close the facility. Customers of the pharmacy have been advised to contact their doctors if they need a prescription filled.

Securenym.net Secure Email is Down

I have received a few tips that Securenym.net has been down since yesterday. For anyone who is experiencing this problem with their mail, I have emailed the admin, and should receiving more information from them in the near future. As of right now they are experiencing problems with their mail storage system. Here is what Securenym.net is saying on their login page:

Log On Errors

SecureNym is currently experiencing technical difficulties. The problem is with our mail storage, and has proven to be very persistent.
We apologize for the inconvenience, and are doing everything possible to resolve the problem.

Hopefully this problem will be resolved very soon for our loyal readers who subscribe to securenym.net.