Last summer we reviewed leading social media monitoring tools used by law enforcement to track criminal elements and terrorists. At the time, the general consensus was that these apps -- while fine as far as open source intelligence (OSINT) goes -- took a back seat to more covert forms of surveillance. Many questioned whether monitoring “the Twitter firehose” held any value at … [Read more...]
Ultimate Hack: Looming Threat to U.S. Missile Defense?
Obsession with lone wolf attacks and other sensational acts of terrorism may be overshadowing a greater (and silent) risk: the cyber threat to U.S. and allied missile defense systems. The specter of national defense derailed by “sleeper viruses” -- a threat so ominous that few dare speak it -- is a very real danger. At stake: no less than the ability to hold a nation hostage or … [Read more...]
Blackbird Acquisition Has Raytheon Singing
When Raytheon bought Blackbird Technologies for $US 420 million earlier this month, it caught our eye. This is the Blackbird that wrote the book on “tagging, tracking and locating” (TTL) devices, had the cyber sleuths to silently attack any hostile environment or -- depending on who you believe -- send in its own former military/CIA personnel to play a direct hand in rescue … [Read more...]
Raytheon 3G Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR): We Own the Night
As a battle-tested technology, thermal imaging is vital for the war fighter, and few solutions do it better than Raytheon Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR). FLIR’s ability to single out targets on the ground, from the air and over the sea, delivering detailed thermal images of hostiles in any light condition without revealing the presence of the user, is a must-have advantage in … [Read more...]
Stratign: The UAE’s Shadowed Defense Contractor
As the world’s 5th largest importer of arms, the United Arab Emirates is also a formidable producer in the field with market leaders that include Tawazun, Mubadala, Emirates Advanced Advancement -- and unknown to most -- a largely unsung player called Stratign. Stratign’s low profile is surprising, given its openness. The company is straightforward about its involvement in … [Read more...]