If You've Got Nothing to Hide...

1) Privacy isn’t about hiding information; privacy is about protecting information, and surely you have information that you’d like to protect.

2) Privacy is a fundamental right and you don't need to prove the necessity of fundamental rights to anyone.

3) Lack of privacy creates significant harms that everyone wants to avoid.

Several small pieces of your personal data can be put together to reveal much more about you than you would think is possible.  An analysis conducted by MIT researchers found that “just four fairly vague pieces of information — the dates and locations of four purchases — are enough to identify 90 percent of the people in a data set recording three months of credit-card transactions by 1.1 million users.”  (Duck Duck Go, June 27, 2018)
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How would you feel if a government employee was keeping hidden files about you on a government computer network? You have nothing to hide... right?

Would it matter if the government agency involved had previously, in its own words, engaged in "a pattern of false arrests and detentions, attacks on homes and friendships, and attempted to impede [groups of citizens] from peacefully assembling... anywhere, at any time"?  

Do you care if someone other than the intended recipient is reading your e-mail? What about having your e-mail scanned for key words like bomb, terror, drugs, assassination? They're just looking for terrorists, aren't they?

Should automatic license plate readers (ALPS) record every vehicle that passes some point on the highway, or enters the parking lot at some venue? You're on a public street... that's not private is it?

You don't have anything to hide, do you?

It doesn’t matter if you have nothing to hide. Privacy is an individual right that underpins the freedoms of expression, association and assembly; all of which are essential for a free, democratic society.

Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.

 

 

 

 

 

Second Amendment Foundation and NRA Suing the City of Seattle

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and NRA have filed a lawsuit against the City of Seattle over the city's recently passed "safe storage" gun requirement, claiming it violates the state's preemption statute.

Seattle's ordinance assesses fines of up to $10,000 against gun owners who do not safely store their firearms or report their misuse. The law would go into effect in January.

SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb expressed frustration that Seattle is once again trying to pass its own gun laws.

“Seattle seems to think it should be treated differently than any other local government when it comes to firearm regulation,” Gottlieb said. "We should not have to repeatedly remind Seattle that they are still part of Washington state and must obey the law.”  (KOMO4 News, July 20, 2018)
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Clark County, WA Sheriff’s Deputy Fired for Wearing PBG Sweatshirt

According to The Columbian News (July 20, 2018), the Clark County, WA Sheriff’s Office has fired a deputy photographed wearing sweatshirt with a "Proud Boy's Girls" logo. The undated photograph, shared with The Columbian by an anonymous source, shows the deputy wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a logo showing a switchblade, lipstick and an abbreviation for Proud Boys’ Girls. According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy was hired in May 2017, and completed her law enforcement academy training in December.

The Proud Boys call themselves a “pro-Western fraternal organization” for men who “refuse to apologize for creating the modern world,” according to their founder, Gavin McInnes. The group rejects a white nationalist label, but the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has categorized it as a hate group. The Proud Boys group was founded in 2016.
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There is no place for racism or discriminatory ideologies in law enforcement (or in any part of society for that matter). The SPLC is the primary organization labeling the Proud Boys a "hate group", and perhaps they are; but it should be noted that the SPLC has also labeled parts of the Catholic Church as hate groups as well. The SPLC may not be the best source for determining what is and what is not a "hate group".

Firing the Clark County deputy for wearing a sweatshirt with a questionable logo, in an undated photo, is along the same lines as suspending deputies for flashing the "white power OK sign".

 

 

Multipick Quick Key Easy Pro

The Multipick Quick Key Easy Pro is a kit that lets you quickly cast and duplicate keys in the field. I came across a description of this kit in German a couple of weeks ago, and then saw the demonstration and review by Bosnian Bill on his YouTube channel.

If you can gain access to a key for around five minutes, it will be possible to quickly make a cast of the key. You can either then duplicate the key on-site, or take the cast with you to another location to duplicate the key.

The ability to quickly copy a key in the field is useful for security researchers, and at the same time the fact that keys can be so quickly duplicated in the field highlights the importance of proper key control and security.
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Master Lock Security Rating Destroyed (Lock Noob)

Lock Noob is a lock picker and locksport enthusiast  from the UK. His YouTube Channel is both entertaining and informative, with his recent video "Master Lock Security Rating Destroyed" being one that is definitely worth watching. (And take time thereafter to check out his other videos and subscribe to his YouTube channel.)

When choosing a padlock to secure our property, we probably rely on the security rating listed on the packaging of the lock (as well an examination of the lock itself and its appearance of strength and toughness). The problem, as we see in Lock Noob's video is that security ratings on lock packaging can be misleading.

Master Lock is one of the most common padlocks in the United States, but regardless of the security rating on the lock, all Master Locks seem to be easily picked by anyone with even minimal skill. I enjoy locksport and pick locks as a hobby (no, I am not anywhere near as skilled as Lock Noob), and I find that I can pick open Master Locks within just a couple of minutes.

 



The Master Lock web-site does provide some good information on what makes for good security in a padlock. While the physical strength of Master Locks is reasonable; the weakness of all Master Locks is in their keyway which is so easily bypassed. 

When choosing a padlock to protect your stuff, take some time to do a little research and get a lock that provides the best security within your price range. The ASecureLife web-site has a good article, Best Padlocks: Not All Locks Are Created Equal, on how to choose a quality padlock.
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Olympia, WA Declares Homelessness a Public Health Emergency

The city of Olympia [WA] claims its homeless problem is now a public health emergency. City leaders said there are as many as 1,000 homeless people in Olympia. (This estimate is significantly higher than counted in the Thurston County Homeless Census.)

People at the so-called “Camp Wheeler” homeless encampment along Wheeler Avenue SE were supposed to be evicted Thursday. But the city has put those plans on hold for the next week. The camp is on city-owned property in east Olympia. The city said it wants to clear it out to make way for a park. (KOMO4 News, July 19, 2018)
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Many businesses report they are losing customers and employees, and they will not renew long-term leases in downtown Olympia. They report instances of violence, drug use and trash spilling over onto his property.

Olympia police, meanwhile, are getting ready to launch a mental health outreach team and downtown walking patrols with money from the public safety levy voters approved last year. And the city has proposed zoning changes it says would lead to more types of housing being built.

 

Thurston County Homeless Census

 

WA and 5 Other States Sue Over Immigration Enforcement Policy

Six states, including Washington, and New York City are suing the federal government, saying it is unlawfully forcing them to engage in federal immigration enforcement to receive anti-crime funds. Lawsuits were filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court on behalf of Washington state, New York state and city, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Virginia.

Lawyers for the states wrote in court papers that the Justice Department was forcing states to accept unlawful conditions that diminish their ability to set their law enforcement priorities and protect their communities.  (KOMO4 News, July 18, 2018)
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I believe that we need secure borders and an effective immigration policy, but immigration is not and cannot be the answer to helping the world's poor. This was effectively demonstrated in the popular YouTube video: Immigration, World Poverty and Gumballs.

Some Myths and Fact concerning LEGAL Immigrants to the United States

The Pew Research Center has published "Key facts about U.S. immigration policies and proposed changes".

Kobach Hartman wrote and article, "Correcting the Record on Illegal Aliens and Crime" which helps with understanding the problem of crime and immigration.

Still, with multiple states suing the Federal government, and individuals protesting immigration policy at ICE detention facilities across the nation; there is clearly a problem with how we currently deal with lawful immigration and those who enter the country illegally.

 

Left Wing Hate and Threats of Violence Toward the President

This image was displayed on the front window of the 'One Grand Art Gallery', 1000 E. Burnside, Portland Oregon.

Although the image was removed from the front window after the gallery received hundreds of complaints from all across the nation; the same depiction hangs on the wall of the gallery alongside other anti-Trump pieces featured in an exhibit called “F--- You Mr. President.”  (KPTV News)

While everyone has a right to object to the policies of the government, and to express that objection through political speech, threats toward the President of the United States (or anyone else for that matter) is not a protected form of expression and must not be tolerated.

Some have warned that the threat of violence from the left is an ever-increasing danger in America, and this image at the One Grand Art Gallery only serves to reinforce the validity of those warnings.

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Radical Left-Wing Gangs in America

Dale Yeager, a forensic profiler and CEO of Seraph Inc., a private consulting firm for law enforcement, has been warning American law enforcement about left-wing extremism since the 1970s. On Tuesday, Yeager will headline the conference with his keynote, “Radical Left-Wing Gangs in America,” focused on "anti-fascist, or antifa, groups and their violent actions against civilians and police agencies in the U.S. and Canada.”

In his mind, the growth of right-wing extremism is a form of fake news; it’s the left, he says, that’s the bigger danger to America. “The United States is in a Second Civil War,” Yeager told VICE News. “We are. The one thing I disagree with is that it’s a cold civil war. There’s violence. And it’s not going to get better.”

Mr. Yeager will present his finding as the keynote speaker at the FBI National Academy Associates meeting next week. (VICE News, July 19, 2018)

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As noted in the VICE News article, not everyone agrees with Mr. Yeager's assessment of the comparative threats of violence from right and left wing groups. There is however little debate over the fact that there has been an increase  in left wing violence in recent years.

 

 

During a May Day march in Portland, Oregon, violence erupted resulting in 25 arrests after Antifa protesters attacked police officers, emergency workers and destroyed property resulting in the city pulling the parade permit.

 

How To Stop Apps (and Unwanted People) from Reading Your Gmail

Google has confirmed that private Gmail messages can sometimes be read by staff at external companies. This may happen if you grant an App permission to access your Gmail. It is no surprise that the App is accessing your Gmail, but what many did not realize is that the developers and staff of those Apps (people) could also be reading the content of your private Gmail messages.

Here is how to check your account permissions to see whether you are affected.

From your Google Account, click on your profile image in the top right corner. Then click on the Google Account button.

Now click on 'Apps with Account Access'.

From here you can see which Apps have been linked to your Google account. If you have allowed Apps to read your Gmail messages, your messages may also be read by the App's developer and staff.

You can revoke this permission by clicking 'Remove Access'.
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Portland Police Union President Says City 'A Cesspool' Amid Failed Policies

 

Officer Daryl Turner, president of the Portland Police Association and a police officer for 27 years slammed the mayor for his response to the homelessness crisis, claiming Oregon's largest city has "become a cesspool".

"Aggressive panhandlers block the sidewalks, storefronts, and landmarks like Pioneer Square, discouraging people from enjoying our City. Garbage-filled RVs and vehicles are strewn throughout our neighborhoods. Used needles, drug paraphernalia, and trash are common sights lining the streets and sidewalks of the downtown core area, under our bridges, and freeway overpasses."

Turner's comments came after Mayor Ted Wheeler said in an interview with The Oregonian that he wanted to review arrest data after an analysis by the newspaper found more than half of the arrests that police made in Portland last year were of homeless people. (Fox News, July 17, 2018)
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This is not a new problem for Portland. KPTV 12 Oregon reported in August 2016 that businesses in Portland are unhappy with what they consider an increasingly confrontational homeless population in the area, with reports of aggressive panhandling, vandalism and even death threats. Those issues, in particular, present a problem for Portland police officers. According to the department's policy and state law, an officer can't take a person suffering from a mental health condition anywhere unless they're suspected of committing a crime or are considered a danger to themselves or others.

The Center for Problem-Oriented Policing has published a guide, Responses to the Problem of Panhandling that offers guidance for dealing with panhandling.

WikiHow offers tips for individuals on How to Deal with Aggressive Panhandlers.

It is important to understand that homelessness and panhandling are not the same thing. Not all homeless panhandle, and not all panhandlers are homeless. It is also very important to note that being homeless is not in and of itself a crime.

 

EncryptPad

EncryptPad is an application for viewing and editing symmetrically encrypted text. Using a simple and convenient graphical and command line interface, EncryptPad provides a tool for encrypting and decrypting binary files on disk while offering effective measures for protecting information, and it uses the most widely chosen quality file format OpenPGP RFC 4880. Unlike other OpenPGP software which main purpose is asymmetric encryption, the primary focus of EncryptPad is symmetric encryption.

EncryptPad это приложение для просмотра и редактирования симметрично зашифрованных файлов. Приложение, так же, включает утилиту для шифрования бинарных файлов на диске. Программа предлагает эффективные способы защиты информации с помощью простого и удобного графического интерфейса и командной строки. Редактор использует наиболее распространенный формат OpenPGP RFC 4880. В отличит от других OpenPGP программ, главной задачей которых является ассиметричное шифрование, основная цель EncryptPad симметричное шифрование.

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Four Police Officers Suspended for Flashing White Power "OK" Gesture

JASPER, Ala. (WBMA) — Four officers in the Jasper [Alabama] Police Department were suspended for making a hand gesture while posing for a photo. Some people claimed the circular gesture was racist, according to the city's mayor, David O'Mary. The mayor said some have claimed the gesture was meant to express the phrase "white power."

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) the OK gesture / circle game hand sign is NOT a hate symbol. "Has the simple thumb-and-forefinger “OK” hand gesture become a white supremacist hand sign? Well, no, it hasn’t, but you are likely to hear just the opposite from social media, thanks to the latest hoax from members of notorious website 4chan... The “OK” hand gesture hoax originated in February 2017 when an anonymous 4channer announced “Operation O-KKK,” telling other members that “we must flood Twitter and other social media websites…claiming that the OK hand sign is a symbol of white supremacy.” The user even provided a helpful graphic showing how the letters WP (for “white power”) could be traced within an “OK” gesture. The originator and others also suggested useful hashtags to help spread the hoax, such as #PowerHandPrivilege and #NotOkay. “Leftists have dug so deep down into their lunacy,” wrote the poster, “We must force [them] to dig more, until the rest of society ain’t going anywhere near that s***.”

 

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When the leadership of a police department (any police department) will investigate and suspend their personnel based on clearly false allegations, there is a serious problem in that department.

 

Five minutes on the Internet was all it took to identify the White Power / OK Gesture hoax.

 

Investigations and punitive actions of this type demonstrate a clear abuse of authority by the department leadership, and almost certainly violate the rights of the suspended personnel.

 

 

How to Make Your Twitter Account Super Secure with a YubiKey

When a site offers different methods of authentication, your account is only as secure as the weakest option. Here, Motherboard shows you how to use the most robust method for locking down your Twitter account.

On Tuesday, Twitter announced the roll out of a new security feature; users can now lock their account with a security key, a physical device they plug into their laptop in order to log in. This means that even if someone obtains a user’s password, generally speaking, the hacker shouldn’t be able to break into the account.

This Motherboard Guide shows you how to set up YubiKey with your Twitter account.

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81% Don't See The Need for Security

According to a July 9, 2018 article in the New York Post, Americans are sick and tired of passwords and security questions.  Researchers who polled 2,000 US adults found 81 percent don’t see the need for what they consider unnecessary security procedures. Almost half (47 percent) are sick of having to answer endless security questions whenever they call customer service departments. Over six in 10 (64 percent) are riled by the need for elaborate passwords featuring a mix of numbers, symbols and capital letters. Forty-eight percent are fed up with the use of two-step verification and seven in 10 (71 percent) are frustrated by captcha codes, as they tend to feature illegible words.
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To be effective security must be employed consistently. However, when security measures become inconvenient or reduce efficiency many people will find a way to get around those security measures. This is the problem faced by security professionals across all domains. Users want security, but they don't want to be bothered by the security measures that are designed to protect them.

When planning and developing security measures, whether for a business or for your family, it is essential to take into account the usability of that security.  Any security measure that creates an inconvenience for users will be resented, and in time users will find some kind of shortcut to get around the security measures that you have in place.

 

Counterintelligence Trivia Twirl Challenge (Security Awareness Training)

Play the Counterintelligence Trivia Twirl Challenge. Test your knowledge of counterintelligence awareness topics.

The CDSE Security Awareness Hub  is the premier destination for accessing security awareness courses for DoD and other U.S. Government and defense industry personnel. Security Awareness Hub courses are available to the general public as well.

Counterintelligence

• Counterintelligence Awareness and Reporting for DoD
• Counterintelligence Awareness and Security Brief
• Integrating CI and Threat Awareness into Your Security Program
• Thwarting the Enemy: Providing Counterintelligence and Threat Awareness to the Defense Industrial Base

 

Cybersecurity

• Cybersecurity Awareness
• Introduction to the Risk Management Framework (RMF)
• Information Security

Derivative Classification

• Derivative Classification Refresher
• DoD Initial Orientation and Awareness Training
• DoD Annual Security Awareness Refresher
• Identifying and Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Version 2.0
• Marking Classified Information
• Original Classification
• Unauthorized Disclosure of Classified Information for DoD and Industry
• Unauthorized Disclosure Refresher

 

Insider Threat

• Establishing an Insider Threat Program
• Insider Threat Awareness

 

Operations Security

• OPSEC Awareness for Military Members, DoD Employees and Contractors

Additional on-line Security Awareness training is available from:


FEMA's Emergency Management Institute

• IS-906 Workplace Security Awareness
• IS-907 Active Shooter: What You Can Do
• IS-912 Retail Security Awareness: Understanding the Hidden Hazards
• IS-914 Surveillance Awareness: What You Can Do
• IS-915 Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Insider Threats
• IS-916 Critical Infrastructure Security: Theft and Diversion – What You Can Do

JS-US007 - Level I Antiterrorism Awareness Training

DOD Cyber-security Online Training

Department of the Navy Annual Privacy Training

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service / DHS

• Online For Everyone - Non-Technical (Cyber 101)
• Online For IT Professionals (Cyber 201)
• Online For Business Professionals (Cyber 301)

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Pepper Spray Self-Defense Options

Pepper spray is based on an oil known as oleoresin capsicum, the same chemical that makes chili peppers hot, but in pepper spray, it is present at a much higher concentration. Capsicum is a lachrymatory and inflammatory agent, meaning that it makes your eyes water and causes a swelling and burning of the mucus membranes, causing you to cough and choke, making it difficult to breathe.
Some self-defense sprays may also contain chemical irritants such as Alphachloroacetaphenone (CN) or Orthochlorobenzalmalonitrile (CS), which are man-made chemicals. These chemicals rely on increasing pain sensations to stop a physical attack or gain compliance from the person affected.

Pepper spray is a useful self-defense tool is a situation where you might have to fight off a violent attacker. Pepper spray can be very effective, but it is not magic. An attacker can still punch, grab, stab, or shoot you after being sprayed. You should consider pepper spray as a deterrent or distraction that disorients an attacker long enough for you to run away. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it will instantly incapacitate an attacker – it probably won’t. (As can be seen in this short demonstration video on YouTube.) 

Small canisters of pepper spray are easy to carry but can also be limited in range and the number of shots (sprays) available. Large pepper spray guns, like the Mace Brand Police Strength Pepper Spray Pepper Gun or the Kimber PepperBlaster II give you increased range, but at an increase in size and perhaps concealability . A small canister of pepper spray is easy to carry in the hand with little notice as you walk across a parking lot some evening, but a pepper spray gun will be more likely to attract notice.

Finally, for home defense where you cannot, or choose not to, have a firearm there are paintball guns that shoot balls filled with OC/CS powder.  These large paintball guns can’t be carried for self-defense outside the home (the are just too big) but may be a reasonable choice to keep in your home. This is a common practice in South Africa where there is a high violent crime rate, but where access to firearms is highly restricted.

Whenever possible, I recommend that you take a class on how to use pepper spray for personal protection. Companies like Sabre have certified instructors that can provide this training for you.