Archive for July, 2010
The WikiLeaks “Insurance” File
July 31st, 2010From now on, I’m going to include a standard WikiLeaks disclaimer in the form of a link to a previous post. — Is WikiLeaks hanging a Sword of Damocles over elements of the U.S. Government? Via: Cryptome: The file, “insurance.aes256,” is ten times the size of the seven other files combined. Appears to be encrypted […]
One of the Fastest-Growing Businesses on the Internet: Spying on Internet Users
July 31st, 2010The piece provides an interactive graphic to explain what you can do to counter this advertiser surveillance stuff, but nowhere does the word AdBlockPlus appear. Woops. *chuckle* This will block most ads from loading in the first place. (Yes, AdBlockPlus blocks ads on Cryptogon.) I like Ghostery because it’s easy to use, but NoScript is […]
Brazil: Some Detergent Boxes Will Contain GPS Transmitters to Allow Company to Follow Consumers Home
July 31st, 2010Just wait until the detergent box costs more than the GPS transmitter. Via: AdAge: Unilever’s Omo detergent is adding an unusual ingredient to its two-pound detergent box in Brazil: a GPS device that allows its promotions agency Bullet to track shoppers and follow them to their front doors. Starting next week, consumers who buy one […]
White House Proposal Would Ease FBI Access to Records of Internet Activity
July 30th, 2010FBI can’t just ask NSA for it, or pull the information out of MAIN CORE because the domestic intercept programs don’t officially exist. An appearance needs to be maintained that the intelligence community doesn’t already have this data. What you’re about to read below is an example of how America does Kabuki theater. Via: Washington […]
IMF Says U.S. Financial System May Need $76 Billion in Capital
July 30th, 2010Your what hurts? Via: Bloomberg: The U.S. financial system remains fragile and banks subjected to additional economic stress might need as much as $76 billion in capital, according to the results of International Monetary Fund stress tests. The findings, released today as part of a broader IMF report on the U.S. financial system, suggested that […]
UK Government to be Sued Over Congolese ‘Conflict Minerals’
July 30th, 2010In other news: Afghan Mineral Deposits Actually Worth $3 Trillion, Not $1 Trillion. Via: Guardian: Britain must answer in court claims that it is turning a blind eye to UK firms that trade in lucrative Congolese “conflict minerals”, a campaign group announced today. The group, Global Witness, said the firms continued to buy minerals from […]
“Extreme and Unlawful” Bush-Era Policies Becoming the “New Normal” Under Obama
July 30th, 2010Via: ACLU: Indeed, on a range of issues including accountability for torture, detention of terrorism suspects, and use of lethal force against civilians, there is a very real danger that the Obama administration will enshrine permanently within the law policies and practices that were widely considered extreme and unlawful during the Bush administration. There is […]
After Losing Home to Foreclosure, “I Bought Myself an iPad”
July 30th, 2010Via: Bloomberg: The more he thought about the money he was losing, the more it stressed him out. Finally, Ronzio enlisted the help of a firm called You Walk Away and did exactly that from the remaining $319,000 on his condo mortgage. When the bank foreclosed, he says he felt a sense of relief. He […]
Cryptogon Readers Send Contributions
July 30th, 2010Thanks to Cryptogon readers who sent contributions in the last half of July. Eileen $75 MW $20 MS $50 JG $100 MH $20 MW2 $25 CM $25
GE to Pay $23 Million to Settle Bribery Allegations
July 29th, 2010Mmm hmm. Via: AFP: US industrial titan General Electric has agreed to pay over 23 million dollars to settle allegations that it bribed Iraqi officials, a US financial watchdog said on Tuesday. GE had been accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission of being part of “a 3.6 million dollar kickback scheme with Iraqi government […]
