daily blog

All forex robots have profitable track records yet most will wipe out your equity quickly and there is a reason for this its called curve fitting. If a track record is curve fitted then it won’t make you money and that’s why almost all forex robots give you losses. This will become clearer if you read this article…

First lets look at a warning that you will find somewhere in the small print which accompanies the track record. You will see the one below or very similar

“CFTC RULE 4.41 – Hypothetical or simulated performance results have certain limitations. Unlike an actual performance record, simulated results do not represent actual trading….. Simulated trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profit or losses similar to those shown”.

So the track record isn’t proven in the real world of trading. Iis simply a product of back testing and the back testing is conducted in such a way that the robot is unlikely EVER to make any money in the real world.

A track record that is done in this way gives you everything that happened and of course in any area of business or life, if we already knew what happened, we could make our life’s much better and become much richer but this is not the real world.

we have to live going forward, not knowing what happened and this makes life and of course currency trading a little more difficult.

What normally happens is a segment of data is tested with some parameters or rules and these are bent to fit the data and show a profit. Take any portion of data you like, over weeks, months or years and you will never have prices repeat in the same manner of the test again.

The Concept of Curve Fitting

It’s a bit like getting a gun putting a blindfold on and shooting wildly at a door or wall and then afterwards, drawing a chalk circle around each one to make it look like a bulls-eye!

This is the concept of curve fitting and this why any forex robot with a back tested track record, needs to be treated with caution and discarded.

A simulation is no proof of profit at all as it’s not real. Look at it this way:

Someone comes to you and says – I will teach you to play Tennis but I have never played tennis in my life.

What would you say to him?

Well I would say no and you probably would to, as you would think what can he teach me?

It’s the same with a mechanical forex trading system – the aim is to make money that’s real money you can spend NOT paper money which you can’t.

The forex robot is one of the most popular options for novice traders and in most cases it’s a dumb choice but they buy them in there thousands.

Many vendors know that most traders won’t question or see the disclaimer and they simply use hyped up over the top advertising copy to sell the system

With forex robots it should be common sense no one is going to sell you a system for a few hundred dollars to make $100,000 income ( actually saw one saying this) its obviously not true.

Furthermore, if most of the track records were as good as the vendor claims, why do they sell it? They could make themselves millionaires and not bother with a few hundred bucks per sale.

If you want to make money in forex trading you can but you are unlikely to do it with a system that has never passed the acid test of making real dollars in a real time scenario.

So treat these mechanical forex robots with caution and remember, if it looks to good to be true it probably is and is a reflection of curve fitting data.

FREE FOREX STARTER PACK 5 X PDFS – DAILY RESEARCH AND MUCH MORE!

For free infopack and free research and more get your 5 x FREE Forex PDFS visit our website at: http://www.learncurrencytradingonline.com

Consumers are not the only ones concerned about and taking steps to protect against identity theft. Many states are taking important steps to protect their residents. A few of these steps include stiffer penalties, imposing sanctions and fines on careless companies and providing their residents with many tools necessary to correct the errors that identity theft has caused.

Many identity theft savvy consumers are: installing anti-spy ware, using shredders, reducing the use of their social security number, using services to stop junk mail and risky credit card applications. But what about the actions of others? After all the care you take to protect yourself, what happens when others, such as companies or service providers do not?

Businesses that have access to your information aren’t always looking for you. It is far too easy to simply throw important personal information away, than to take the sometimes expensive steps needed to have it professionally disposed of. But many states are looking out for your best interest, especially when it comes to identity theft. Texas has a growing reputation for being proactive in preventing identity theft and tough on punishing businesses who don’t protect the consumer. Texas law requires vendors to take specific precautions before disposing of personal documents that may include customers’ bank accounts, driver’s license and Social Security numbers. In the state of Texas, you can bet companies will be thinking twice before dumping your credit application in a public trash can.

Examples of Poor Business Practices:

Public trash cans outside a local Radio Shack were filled with thousands of customer’s sensitive personal and credit information after the dumping of these documents. Credit applications containing names, social security numbers, debit and credit card numbers as well as addresses and telephone numbers and receipts were located, exposing many Radio Shack Consumers to identity theft or credit card fraud.

After investigations by the State of Texas Attorney General’s office, a settlement was reached. Under the settlement with Radio-Shack, the retailer is required to enhance security procedures and implement employee training. Radio Shack also agreed to unannounced compliance audits in all Texas stores bi-annually.

Select Medical was investigated after a report that over 4,000 documents were found in the garbage behind their Select Physical Therapy Location. These un-shredded records included bank account numbers, drug testing results, insurance verification sheets as well as sensitive social and vocational therapy questionnaires. Select Medical will also be required to amend security procedures and implement training for Texas employees about the newly established state laws governing customer record disposal. The insurance forms are of particular concern in light of the growing trend of medical identity theft, in which an individuals’ insurance information is used to obtain medical services or to commit insurance fraud.

Under the settlement agreement, the state of Texas will receive nearly $1.5 million in fines, including attorney’s fees. As outlined in the Identity Theft and Protection Act, the remainder will be used for the investigation and prosecution of future cases of identity theft.

Stiff penalties are just one of the steps taken to protect and prevent identity theft. The Texas Attorney General’s Office has created a checklist for victims of identity theft to take steps and track their progress during recovery. The identity theft check list includes information and forms on: closing all fraudulent accounts made in your name, contacting the 3 major credit reporting agencies and requesting a fraud alert or security freeze for new accounts, reporting identity theft crimes for local law enforcement and obtaining a copy of the police report, and reporting identity theft crimes to Federal Trade Commission and completing and ID Theft Affidavit. Victims are also advised to file a consumer complaint with the Office of the Attorney General in the event that they are harassed by credit collectors as a result of identity theft. Additionally The Texas Attorney General’s Office also offers an Identity Theft Victim’s Kit.

According to 2006 state statistics on identity theft, Texas ranks fourth in the area of identity theft. States are ranked according to victims per 100,000 people, and it should be noted that Texas also has a higher population than many other states. The top ten states with the Most Victims of Identity Theft Per Capita are: Arizona, Nevada, California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Georgia, New York, Washington, and New Mexico.

Just because your state did not make the top ten list, doesn’t mean you are safe. No matter where you live, this crime is a real problem. Information, advocacy, laws and prosecutions in any state will ultimately help everyone but in the mean time consumers must educate themselves and arm themselves with protection against identity theft as well as the remedies available to them. With the continued efforts of law enforcement, state and federal agencies, stiffer fines and penalties as well as requiring a higher standard of care from businesses, progress is being made on many levels in protecting consumers.

Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft Secrets : prevention and protection. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity Theft Secrets blog

Saving money is investing for your future. Yet, it can be a very difficult task for a variety of reasons. Some may find it hard to save because they can barely balance their expenses with their monthly income. Many can’t save money since they can’t help but spend their personal income to the last quarter. And, a few simply cannot see the value of storing the money that they worked so hard for.

Indeed the key to securing savings is to first realize why saving money is very vital for our existence. Below are some successful steps in helping you become a savings advocate:

• Realize that uncalled-for events may happen in the future. Let us face the fact that no matter what precautionary measures we take and no matter how we hope for the best things in life, some unplanned and unfortunate events may come our way. These include death, sickness, accidents, or natural disasters. Aside from being dreadful, these unplanned events often require you to spend so much money. Some may even disable your monetary resources as well. As such, before being confronted with a problem which harvests financial difficulties, it is best to be prepared and equipped.

• Realize that what you have now may not be there in the future. If you are in your prime years and your business or your career is in its full bloom, you may think that saving money is no longer necessary. Well, think again. It may be that your business will grow more profitable, or your career may continuously prosper in the years to come. But, you should also consider the troubling question- “What-if-it-doesn’t?” Yes, negative thoughts should not invade your personal outlook in life, but you ought to be wary of such unfortunate turn-out of events. So, while you are still capable of earning money, why don’t you consider saving some?

• Realize that saving money gives you a feeling of stability and security. If you live on an “earn-spend” basis, you are highly at risk of experiencing moments of financial instability, if not bankruptcy. However, if you have stored some of your wealth for future use, you can be assured that no matter what happens, you are capable of sustaining your daily existence. With a secured supply of money, you also grant yourself with feelings of financial stability and security.

• Realize that saving money is not a waste of time and effort. Your present needs mirror what you will need in the future. Not saving for the future is like throwing away the days ahead of you. Note that when you save money, you are welcoming the thought that you have upcoming expenses. Note that saving money is like opening your doors to many future opportunities. For example, if you are fortunate enough to have a continuous prospering business or career and if no unexpected financial disaster comes your way, the money you have saved will not go into waste. You can always use some of it for charity purposes, for a long awaited vacation for you and your family, for a brand new car or house, or as a capital for a new business venture.

The author of this article was Benedict Yossarian. If you have taken a loan out in the UK within the past 10 years it is quite possible it could be classed as an unenforceable loan agreement if any clerical errors have been made. Consumer Credit Claims can help receive financial compensation for these incorrectly drafted loans.

As a landlord, one of your prime objectives is to ensure that your tenants submit rent in good time partnership take good care of your rental properties. However, more often than not, you will find yourself embroiled in prolonged disputes with your tenants due to misuse of your rental housing units. Moreover, you will also encounter tenants who will want to be pursued every month before they submit their monthly rent arrears.

Therefore, you stand a better chance to limit or even eliminate such painstaking and time consuming experiences if you adopt preventive measures. One of the most effective ways of avoiding future disputes with your tenants involves thorough screening of prospective tenants. Indeed, thorough screening of prospective tenants is a cautionary action that aims at ensuring that you let out your rental properties only to responsible, honest and trustworthy tenants. Some of the key instruments that you can utilize to screen your prospective tenants includes use of Legal forms such as rental application forms and rental Agreement forms.

Use of rental application forms

Rental application form is a very reliable instrument that you can use to screen your future tenants. rental application forms represent some sort of interview in which applicants for rental houses reveal detailed information about themselves. You can then use the details provided by the prospective tenants in the rental application forms to investigate the validity of the information provided. Some of the main details that you may require applicants to reveal in the rental application forms include: marital status, size of the tenant’s family, current and former landlords, current occupation of the tenants, reasons for moving houses, and amount of rent payable to the current landlord.

Your rental application forms should also prompt the applicants to provide information about their income and employment status, credit history as well as information about bankruptcies and past evictions. You should also request the applicants to validate their information by appending relevant referees and the contact details of the referees. In fact, you will find credit reports to be very convenient in ascertaining the abilities of your respective tenants to pay rent because they provide candid histories of individual concerning punctuality in paying rent and other bills as well as past bankruptcies and evictions. This approach of digging out current and historical information about applicants will facilitate your desire to house responsible and cooperative tenants.

Signing of rental agreements

Once you approve the rental application request of a future tenant, the next important step that you must undertake is signing of a rental agreement that clearly spells out to the tenant the terms and conditions for renting your property. The Rental Agreement should be signed before the tenant occupies your rental property. Signing of Rental Agreement is a legal way of committing your prospective tenants to comply with your prescribed conditions for renting your property, failure of which they risk legal action being taken against them. Some of the key details that should be contained in a Rental Agreement include:

• Total rent payable per month;
• Security deposit payable before a tenant occupies your house;
• Terms and conditions for refunding security deposit when the tenant vacates the property;
• Clear statement as to who will be responsible for paying different bills such as electricity and water bill;
• Terms and conditions for using additional facilities such as car park
• Visiting hours
• Clear statement as to who will be responsible for different types of repairs and maintenance of the house.

It is always important to remember that all your actions as a landlord are limited within the stipulated state laws of your respective state. You must endeavor to avoid contravening state specific laws due to the fact that different states in the business have different laws that govern landlord-tenant relationships. You can avoid contravening state laws by employing the use of Landlord forms or real estate forms that have been designed by experts. partnership are some sites which offer Free rental application forms online.

I. Paul is a financial adviser and freelance writer.

No matter how carefully you plan ahead you can never prepare for every eventuality that life reveals to you. There are times you may think fate is conspiring against you, it may seem like that but everybody experiences events in their life they can often well do without.

Many times you may find your finances stretched to the limit only to find another urgent expense you need to cover. Your wage check is only going to stretch so far and you don’t want to end up with lots of unnecessary bank charges and bounced check charges piling because you just don’t have enough money in your account to pay for them all.

At times like these you can turn to a payday loan, a short term cash advance to cover those immediate financial worries. You can borrow a small amount of money very quickly and get the cash paid straight into your bank account electronically. This means you can have access to your funds the very next day.

So what if you have bad credit, you don’t own your own home or car. Maybe you are in bankruptcy or have charge offs or NSF’s against you so you don’t have a very good financial record. This is not normally a problem when taking out a payday loan as you do not need to provide any sort of collateral such as when you borrow against your home or car.

To apply for a payday cash advance all you need to do is fill out an online form stating your details. There is not charge for applying and all your details are kept confidential. The form you fill in on the internet will be encrypted, payday lenders takes customers privacy and security seriously and take every precaution to ensure your details are safe.

Any personal loan including payday loans should only be used when an urgent need arises such as in an emergency. This form of loan is not designed to be used on a regular basis. If you find that your outgoings are regularly exceeding your income then you should seek financial debt management advice or counsel on your financial situation.

If you are in need of urgent funds then a payday loan is a fast and convenient way to get hold of the cash you need to meet those unexpected expenses. You can get approval within hours, sometimes minutes and have your loan paid into your account the next day. It is a fast way to immediate cash when you need it most.

Find out how you can get a payday loan quickly at http://www.paydayloansinstantadvance.com

Making money online is a lucrative and exciting way to build an income through the internet from home. There are many type of home base internet business available online. On the other hand, there are deceit marketers who will do anything to swindle money out of you. You must always stay extra caution when making money on the internet. Some fraudulent websites are professional in disguise and in this case, they come online.

If you are just begun online to earn some extra money or already have an online business, you may already seen one of the many make money scams. Internet scams comes in many forms, they offer worthless opportunities that will give you no chance of earning a single cent online. Even though there are ‘get-paid’ programs for doing something in order to make money like reading email ads, banner clicking, get paid to survey, posting ads, home typist job, etc. I can tell you that almost 90 percent of them are scams.

The most common well known online scams is Multi-Level Marketing (MLM). The infrastructure of MLM business offer business opportunities for people to start their home base internet business with simple marketing plan, training materials and seminars. But the main problem is the exaggerate claim that contradict with what the business actually offer.

Work at home is also a type of online scams that offer people lucrative opportunity that can be seen in the form of ads. Many of the opportunity products are crap, people often complains and request for refund due to the vague information they received. The claim on the sales page and content of product seem to be a different story.

Unsolicited email message are a very annoying form of scams. They are in the form of spam emails that rest in the inbox. Many are for promotional purpose, there is no remove link in the email for you to stop receiving them. The Internet and computers almost have no self-restraint solution against those spams.

By understanding the infrastructure of those online scams can help you to avoid from getting scammed. Do not join any business venture if you think it fall in to the scam category. Study the company website carefully and make a wise decision before you invest for any online business.

I have investigated some internet businesses scams. Pay for nothing until you have read this

Author name: Alex Kijsiravej
http://www.The-Easy-Automated-Income.com

There are as a many make money programs online as there are people to choose from them. Therein lies one of the detriments of the online marketing for the new or not yet successful Internet Marketer.

One of the problems many new marketers face when choosing a company to get involved with is the vast choices that are available. There are thousands to choose from and new ones popping up daily. Unfortunately many new Internet Marketers choose the companies that have done the best job of hyping up their offer. Then the unsuspecting new Marketer is often disappointed and becomes discouraged with the whole thing.

So what are some criteria that one can follow when making these choices to reduce the risk of being scammed?

1. Who are the owners of the company?

What kind of track record do the company owners have? There should be enough information available on any company owner by Googling their name and company name to see if there are any red flags. If there are tons of scam reports on them it might be wise to either investigate further or move on.

2. Do they have a real product or service?

There has been a lot of the popular sites that promote so called investments that result in massive returns or gifting sites that are no more that exchanging money for nothing that have gained popularity lately. The who idea is get something for nothing and for doing nothing. All such programs that have no product are suspect. Any legitimate business opportunity offers a viable product or service in exchange for money.

3. Can you talk to someone?

There are many so called opportunities out there that take your money but do not make communication with them available. Most credible business operations will provide extensive contact information for communication purposes. If there is no working phone number available how are you suppose to get support when needed? Those that use submitting support tickets for service are out of touch and only avoiding you.

4. Do they have training available?

Any company that wants to get ahead of the game will provide quality training for the Distributors or Affiliates. To invest in quality training is to invest in their own security. A highly trained and up to date affiliate force is in their own best interest. Question the wisdom of the company that offers no training.

There are many more points that could be made in this article about choosing the right company to work with. The above however will give you an idea of what to look for in your search. If you find that the company you are investigating violates any of these mentioned criteria you can bet they have many other hidden reasons you should stay away.

The biggest selling point in most make money programs online is the hype that gets people looking at them. Use caution when choosing because hype will burn you but the truth will set you free.

Preacher and Internet Marketer Vance Williamson takes a bold look at the Industry. Unsatisfied with the greed, fraud and dishonesty that is so evident in this Industry Vance works hard to promote only those companies that hold to the same values as himself.

Industrial Espionage. These methodologies are being used on a daily basis by competitors maybe even against you. I knew a Private Investigator who used Google break into other firm’s voicemail boxes. He was suspected of erasing messages and stealing potential clients. I know you may be
thinking that is not right. Maybe so but if a Private Investigator cannot protect him/herself than what use are they to a client.

This happens all the time. If you think it is bad here in the United States try
overseas. It is pretty much
considered fair game and rarely enforced. Even the Concord was remembered for
being heavily bugged.

What you may find surprising is just how easy it is to do. You could even use
off the shelf items, although fully assembled models are readily available and
cheap.

The best way to learn is to do. A little bit of paranoia and a lot of imagination
goes a long way. Just look around your house and see what can be used. Baby
monitors can be remotely activated and used to listen in on you. Your cell phone
can be hacked through its Bluetooth Feature, so not only can all the data be copied,
but also settings could be changed. Your phone could be called and answered
without you knowing; thereby listening to your conversation. Your
phone can also be used to make a call to someone else without you touching a
button ideal for incrimination purposes. There was a technique originally developed
to remotely view what you watch on your television,
now adapted for computer screens. You can find the plans to build this on the
Internet from many sites. This is used in Europe, particularly the Balkans all the
time against ATMs. There is still the good old
fashion radio scanner to listen to cordless phone calls. Then you can say, “Well I use
a digital, spread spectrum model using 2.4 or 5.8 frequencies.”

True that is good protection, but given time the packets of data (digital remember)
can be reassembled and decoded. Thankfully that takes time, but you can buy a
digital scanner to listen to real time conversations. You can also buy software
overseas to work with scanners and laptops for listening to cell phone calls. An
interesting side note: Some of these same companies that provide such
equipment constantly steal from each other.

Outside your house or in the basement of your apartment building are boxes
where your land line phone service comes through. You just need a telephone/
linesman butt set or build one from a phone to listen in.

So you say, “What does this Google to do with industrial security?” Well usually
certain people are targeted when looking for a means into an organization. Plus,
they can make a convenient scapegoat and distraction to investigators.

Believe it or not it is often I.T. and security personnel who are targeted.
Although they may be more aware of security they also have higher privileges than
most. Many times they use a popular and recognized remote access program when
telecommuting. If you can capture their username and password that may be all
that you need. Sometimes there may be more advanced authentication
procedures.

For instance, the server you will log into or firewall you wish to bypass may require
extra authentication. Sometimes it may request a MAC address. This is the
unique serial number burned into network cards. This can be copied and you can
change yours to that one with a software application. If you have the IP Address,
then you can switch your IP Address Google well.

When you access the victim’s computer and place a remote access program of your own,
don’t use one with obvious hacker names like Back Orifice. Using one that they
already have, such as PC Anywhere or Remote Desktop would be ideal. Don’t worry
about tackling a wireless computer network. Even with security enabled that could
just be a speed bump to the dedicated. If probing a victim’s computer then I
recommend making it appear as spam. If they have a firewall, you can probe it and
see what version they are using. Afterwards look around for data on cracking that
firewall. Any firewall can be cracked and guess what? You can always break into
their home and place whatever it is that needs to be placed.

Alarm systems can be defeated rather easily if you know how. Many times
these burglar alarm systems were installed by poorly trained or overworked
employees who take short cuts to get the job done. Sometimes you will actually see
the keypads mounted outside the door to a home or easily viewable through a
window. What happens if they cut the phone line or cover the siren box? Locks can
also be bypassed by means other than just lock picking. You could install a high
security lock, but if all the hardware around it is weak than what good is it?

Dogs can be tricky and are usually the toughest obstacle to overcome. Believe
it or not, little dogs that are the worst. Big attack dogs can be overcome and
sedated or contained; even the well trained ones. But little dogs that run around
and make a racket are a menace. Once a dog starts barking, the rest
neighborhood’s dogs will join in. Even using a high frequency sound device to
annoy the dog on a property you wish to enter can alert other dogs.

If you do break in, check the bedroom and den first. Bedrooms are where the
most important items usually are. You are not there to steal but to place
bugs, software etc. and to copy anything of interest, such as a security card, hard
drive or key. Bring a digital camera and photograph the scene before moving
anything. If there is too much dust then leave it alone. Dust leaves a telltale sign,
which is very noticeable when moved. Most locks used to secure desks are easy to
pick so that’s not a big deal.

Bring a hard drive cloning devices and a Linux Boot Disk to copy entire hard
drives. This way even if they are password protected and encrypted you can crack
them later at your leisure. You can carry MP3 players and
iPods to act as a second portable hard drive.
That can be particularly handy when in a public environment. Someone thinks you
are fiddling with a MP3 player but you are actually downloading somebody’s
hard drive. Carry all the cables you may need since some machines may not have a
particular port like firewire. If they do have a faster transfer rate type port, then by
all means use it. You can do something else while it is busy copying data.
Remember to look under the keyboard for passwords and pay attention to Post-its.
Those little pieces of paper are gold mines. Also, and maybe more importantly,
copy data from cell phones and PDAs, if they are available. This can be done with
cables to your own PDA or laptop. There are portable dedicated units for this
purpose as well. The safe if they have one are usually in the bedroom. Use a metal
detector to find it. Place the metal detector wand on its lowest setting, so only a
significant metal object will trigger it. Sometimes a safe can contain something you
can use as blackmail.

There are devices which mount to a safe’s dial which automatically attempt
countless combinations; some are stand-alone, while others are connected via
laptop. You can also try the basic combinations for that make and model. Some
safe technicians use the default combination or may try to use some thing you can
remember like a child’s birthday. If all else fails try 36-24-36, it’s
very popular with certain bachelors. Placing bugs around the house is usually
useless. Most people have a tendency to put the television set or stereo on when
they are home. The only exception may be over the head of the bed and wait for
pillow talk. You may as well concentrate on telephones lines. They may use a cell
phone in the house but once again you may not be able to hear the conversation.
Even when using a laser mike which focuses a beam against a window and picks up
vibrations in a room may not work, especially if they have plush carpeting or heavy
drapes.

You can record a conversation on video you can always lip-read if audio is not
available. If you have the time and they have a garage, see if it opens automatically.
Go over to the garage door and make a copy of the remote for yourself. This works
even with the rolling code models. This is just a general outline of what you can do.
Make sure to check the soles of your shoes before and after a break in. I suggest
wearing a popular brand in case the police make a cast of your footprints. You can
also place a pair of hospital booties over your shoes to cover your tracks.

It is not a bad idea to wear a jogging suit as opposed to being dressed as a
ninja. If you have to run, you would not seem too suspicious. It is wise to take as
few chances as possible.

If you have more time, the best way to infiltrate an organization is to join it. If
not directly then as one of it’s support people such as food services or building
maintenance. Cleaning crews usually work after hours under little scrutiny. These
companies have such a high turnover that they are always hiring and do no
background checks. If you do show up for an interview or to do some sort of sales
pitch come mentally prepared. Hang around the places where the target
organization’s employees are and pretend to be a headhunter. Hand someone your
demo CD. Of course that CD should have more on it than they expect. Anti-virus
protection can be completely by-passed using this method. I will even guess that
you have done this countless times without a second thought.

If the job interview is for a technology-based position, they will tip their hand
by asking you what do you know about such and such. A good skill to pick
up will be the ability to read documents facing away from you on a desk. While you
are at it develop an excellent memory for detail, especially numbers.

Taking a few acting classes could help here, too. What I like about situations
like this is that these are the ideal times to place bugs. If you think it may be
discovered, then just dispose of something in their wastebasket. Blow your nose
while placing a micro-transmitter in it. I doubt any one will inspect the contents of
a used tissue. They will end up getting rid of it for you. There is a chance that
said item could be discovered by personnel who do paper shredding services. Most
companies do not use this service. This could also be a good idea to do some
dumpster diving later and see what they throw
out. You can carry a micro digital camera and record everything you see. Just
pretend to be listening to an iPod or something. Whatever you do, pretend that you
belong. If someone tries to stop you, start grooving to some imaginary tunes and
head for the elevator. Always have an excuse ready. You can also use something
known as video ham radio. This transmits video images via radio signals; more
commonly used by rescue crews. This is different from the more conventional covert
video systems used out there.

Video systems tend to use a lot of battery power so bring spares. Ideally it
would be nice to place cameras in the copy machine but usually a copy machine
technician best accomplishes this. Some operators have
gone as far as replace whole machines. The FAX machine is the best for
tapping. No one seems to ever suspect that is tapped but will scrutinize everything
else. You may think that that is an oversized DSL filter on it but maybe it is not. If
there is a damaged door with a lock still attached try to remove it. A good
locksmith can build master keys by analyzing the pin tumblers. With some practice
you can do this as well. Cut a key for both before and after removing spacers from
pins if they have them. This is what is called a
master keying system. What you would want to make is the grandmaster key. This
will allow you total access.

If you do start opening doors, be aware that there may be door contacts.
These are magnetic switches used in burglar alarm and access control systems. You
can use basic electronic tools to locate the magnet and use your own magnet to fool
the door.

There are different devices out there which can record and analyze security/
prox/access control cards Weigand output. The Weigand output is when a card
reader emits a radio wave, which energizes the card. The card then sends
out a unique identifier. This is what you want to catch. With another device you can
replicate this identifier, mostly using a PDA. Laptops are better but conspicuous
compared to a PDA. Smart cards and the magnetic strips from more conventional
credit card types can be duplicated on the spot. Just be aware that with most
modern access control software the face will show up on the computer screen that
accompanies the card being used so enter with a group. If there
is a numeric keypad you can use ultraviolet light to check for smudges and you can
guess from there. If you have access to a thermal imagery device, you can
see the heat signatures. These are so cheap now that they are popping up in the
most unlikely places. Hunters are using them for the slight advantage it
gives them. Usually the stronger trace is the most recent. That will be the last one
pressed. From there you can guess accordingly. Many systems have a
three strikes and you are out policy, so proceed with caution. Otherwise, if you are
in a mantrap the doors will stay locked and you are trapped and security will be
alerted.

Biometrics is growing in popularity but as you probably guessed by now, can
be defeated. It is rare for somebody to wipe their prints off. A lot of these devices
are fingerprint based so get copies of fingerprints. One way is to get them from the
biometric reader itself. Some crime scene photographers have special software or
film that accentuates photos of fingerprints. Some scanners that check for retinas
and such can occasionally be tricked by trying out a bunch of well-made fake
eyeballs and a flashlight. You can remotely access the security and camera system
either by the Internet or through a phone line (pre-paid cell phone included). You
can give yourself privileges on a blank access card and erase video files of your
activities.

Sometimes the video files may be also network storage based. Once again you
should access anything with any trace of your existence. You can also defeat the
cameras individually. Strong light devices can blur an image or anything that emits
strong electrical signals can cause static or snow. If the camera is too far you can
use a HERF (hi-energy radio frequency) gun. This can send a focused burst which
can either be disruptive or destructive. Think of using your cell phone next to a
clock radio for an analogy. These are not as hard to acquire as you might
think.

If you are this close you should monitor the security guards’ radio frequency.
You can use a radio that can communicate with theirs try not to talk to them for any
reason. Many sites are now recording radio transmissions for insurance
reasons.

Voice print recognition has come a long way. Be aware of their call signs and
any related lingo. If you have a crazy notion of knocking out a guard just be aware
that their radios have a tilt feature so if a guard goes down there is an alert. If you
are thinking about doing a late night sneak and peek consider the perimeter
defenses. The use of fiber optics in fencing is common and almost invisible to the
intruder. Break a branch onto it so that part of the fencing system is deactivated or
simply overlooked.

In and around can also be seismic intrusion detection, which basically is
sensitive to footsteps. This can be tricked with a device called a thumper. It is
basically a box that stamps its foot at whatever pace. Certain cameras may be
programmed to react to the disturbance. If you are looking for infrared sources use
a passive night vision scope/goggle. You are looking for IR emissions; you are trying
not to create your own which an active model could do. There are little badges you
can wear that can alert you if you are under IR observation. Do not wear divers
watches since the tritium will light you up like a ghost to any nocturnal observer
with night vision goggles. If the facility is using thermal imagery, than you will need
to really do your homework; chances are they are serious about protecting
whatever it is they are tasked with. One way to defeat that is by wearing different
types of neoprene suits. Everything must be covered not a very comfortable way to
spend an evening. Otherwise you will have to wait for a storm to hit before you
make a move.

Now you may not approve of the disclosure of such information. The truth is
such knowledge is freely available to anyone. Just buy a video game to get the latest
inventions and their use. Remember this: the most successful operations are the
kind that go undetected. Maybe a little bit of paranoia is
a good thing.

The author of this article is a freelance security consultant contracted by competitive intelligence firms, such as BHE Security, and private investigators.

There seems to be a decided lack of knowledge on the techniques and technology of Industrial Espionage.

By now we have heard of Governor Sarah Palin’s invocation of God in order to obtain a natural gas pipeline in Alaska: “God’s will has to be done in getting a 30 billion dollar gas pipe line” for Alaska, “so pray for that.”

And her belief about God’s role in the war in Iraq:

“. . our national leaders are sending them [our soldiers] out on a task that is from God-pray for them-there is a plan and it is God’s plan.”

These comments from a potential Vice President of the United States are of concern from a number of different points of view:

1. The idea that whatever we, citizens and politicians alike, think is in our interest can or must also be in God’s best interest. This suggests that God’s interests are synonymous with ours and all we have to do is pray for this congruence to occur. What we want is what God wants for us-a pipeline and to invade Iraq as we did, or that new house on the block and rising stock prices.

2. There is a deep presumption of knowing the will of God. It seems to me to be the height of arrogance to lay our plans for any foreign or domestic policy initiative at the temple of God, because in some sense this may absolve us of responsibility. If things don’t work out as planned, then we can just say, “It wasn’t God’s will that we reach this particular objective.” If we reach our goals, then we can loudly trumpet, “See I told you so. It was God’s will that the Surge succeed, that violence was reduced, that the Iraqis came together to reach political amity.”

3. You must have a very personal concept of the Almighty to think that He concerns Himself so deeply in human affairs that we can invoke Him to ratify our own approaches to life’s problems. When I was a “born again Christian” my freshman year at Harvard I went to a number of fellowship meetings where some of my classmates would intone, “Well, God willing, I’m going down to the bookstore to get my economics text.” I was always slightly amazed at this-thinking that God cared whether or not you got your required reading done.

4. This, of course, leaves atheists, agnostics and some of the rest of us to rely on ourselves and our best thinking in order to solve problems. It may be that folks like Sarah Palin and President Bush also think we must try very hard to succeed even if we have invoked the blessings of the Almighty. When I was in high school I prayed everyday not for peace in the world, but for good grades. I believed what Norman Vincent Peale had taught in The Power of Positive Thinking-that prayer can move mountains. I invoked God for my own personal success. So I prayed nightly, right after spending four to six hours doing homework.

Thomas Merton, author of The Seven Storey Mountain and many other works of contemplation, noted that “Our discovery of God is, in a way, God’s discovery of us.” (New Seeds of Contemplation)

Prayer is one way of establishing a conversation with God through which He discovers us, not by which we gather all the material pleasures we want unto ourselves.

5. And, finally, the essence of Palin’s claim is that she can determine God’s will, God’s plan for Iraq and for natural gas in Alaska. I’m sure we’d all agree that Iraqis deserve to enjoy all the freedoms we do in this country. But was it God’s plan to invade Iraq with so few troops we couldn’t control the country, couldn’t prevent the insurgency that robbed over 4,000 of our fighting men and women of their precious lives? Robbed so many Iraqis of their lives and millions of Iraqis of their homes.

This is the height of arrogance to claim to divine the will of the Almighty.

But among the most troubling consequences of this marriage of God and foreign policy is where it might take us-to Iran, for example. What if McCain becomes President and thinks the only way to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons is to launch an air, missile and limited ground attack? What if, under the influence of his own religious views or those of his VP, he tells us this attack is much better thought out than the one launched against Iraq in 2003 AND, most importantly of all, it has God’s blessing, or it is part of God’s plan?

What this gives any administration is the audacity and arrogance to claim that whoever disagrees is putting interests other than country first. We’ve seen these assertions in McCain’s allegations against Obama. The Illinois Senator has stated his desire to end the war in Iraq and put forces where he, as well as others, believes, they can be more useful-in Afghanistan, in capturing bin Laden.

McCain charged that Obama was seeking votes rather than victory, that he put country second to, as Sarah Palin has phrased it, the desire for votes. This may be tantamount to being unpatriotic, unchristian and treasonous. How can you vote against God’s plan as you divine it?

Hence, the bumper sticker “Country first” as if some of us do not put our country first-always.

All of this emphasis on invoking God in politics is very troubling for someone who considers himself a religious person with a small “r.” I do not go to church regularly, but in my youth, as mentioned above, I had my days with the fundamentalist Christians at Harvard. But, eventually, the emotional zeal withered away as I was simultaneously learning how to fire weapons and command men at sea and perhaps in battle, as part of an NROTC educational program.

So, today my religious concerns focus upon the beautiful mystery of God and His Creation. Again as Thomas Merton noted, “Faith incorporates the unknown into our everyday life in a living, dynamic and actual manner.” How does this work, I wonder.

But I am also a healthy skeptic, wondering what kind of Deity I do believe in-whether the very personal one who cares about my every thought or, at the other extreme, one who set the Big Bang in motion and let all the physical laws of space, time, energy and matter develop as they have, creating stars that became galaxies that merged creating our own Milky Way and some galaxies with super massive black holes deep in the center millions of times as massive as our sun.
This, to me, is the magical mystery tour.

In the last analysis, I wish politicians would be more like Biden, McCain and Obama-keeping their religious beliefs more or less to themselves.

Palin scares me because I do not want another leader like George Bush in the White House who, according to Bob Woodward, failed to seek the advice of his earthly father prior to his pre-emptive invasion of Iraq. He supposedly told Woodward he appealed to a “higher” power or father. The Heavenly Father.

Maybe this invocation told him that whatever plans he made for this invasion, as short-sighted as they were in terms of troop levels would gain the “Mission Accomplished” banner. Perhaps this was why he ignored Secretary of State Colin Powell’s desire for overwhelming force and General Shinseki’s prediction that to control Iraq would require several hundred thousand troops, far more than Rumsfeld and General Franks were willing to commit. He might have thought God’s will was in the Bush, Rumsfeld, Franks plan.

Perhaps, because it was God’s will Bush failed for so long to recognize what Powell did early on-that our invasion had not only rid the world of a butcher, but had also unleashed the very forces of civil war that Brent Scowcroft and Dick Cheney (then Secretary of Defense) had warned against in 1991 as reasons for not going to Baghdad at the end of the First Gulf War.

Many of us believe in God. Many believe in widely different concepts of what the Deity is and can do in our universe and in our lives.

But beware those politicians who claim God is on the side of their own special policy in foreign and domestic affairs. Maybe all we have to do is pray hard-whether for good grades or federal largesse to reach our own private, sometimes very selfish objectives.

Or maybe faith, prayer and belief in God are gifts from the Almighty as ways of establishing a conversation we hope will lead to understanding Him and the mysteries of Creation.

I believe it was Abe Lincoln who cautioned us about God’s being on one side or the other: “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side.”

John Barell
Author, Quest for Antarctica-A Journey of Wonder and Discovery (2007) and Why Are School Buses Always Yellow? (2007)
http://www.morecuriousminds.com
jbarell@nyc.rr.com

John Barell is a national consultant to schools desiring to foster inquiry, critical thinking and authentic assessment in classrooms for all students. He is author most recently of Why Are School Buses Always Yellow? (2008); Surviving Erebus–An Antarctic Adventure (2008); Quest for Antarctica–A Journey of Wonder and Discovery (2007) and “Inquisitive to a Fault”–Preserving American Democracy.

http://www.morecuriousminds.com