月別アーカイブ: 2024年7月

Corrections has quietly removed all cellphone jammers from prisons.

The technology, introduced in 2008-09 to prevent inmates using smuggled mobile phones, has cost more than $17 million.

But signal blocker have not been in use since June after being found to interfere with new prison guard safety systems.

When announcing their introduction, then Corrections Minister Phil Goff said cellphone blocking in New Zealand prisons was a major step forward that will stop prisoners committing further offences while behind bars.

Stuff recently obtained details under the Official Information Act about the number of cellphones seized from the 18 prisons run by Corrections over the past three years.

There were 626 cellphones and more than 750 cellphone-related items (such as batteries, chargers, SIM cards etc) found by Corrections staff between January 2023 and November this year.

When asked why inmates would be smuggling cellphones when the prison’s had the mobile signal jammer that should render them useless, Corrections chief custodial officer Neil Beales said the cellphone jammers were removed in June.

The jammers had been found to interfere with new safety systems such as Corrections officer safety alarms, he said.

Advances in cellular technology had also resulted in jammers becoming “increasingly obsolete”.

It was “only one of a number of tools used to stop cellphones being used in prisons” and a number of “more effective tools” remain in place, Beales said.

These include Cellsense devices, which detect a range of metals found in cellphones, alongside screening and x-ray capability as well as detection dogs.

“Some people in prison go to extreme and elaborate lengths to introduce contraband into prisons, and we are constantly working to stay one step ahead of new methods used to introduce contraband into our prisons,” Beale said.

Corrections was looking at new and emerging technology to complement systems already in place, he said, and had started introducing the use of full body imaging technology at a number of sites to detect contraband that has been concealed on or in a person’s body.

In 2018 Corrections admitted cellphone jamming technology created a communications blind spot near Rimutaka Prison, meaning residents of a child sex offender unit outside the wire could not be tracked on-site at the facility.

Cellphones could be used by inmates to put pressure on others outside the wire, or to co-ordinate drug deals, and other offending. In May this year nine prison staff at Rimutaka were suspended for alleged misconduct, including the smuggling of cellphones into the prison.

Drug and alcohol counsellor and criminologist Roger Brooking, who has been critical of the spending on jammers from the outset, said it was not surprising that Corrections had ditched the technology.

“They don’t work. They never have worked,” he said.

“What prisoners have told me is that they have always managed to find areas within the prisons where the jammer just doesn’t seem to operate. So prisoners have been able to continue making cellphone calls to conduct drug deals, talk to family or whatever.”

The Marine Corps is on the hunt for electronic warfare attachments, “buckshot-like” ammunition, and advanced optics for its standard-issue rifle to help dismounted troops track and defeat incoming drones, according to a recent announcement from the service.

The notice seeking sources, published July 15 by Marine Corps Systems Command, details plans to field several new attachments to troops at the squad and platoon level to mount on their M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles in order to “support ‘every’ Marine’s ability to conduct self-defense against threat Groups 1 and 2 small UAS [unmanned aerial systems],” drones that weigh 20 pounds or less and between 21 and 55 pounds, respectively.

Those attachments include a “directional RF [radio frequency] and/or Global Positioning System gps jammer” designed to interfere with the signals drones use to communicate

Rather than have dismounted troops to rely on bulky and unwieldy stand-alone hand-held, counter-drone jammer, the emphasis on mounting these new attachments on an “organic” (read: essential) rifle reflects a need for systems that have “little to no impact on [Marines'] primary mission,” as the notice puts it.

For the advanced rifle optics, the most likely candidate for Marines is the SMASH 2000L fire control system from Israeli defense contractor SmartShooter, which allows troops to “lock on” to an incoming drone target for a “guaranteed hit.” The Marine Corps has been testing the system since 2021 but has yet to field it across the broader close-combat force.

The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab “has provided a limited quantity of the [SmartShooter] SMASH 2000L optics to a small number of Marine Corps units for experimentation,” a battle lab spokesperson told Military.com. “The optic has not been provided by the program office for use in Marine Corps training, nor has it been provided to deployed units.”

For the average grunt, it’s unclear how much weight these new devices will add to their rifle and, in turn, how that might affect its use on the battlefield.

The M27 weighs 9.8 pounds loaded with a 30-round STANAG magazine and outfitted with a sling. The addition of the Corps’ new Squad Common Optic (2 pounds), a rail-mounted AN/PEQ-16 laser illuminator (9.9 ounces), and a standard Knights Armament suppressor (1.4 pounds) results in a 13.8-pound weapon — just under the weight of the noticeably heavy XM7 Next Generation Squad Weapon rifle the Army recently started fielding.

Beyond these rifle add-ons, the Corps is also searching for “enhanced ammunition for existing firearms,” namely “buckshot-like” rounds for the service’s arsenal of rifles chambered in 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm, such as the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, as well as for its M2 .50-caliber machine guns and 40mm grenade launchers.

Details about the new ammunition were not immediately available, but as recently as April Marines have engaged in counter-drone training with shotguns, alongside other “direct fire” weapons such as rifles and machine guns.

A Marine Corps Systems Command spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Conventional militaries and non-state actors have increasingly menaced U.S. and allied forces with low-cost, weaponized drones in recent years, a development that had previously prompted Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., the former head of U.S. Central Command, to dub them the most dangerous threat to American forces in the Middle East since the advent of the improvised explosive device at the dawn of the Global War on Terror.

While the Marine Corps is working overtime to field several vehicle-mounted counter-drone solutions such as the vehicle-mounted Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or L-MADIS, the new push to equip grunts with easy-to-carry systems is part of the service’s broader effort to make every Marine a drone defender at a time when some units are currently deploying to geopolitical hot spots such as the Indo-Pacific without such capabiilties.

“Every unit down to the individual Marine, regardless of geographic location on the battlefield, is vulnerable to reconnaissance and, more dangerously, attack from threat Groups 1 and 2 small UAS,” according to the notice. “To facilitate freedom of movement, Marines require the ability to conduct self-defense against the threat.”

NBC10 Investigators tracked down a cell phone sniffer who specifically targeted people using their cell phones on SEPTA bus routes. Not only did he admit to doing it, he thought it was a good thing.

The man, who calls himself Jonathan, told NBC10 Investigators, “I guess I’m taking the law personally, and frankly, I’m proud of it.”

Jonathan said he doesn’t want to hear people talking on their phones in public.

“It’s still pretty annoying, and frankly, it’s pretty rude,” Jonathan said. Jonathan

said he was activating a cell phone jammer he bought online to block out conversations he doesn’t want to hear.

“A lot of people are very loud and have no sense of privacy at all. When they feel like they’re bothering me, I just screw in the antenna and turn the switch on,” Jonathan said.

An NBC10 employee, whom NBC10 Investigators calls “Brooklyn,” said she was horrified when she saw the man jamming passengers’ cell phones while she was riding a SEPTA bus to work.

“He was clearly holding this device that looked like a walkie-talkie, with four thick antennas on it. I started watching him, and whenever someone started calling, he would press a button on the side of the device,” Brooklyn said.

Brooklyn tipped off NBC10 Investigators, who went undercover and caught the phone thief with hidden cameras.

Minutes after boarding the No. 44 bus, NBC10 Investigators spotted Eric jamming a cell phone. Weeks later, they caught Eric as he got off the bus and told him cell phone jamming devices were illegal.

“From what I understand, it’s more of a gray area. From what I understand, it’s illegal to stop TV signals, radio signals. From what I understand, it’s not illegal to jam cell phone signals under the FCC,” Jonathan said.

But under federal law, it’s illegal to use, possess, buy or sell a cell phone jammer. The federal government says violating the law could result in jail time and a fine of up to $16,000. Cell phone jammers are illegal for public safety reasons.

Dr. Rob D’Ovidio of Drexel University studies cell phone forensics and e-crime. D’Ovidio said some cell phone jammers can block GPS, two-way radios and even police radios if they are close enough.

“With a cell phone jammer, you can limit all types of communication tools that use radio frequencies. That has the potential to be a public safety disaster. It’s a dangerous thing to cut off not only our government officials from communicating with the dispatch center, but also the public from communicating with 911,” Dr. D’Ovidio said.

NBC10 Investigators asked Jonathan if he was worried about disturbing someone who was seeking emergency help.

“Certainly, if that happened on a bus, I think I would have been in that situation. Of course, I think that would have been a very different situation; I think I would have called 911 myself,” Jonathan said.

SEPTA officials said they have received many complaints from 44 bus route passengers about lost phones. But SEPTA insisted that passengers are safe, adding that they have tested their system and handheld signal jammer alone are not enough.

SEPTA said all buses are equipped with panic buttons. Drivers can also alert police via digital destination signs on the front of buses. The transit authority said it has tested two-way radio communications and insisted cellphone jammers wouldn’t affect it. But that didn’t make Brooklyn feel any better.

Karyn Wall has lived in Lemon Grove for the past 20 years, and to her knowledge, her home has never been targeted by criminals. However, she recently learned how vulnerable her home is to would-be burglars.

“My husband and I feel very secure, but I know we may need to do something about the house, the interior, the lighting, etc.,” Wall said.

Shanah Clevenger is a crime prevention specialist with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department who runs the free Lemon Grove Home Security Consultation Program. She’ll consider anything that can be done to bolster home security, no matter the budget.

“Some of my suggestions are quick and easy and don’t cost a lot,” Clevenger said. “I just suggest: do what you can, or do it incrementally until you feel your home is secure.”

That security measure includes protection against a relatively unknown type of wifi jammer. NBC 7 Responds spoke to cybersecurity expert Jim Stickley about these devices, who said that even though they are illegal in the U.S., there are several websites where you can buy them and have them delivered to your door.

“I mean, you shouldn’t panic,” Stickley said. “It’s real, but the number of criminals who actually use it is relatively small.”

How do Wi-Fi jammers work?

Jammers disable Wi-Fi devices by overloading the Wi-Fi frequency, or any radio frequency, and large jammers have a fairly wide range of interference, Stickley said.

“It could take out a whole house, or even a couple of houses around me, and take out all the Wi-Fi,” Stickley said.

Once the Wi-Fi is down, criminals can break in without the cameras capturing it.

How to disable a WiFi jammer?

Wired cameras won’t be affected by signal jammer, of course. Remember: The memory chip will record video whether or not there’s Wi-Fi. Plus, some security systems offer systems that send owners notifications when Wi-Fi is down.

“If you get a notification that the Wi-Fi can’t communicate with the camera, you can say, ‘OK, something might be wrong,’ and then you can call a neighbor and say, ‘Hey, can you go check it out for me?’” Stickley said.

Wall said she couldn’t imagine coming home one day to find her home ransacked by strangers.

“That would be horrible,” Wall said. “That would be horrible because you’d be worried if there was someone else in the house and wouldn’t want to go in. That would be a very scary situation.”

Wall hopes to continue living safely in Lemon Grove for another 20 years.

The sheriff’s department said technology is important to keep your family and home safe, but it’s just as important that you and your neighbors look out for each other. They can also help start a neighborhood watch program.

NBC News reports that online retailers and drone technology companies are marketing RF jammers as drone deterrents or privacy tools, thereby circumventing laws that prohibit the sale of such devices in the United States.

The warning issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) states that signal jamming devices can block emergency calls and pose a serious risk to public safety communications, while also interfering with other forms of everyday communications and air navigation systems.

The FCC said: “It is a violation of federal law to use phone blocker, GPS blockers, or other signal jamming devices designed to intentionally block, disrupt, or interfere with authorized radio communications. Use in businesses, classrooms, residences, or vehicles is not exempt. Local law enforcement agencies do not have independent authority to use jamming devices; federal law enforcement agencies may use them under applicable regulations under certain limited exceptions.”

The FCC warning also states that “it is illegal to advertise, sell, distribute, import, or otherwise market jamming devices to consumers in the United States”

But NBC reports that Amazon third-party sellers, independent online stores based in China, and small domestic companies that specialize in drone-related equipment are all ignoring the law. The FCC told NBC that it is investigating the sale of jammers, including on Amazon.

As part of its investigation, NBC spoke with the CEO of a U.S. company that offers portable anti-drone radio frequency jamming devices online. The CEO told NBC that the devices are easily available if consumers have the money, but they mainly see interest from large companies and government agencies as they prepare for domestic drone terrorism.

There are more people selling “jammers.” The devices can block cell phone calls, text messages, Wi-Fi networks and GPS systems and can be used to cause chaos in public places.

The small, battery-powered devices can be used to create “blind spots” in a small area (usually around 30 feet) and have been used by movie theaters, restaurants and schools to prevent people from using their phones. But they can also cut off 911 calls, interfere with navigation near airports, and have been used to disrupt radio communications near police stations. FCC officials said they have noticed an increase in the flow of jammers, which are banned by federal law, into the United States. Many of the cheaper versions, which sell for as little as $25, are imported from Asia, according to the agency.

It is illegal to sell, advertise, use or import jammers under the Communications Act of 1934, which prohibits blocking radio communications in public

The FCC said cities including Orlando, Philadelphia, Austin, Mississippi, Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Cincinnati and Corpus Christi, Texas, advertised jammers on the site. Officials said they do not believe the cases are related.

“Simply posting an ad for a signal jammer on a site like Craigslist.org is a violation of federal law. Signal jammers are contraband for a reason,” Michele Ellison, director of the FCC’s enforcement bureau, said in a statement. “One person’s moment of peace or privacy could very well jeopardize the safety and well-being of others.”

Most sellers advertised jammers as a way to take an “undisturbed nap” on a bus, quiet a classroom or keep your area “free of interference,” without mentioning the more nefarious uses the device could be used for, according to the citations.

“We are increasingly concerned that individual consumers operating jammers do not appear to understand the serious consequences of using jammers,” one citation reads. “Instead, these operators mistakenly believe that their illegal operations are personal convenience or should be excused.”

Keith Grabowski allegedly advertised on Philadelphia Craigslist for a “cell phone jammer, WiFi signal jammer” for $300. He stated in the ad that “due to the nature of this item, we are disclosing very few details,” that the jammer was “not a toy,” and that “I just want to get rid of it as quickly as possible.”