I was born on July 4, 1776, and the Declaration of Independence is my birth certificate. The bloodlines of the world run in my veins, because I offered freedom to the oppressed. I am many things, and many people. I am the nation. I am 213 million living soulsand the ghost of millions who have lived and died for me. Due to a hectic schedule, I was unable to get an issue of THE HOT MICX out in April (as was pointed out by several of you). I apologize and will do my best to get it out on time in the future. NEW MAILING LISTWell folks, I finally completed updating the mailing list for The Hot Micx over the 4th of July weekend. As a result there may be errors in spelling, etc. Please look at the information on the label and insure that it is correct; if not, drop a correction card in the mail. Next, I need your assistance with the mailing list; if you do not wish to be dropped from the list when it is updated each year, let me know. For those who respond, or those who have indicated such a desire in the past, your name will be printed in Bold Face Type on future issues. To insure continued receipt, I also need to know when you change jobs or locations. I get most of my data from the annual issue of Dynamics. Third, thanks for all the unsolicited letters and calls I receive regarding The Hot Micx. I guess they mean I'm doing something right. You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. Don't let yourself indulge in vain wishes. HAPPY EIGHTH ANNIVERSARYTechnical Security Consultants Inc. celebrated its 8th anniversary in May (Actually, this is about twelve years, but the first four or five were in a part time capacity). April (the actual anniversary) was spent in preparing for a training session and providing service to our clients around the country.Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing. GET ALL UP FRONTIn February I was contacted by an organization (I have assisted them on three previous occasions by providing 4 hour TSCM briefings) which provides executive protection training to foreign governments and asked if I was interested in conducting a five day technical security briefing sometime in May. Although the compensation wasn't very good, all I could think was "WOW, WHAT A CHALLENGE!!!" and accepted without a second thought.In March, I provided them with outlines and a syllabus. In early April the other shoe dropped when the organization directed that I provide them with a complete briefing package, addressing each individual area and subject and written in such a manner that even someone not familiar with the subject matter could make the presentation. At that point, I had to decline their invitation for the obvious reason I would not be able to prepare such briefing papers in the amount of time remaining. My presentation was to have been primarily a verbal discussion, based on personal experience and technical data provided by the various manufacturers of equipment, services, etc. In the future, you can be assured I'll check on that aspect of the briefing as well. Advice is like snow; the softer it falls the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. OPPORTUNITY CALLED AGAINA few days after having to turn down the offer to travel to the Middle East, opportunity knocked again, this time from the Far East.Pinkerton (Asia) Ltd. contacted me and arrangements were made to travel to Hong Kong and provide them with advanced TSCM training. The training commenced on 5 May and finished on 16 May. Not only did we cover all the basic and advanced aspects of theory (presented in layman's terms), we also covered the finer points of information protection and loss detection. Several days were devoted to actually performing all phases of sweeps. A follow up contacted in early June let me know that in support of a clients meeting at a far eastern location, their next sweep identified several serious security threats and also resulted in identifying an RF signal containing room audio. Due to operational restrictions, they were unable to locate the source but were able to get their clients to move the meeting. The men who succeed are the efficient few. They are the few who have the ambition and will power to develop themselves. MORE "I LOVE ME" STUFFOn 1 June, The Phoenix Gazette did an article on the loss of trade information in which I was quoted extensively. I talked extensively with the writer and briefed her on what the real and perceived threats were as pertains to information loss. I was unable to provide her with the information she really wanted, the names of clients and the problems they have experienced. I did direct her to the American Society for Industrial Security (is it OK to print their name without their written permission) where she obtained more information in the way of statistics.This was followed up with the publication of an article in the Arizona Business Gazette on 7 July detailing ways in which information is often compromised. Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it the most, like it the least. HELP A COUNTERPARTHas your organization been the target of theft of information or industrial espionage?If you are willing to provide information pertaining to eavesdropping or information thefts, it would be of immense help to your counterparts who receive The Hot Micx. At no time will your company's name be published and the particulars will be discussed in general terms. To enjoy even more anonymity, send the information in an envelope with no return address if you wish. The main idea is to share the experience; you may be able to identify a trend or problem someone else is not aware of. Remember, it will be a two way avenue of information exchange only if you are willing to participate. I was born an American; I live an American; I shall die an American. WHITE HOUSE SECURITY???I seem to have misplaced the document containing the information, but to the best of my memory did you know that as of the end of 1993, a large number of people working in the White House still haven't had a security clearance performed. Several of them hadn't even gotten around to submitting the paperwork necessary to begin the process. Maybe that explains why there is so much confusion, nobody is cleared to know what theyıre supposed to be doing.On the positive side, they won't have to worry about being debriefed when they leave office in a couple of years. Some folks can look so busy doing nothin' that they seem indispensable. ANOTHER TELEPHONE SPEAKS UPI was recently talking with a friend who works for a fortune 500 company when he told me about a problem he discovered at one of their facilities. It turns out a telephone in a sensitive (proprietary) area had been intentionally modified.Aim at the sun, and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if aimed at an object on a level with yourself. THE OLD HOLLOW BOOK TRICKThere has also been found a sound operated recorder hidden in a hollowed out book, again in a sensitive area. It was first detected with a non linear junction detector.A common misconception everyone seems to have is that corporate headquarters is the only areas where listening devices may be hidden and where serious security hazards are found. The common denominator seems to be areas in which information comes together and is discussed in depth. Most of the surreptitious activity centers around personnel, R & D or labor negotiations. The mode by which the inevitable comes to pass is effort. A WORD OF THANKSI'd like to take a moment of your time to once again express my thanks to all of you who have utilized Technical Security Consultant Incıs. services.Over the years, established clients have become friends who have placed more than trust in the service they receive while each new call is viewed as an opportunity to provide those of you experiencing problems with the quality service you need, but can seldom find in the private sector. Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great.
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