Homeland Security

Gadgets

You Can Jam Sensitive FBI Conversations With This Toy Pager

10:50AM August 11, 2011 | Kyle Wagner

A two-year study at the University of Pennsylvania showed the way federal law enforcement agencies communicate is decidedly not secure. The researchers were able to use hobbyist-grade radio receivers to listen in on conversations about undercover agents, informants, and ongoing and future operations. It’s like The Wire, only the exact opposite. More »

Cameras

You Can Now Photograph Government Buildings Without Being Shot

12:00AM January 29, 2011 | Kat Hannaford

The next time you’re hounded by the police after trying to snap yourself a pretty little photo of the White House, show them this printed-out document from the Homeland Security department, stating you’re allowed to do so. More »

The TSA In Action: Loaded Gun Magazine Found On Plane

7:40PM November 24, 2010 | Max Read

A loaded gun magazine was found in the seat-back pocket of a Southwest Airlines plane. By a kid. Don’t sweat it, though. It was only left behind by a federal law enforcement agent! More »

Computing

Judge Smacks Down Warrantless DHS Laptop Searchers

1:22AM June 12, 2010 | Brian Barrett

In 2008, it came to light that Homeland Security had the authority to take your laptop, hold it indefinitely, and search it whenever without warrant or probable cause. Last week, a judge rightly ruled that that’s bananas. More »

Online

Fake Cyber Terrorist Attack Will Get Real Government Response Next Week

2:20PM February 12, 2010 | Kyle VanHemert

Next week, for the first time, the public will be able to see how the US government might respond to a full-fledged act of cyber terrorism, in a simulation that will include top intelligence and security officials. More »

Geek Out

Nintendo Wii Balance Boards to Fight Aircraft Terrorism?

12:20AM October 13, 2009 | Danny Allen

A $US20 million project funded by US Homeland Security is researching ways to detect how suspicious you are by tracking your temperature, breathing and eye movements. And get this: they’ve modified a Wii Balance board to check for nervous fidgeting/weight-shifting. More »

Geek Out