funsec mailing list archives

Re: [privacy] Canadian Coins Bugged, U.S. Security Agency Says


From: "Tyler Reguly" <ht () computerdefense org>
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 11:44:30 -0500

I forwarded the original email on to my colleagues. Apparently this
story has already been debunked.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070110.wspycoin0110/BNStory/National/home

Tyler.

On 1/11/07, Rob, grandpa of Ryan, Trevor, Devon & Hannah
<rMslade () shaw ca> wrote:
From:                   "Fergie" <fergdawg () netzero net>
Date sent:              Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:53:20 GMT

Canadian coins containing tiny transmitters have mysteriously turned up in
the pockets of at least three American contractors who visited Canada

Please note that "coins" covered with gold foil molded around a chocolate disk are
not, in fact, legal tender in Canada, and are not issued by the Canadian Mint.
(Also, such coins should not have a crunchy centre.)

I'm sorry, but many things about this story strike me as extremely odd.  How/why
would coins be "placed" on people?  Wouldn't there be an extremely high
likelihood that your (presumably very expensive) sophisticated bugging device gets
used to pay for a chocolate dip and a double double at Tim's?  I guess dropping
them on Americans would be a good way to ensure that nobody noticed they had a
different heft from normal coins.  But wouldn't a metal coin be detrimental to
RFID activities?

======================  (quote inserted randomly by Pegasus Mailer)
rslade () vcn bc ca     slade () victoria tc ca     rslade () computercrime org
`What was it you really put in the sugar?'
`Cascara,' said Malicia.
Keith sighed.  `How much did you give them?'
`Lots.  But they should be all right if they don't take too much
of the antidote.'
`What did you give them for the antidote?'
`Cascara.'
`Malicia, you are not a nice person.'
   - `The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents,' Terry Pratchett
Dictionary of Information Security  www.syngress.com/catalog/?pid=4150
http://victoria.tc.ca/techrev/rms.htm
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privacy () whitestar linuxbox org
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