Exclusive: Surveillance Using a Private Investigator in NZ
February 7, 2023 | Other, Business Crime, Security
Covert physical surveillance is a powerful tool that is used to monitor the activities of individuals and gather evidence in various circumstances. It is a type of surveillance that is conducted in secret, and the subjects being monitored are unaware that they are being watched.The reasons for using covert physical surveillance in New Zealand are many, including infidelity, workplace investigations, uncovering a person's lifestyle, and more.
Infidelity is one of the most common reasons for conducting covert physical surveillance in Ne…
Exclusive: Security Concerns - The Internet of Things
January 19, 2023 | Technology, Security
The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way we live and work, connecting everyday devices such as smartphones, appliances, and vehicles to the internet. However, as more and more devices become connected, the potential for security breaches and privacy violations increases.One of the biggest concerns with the IoT is the lack of security built into many devices. Many IoT devices are designed with functionality in mind, rather than security, and as a result, they may be vulnerable to hacking and other forms of cyber attacks.…
Exclusive: Triage An Email Security Breach
August 12, 2022 | Technology, Security
E-mail security breaches are on the rise and are having a large impact on New Zealand businesses in 2022. These are as a result of an attacker gaining access to a mailbox through password compromise or a successful phishing link attack.PasswordsPassword comprises are a typical entry point for an attacker into a mailbox. There have been a number of well publicized password compromises such as the LinkedIn password compromise here and archive containing data purportedly scraped from 500 million LinkedIn profiles has been put for sale on…
Carer Caught on Hidden Camera Stealing From Elderly Stroke Victim
September 18, 2019 | Security
Moment carer, 48, is caught stealing from elderly stroke victim by her family who set up secret camera hidden in a clock.
Shocking footage shows carer Sharon Wilcox taking money of client's purse
The incident was captured by a hidden camera inside a clock in the living room
Wilcox pleaded guilty and was handed a suspended nine-month prison sentence
Court heard that Sylvia Williams had been mistreated on more than one occasion
A carer has been caught stealing from an elderly stroke victim by her family who set up a secret camera hid…
Spyware and GPS Tracking: The Next Frontier for Family Violence
August 26, 2019 | Security
We understand when a woman is murdered. We understand the hundreds and thousands of incidents that take the police to homes all over New Zealand and Australia.Now there’s something more – and it’s so prevalent that family violence services are changing the way they operate. New research from Deakin University tells us that spyware is the next frontier – a “particularly acute threat” – in family violence. In fact, the manufacturers of spyware actively encourage and promote the use of their products for the surveillance of intimate part…
Risks of Sharing Your Phone Number
August 16, 2019 | Technology, Security
For most of our lives, we have been conditioned to share a piece of personal information without a moment's hesitation: our phone number.We punch in our digits at the grocery store to get a member discount or at the pharmacy to pick up medication. When we sign up to use apps and websites, they often ask for our phone number to verify our identity.This column will encourage a new exercise. Before you hand over your number, ask yourself: Is it worth the risk?
This question is crucial now that our primary phone numbers have shifted from…
The Sound Of Silence - Otago Daily Times Speak With Mike Gillam of The Investigators
July 8, 2018 | Security
A recent Otago Daily Times phone interview with Prof Karen Willcox, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, went eerily silent in the middle of a conversation about advanced military technologies.Those working in the field of communication security and intelligence operations certainly think it is a possibility. They are divided, however, over whether it is likely.The curious incident occurred shortly after this newspaper reporter asked Prof Willcox about her work on new commercial aircraft designs with pote…
'It's All About Control'. Stalking: A Crime On The Rise In New Zealand
May 13, 2018 | Security
When Jane* received a beautiful bunch of flowers at work her colleagues thought it a desperately romantic gesture. For Jane it was a message: "I know where you are".She had tried to disappear, changed jobs several times, deleted her digital profile. But her former partner-turned-stalker always found her.
Stalking is a very real part of domestic abuse in New Zealand and as we discovered, it's frighteningly common. Statistics are difficult to come by but one security specialist and former detective, Darren Morton, says globally, around…
Donal MacIntyre's Estranged Wife Is Arrested After Spy Camera Found In His Home
February 16, 2018 | Security
Donal MacIntyre's estranged wife has been arrested after he allegedly found a spy camera disguised as a coat hanger in his home. Ameera MacIntyre, 43, is accused of using his credit card to buy it on Amazon and getting a third party to plant the device.
Ameera MacIntyre (left), 43, is accused of planting a spy camera disguised as a coat hanger in Donal MacIntyre's Surrey home.
The device is disguised as a hook and it has a tiny lens concealed at the top and a microchip to record sound.Detectives are investigating how the device, wh…
Exclusive: Life Online: How Big Is Your Digital Footprint?
February 12, 2018 | Security
Radio NZ's Emma Hatton speaks with Mike Gillam of The Investigators.The average person's online presence is larger than ever, as more of what we do is carried out digitally. But what information is out there, how easy is it to find, and who's using it? RNZ reporter Emma Hatton used herself as a guinea pig, and filed this report.Watch Here: Life Online - How Big Is Your Digital Footprint?Listen Here: Life Online - How Big Is Your Digital Footprint?From grocery shopping to making travel plans the average person's online presence is l…