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Monday, May 9, 2011

FBI tracking device found and disassembled - Hack a Day


FBI tracking device found; disassembled

posted May 9th 2011 2:01pm by Jeff Katz
filed under: gps hacks, teardown

[ifixit] has apparently grown tired of tearing apart Apple’s latest gizmos, and their latest display of un-engineering has a decidedly more federal flair. You may have heard about Yasir Afifi’s discovery of a FBI-installed tracking device on his car back in October of last year. Apparently, the feds abandoned a similar device with activist Kathy Thomas. Wired magazine managed to get their hands on it, and gave it to ifixit to take apart. There’ve even posted a video.

The hardware itself isn’t that remarkable, it’s essentially a GPS receiver designed before the turn of the century paired with a short range wireless transceiver. The whole device is powered by a set of D-sized lithium-thionyl chloride batteries which should be enough juice to run the whole setup for another few decades–long enough to outlast any reasonable expectations of privacy, with freedom and justice for all.


Video Links...
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid15159818001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAF1BIQQ~,g5cZB_aGkYZiguAUGfLC9QPqcLHeD_9d&bclid=9525752001&bctid=918560372001


Page with this and other videos on Wired.com... 
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/05/gps-video/


tagged: , , , , , ,

Go there...
http://hackaday.com/2011/05/09/fbi-tracking-device-found-disassembled/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hackaday%2FLgoM+%28Hack+a+Day%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher


Tracking Device Teardown


Teardowns on ifixit.com provide a look inside a device and should not be used as disassembly instructions.

This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

We partnered with Wired to bring you a peek inside an FBI car-tracking device. The device is similar to the one Yasir Afifi found underneath his car. If you're curious where this one came from, Wired has posted a writeup about Karen Thomas, the woman who found this tracker under her car. They've also posted a video of Kyle doing the teardown.

The device comprises of a GPS unit for receiving the car's position, an RF transmitter for relaying your location to the interested authority (aka the FBI), and a set of sweet D-cell batteries that power the whole enchilada. But we didn't stop there, of course. Read on to find out exactly what components make this secretive device tick.

Disclaimer: We love the FBI. We've worked with them on several occasions to fight crime and locate criminals. We've helped them with instructions on gaining entry into certain devices. We have nothing against them, and we hope they don't come after us for publishing this teardown.

Read More
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Tracking-Device-Teardown/5250/1


FBI tracking device found and disassembled
FBI tracking device found; disassembled - Hack a Day
Video: The Dissection of an FBI Bumper-Beeper | Threat Level | Wired.com
FBI Vehicle-Tracking Device: The Teardown | Threat Level | Wired.com
Caught Spying on Student, FBI Demands GPS Tracker Back | Threat Level | Wired.com
Battle Brews Over FBI’s Warrantless GPS Tracking | Threat Level | Wired.com
Lithium-thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2)
Orion Guardian ST820 - Google Search
City of Los Angeles - Business Assistance Virtual Network
cryptogon.com » “Me and my friend went to the mechanic today and we found this on his car.”
Cobham plc :: Aerospace and Security, Tactical Communications and Surveillance, Dartmouth
Orion Guardian ST820 - Google Search
Tracking Device Found On A Car - Forbes Galleries
Who needs a warrant... he’s Muslim! - San Francisco Muslim | Examiner.com
20 Channel EM-406A SiRF III Receiver with Antenna - SparkFun Electronics
Cobham plc :: Aerospace and Security, Tactical Communications and Surveillance, Products and Services
State of Utah, #BV10012 - 2 each ST820 Guardian Tracking Units
Orion Tracking Control Guardian ST811 Software Informer: Latest version download, news and info about this Orion Electronics Limited program.
http://www.orion.ns.ca/login.asp
Orion Electronics Limited Software Informer: Latest Orion Electronics Limited software updates and reviews: SkyTrack ...
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