Oh! Gizmo

By Luke Anderson

I’m fortunate to work in an environment where I don’t have anyone looking over my shoulder, making sure that I’m staying on-task. I’ve had those jobs in the past, and I’ve discovered that I am less productive when my work is constantly monitored. In those days I would have loved for a mouse such as this one, which will bring up a specific program with the click of a button.

This of course would be useful in a situation when one is surfing the net or brushing up on their solitaire skills. Just click the side button and it’ll pull up Excel or whatever important-looking program you choose. You can pick one up for just $19.99.

[ USBFever ] VIA [ RedFerret ]

By Andrew Liszewski

USB devices that can be used to access SIM card data on a computer are nothing new. But this particular one from BrickHouseSecurity.com is apparently the first SIM reader that can be used to access deleted text messages still on the card. Just like deleted files on a PC hard drive, as long as the deleted data on the SIM card hasn’t been written over by a new file, it can still be retrieved.

Obviously such a device raises a whole mess of privacy and legal concerns, but the company is targeting it at parents who want to check up on their kids or bosses wanting to check up on employees, which are apparently both legal uses for it. And while using the device to check up on a suspected cheating spouse is kind of a legal gray area, using it to see what secrets a complete stranger has on their SIM card is of course completely illegal.

The SIM card spy can also be used to backup or edit phonebook data on a PC, which is a considerably easier task with a full keyboard. But at $149 from BrickHouseSecurity.com there are far cheaper USB SIM readers on the market if that’s all you want to do.

[ Cell Phone SIM Card Spy ] VIA [ Geekologie ]

By Andrew Liszewski

When I first read about this Microsoft Natural Keyboard that had a secret keylogger inside I assumed it was just an official feature that MS never bothered to mention. (For obvious reasons.) But in reality this keyboard has been specially modified to include the keylogger inside so that it’s completely undetectable by either the user or a piece of anti-virus or anti-spyware software.

And from what I can tell this keyboard is actually a few years old since it boasts a massive 2MB of storage (which can capture up to 2 million keystrokes) and requires a computer with a PS/2 port. I particularly like that in order to access the keystroke logs you have to open a text editor like Word, Notepad or Wordpad and type in a secret password you previously assigned. While the password can easily be changed you’ll want to go out of your way to ensure it’s not something your intended spy victim would ever type. I suggest phrases like “happyworkenvironment” or “wholeheartedlytrustmyboss” etc.

Unfortunately the keyboard is a one-off design so once it’s bought there’s no additional stock. But again, given how old the keyboard appears to be (PS/2) I guess the $434 price tag is too much for even the most mistrusting of persons.

[ Keyboard with Covert Keylogger Device ] VIA [ The Red Ferret Journal ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Even though this peephole viewer was apparently developed with the help of law enforcement “to help them assess potential hazards behind dwelling doors” I can’t help but assume the majority of people buying them do not work for any law enforcement agencies nor do they have any ‘tactical’ uses in mind.

Using a series of lenses the reverse viewer allows someone to easily have a look inside any closed room as long as there’s a peephole installed on the door. Of course it’s not exactly the most discrete device particularly in an apartment building or condo since you basically have to stand right up against the door and squint into the tiny viewer to get a good view but I’m sure there are those determined enough to still give it a try. And people wonder why I keep a piece of electrical tape across the peephole on my front door. (It’s mostly due to the illegal mongoose vs. cobra fights I stage every night.)

The Reverse Peephole Viewer is available from SpyGadgets for $88.

[ Peephole Reverse Viewer ] VIA [ ThisNext ]