Open Source Intelligence 101

Having a modern surveillance camera system can help you when it comes to investigating break-ins, robberies and a range of different crimes, but how can you improve the odds even more? To get the most out of your security camera system, your cameras should be placed where they can capture the best possible footage… Place at eye level –  A camera that is close to a ceiling will cover a wider area, but that isn’t the best angle when it comes to capturing footage of a suspect’s face, vehicle registration or any other important details. Don’t aim towards lights –  Lighting from a window, sunlight or a lamp, etc. can create silhouettes and shadows, this, in turn, makes it difficult to recognize a possible suspect or make out certain details of an object. Avoid it being too far away –  A camera that is placed too far away is not likely to capture a high-quality image of a suspects face, making it hard to identify someone. Use multiple cameras –  T...

Whether you tweet once a day or constantly tweet updates throughout the day, you need to remember that if you’re using Twitter you need to be aware of the security and privacy risks. Here are five important safety tips to remember when you’re using Twitter. -- Never share personal information It is best to keep all your private information such as your phone number, address and email address, out of your Twitter profile! Geotagging is an optional feature that is able to make your exact location public, it is also best to switch off this setting too. -- Update your password Hackers can easily gain access to your account if you have used a weak, easily guessable password. Use a strong password and change it every few weeks for maximum security. Make sure to include uppercase and lower case letters, numbers and special characters in your passwords every time. -- Never click on suspicious links Often hackers will try a phishing attack on you through your ...

It is vital that you do not fall into an online scammers trap, especially recently as online scams have been on the rise in South Africa. Here are the most common signs of these four popular online scams that you need to be aware of in order to not become the next victim. Online Goods. Scammers love to target those who are selling valuables online. They may tell you that they want to meet and pick up the goods and pay via EFT. Either they will reverse the transfer once they have received the goods or they will send you fake proof of payment. Always meet in a safe, public environment and rather accept payments in cash only. Account Information. If you receive an email or SMS from your bank claiming that your account number or information has been changed, be very wary! A lot of people fall for this and end up paying a scammer for absolutely nothing, believing that it is a legitimate message from their bank. If you receive messages like this, rather contact your...

The dark web and the deep web consists of many unsettling and disturbing content and activities, where you can find just about anything. The real question is, what are you going to find if you ever wander into the shadows of the internet? DRUGS  This is an obvious one, people like to use the dark web to buy and sell drugs. Before sites like the infamous Silk Road, those who needed drugs would have to go to a bad, dangerous side of town and possibly get robbed or caught by the police. Now all you have to do is order them online from the comfort of your own home. WEAPONS Firearms are easily accessible on the dark web. Not only can you buy weapons that are illegal to sell online, but you can also buy weapons that are illegal everywhere! Such as a secret agent pen gun, explosives and even uranium. ID DOCUMENTS Many dark web vendors offer anything from fake drivers’ licenses to fake ID’s and passports. You may be thinking that these things are just used by ...

With the rise of social media came the rise of private information becoming accessible to just about anyone who knows how to use the internet!  With the right safety precautions you can still enjoy Facebook and other social media networks, but always make sure to use these safety tips. Make sure your password is secure With all your personal information exposed on Facebook, it can be easy for someone to guess your password. A good password should have a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Don’t friend people you don’t kno w If you don’t know who they are why would you become friends with them? It may seem innocent, but cybercriminals often use fake profiles to send out spam and even steal your personal info. Protect your location While it may seem fun to share a photo of yourself and then add your location, it has some hidden risks. Potential criminals can easily see whether you are home or not, allowing them to take advantage and break in...

You cannot believe everything you read and see on social media! Because so many of us think only official, 100% news is shared on Facebook and other social media networks, we need to educate ourselves and those around us to ultimately stop the spread of all this fake news. So, here’s how to spot fake news on social media – and avoid it. Amazing headlines Fake news headlines are often written in capital letters with a lot of exclamation marks. If the headline sounds too good to be true, then it most probably is! Investigate the source Make sure the story you are reading is actually true by going to the source and checking the website to learn more. Format Read through the news carefully; lookout for spelling errors, bad layouts and grammar mistakes. URL Fake news websites often try and pretend to be other legit websites, but they change their URLs slightly – read the URL carefully before you visit the site and click on any links. Don’t...

Don’t be fooled, Instagram can be just as dangerous as Facebook! Even though this social media network is a favourite for those who love to share every detail of their lives through photos, making sure your account is secure is an important step to take. Keep these five tips in mind and stay safe on Instagram… -- Don’t add your phone number to your profile In the private information section of your profile, keep in mind that less is always more! Even though your cell phone number is meant to be private, it can still be used to help you be “found” on Instagram, so it is best just to leave it out. -- Avoid tagging your location It may seem fun to snap a picture, upload it and tag your location, but remember that you are sharing this information with complete strangers. It’s not ideal that you post on Facebook that you are going away for a week, so it’s not ideal to tag all your Instagram posts. -- Be careful of linked accounts Linking your Instagram with...

Audio forensics and investigations are defined as the field of digital forensics that is related to the acquisition, analysis, and evaluation of sound recordings. The results of an audio investigation are usually presented as evidence in court cases, whether they come from a criminal investigation or part of an official inquiry. We spoke to Sound Engineer, Kiana Schulla Pronk , to find out all there is to know about what is doable in an audio investigation. I was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. After becoming involved in the music scene in my high school years, I attended City Varsity School of Media and Creative Arts in Cape Town (CBD) 2016 - 2017. I completed a 2-year Diploma in Sound Engineering and graduated in March of 2018. This institution had the resources to train us and give us the tools to become an expert in the field that we study, to which I chose Sound Engineering. For 2 years, I studied full time and underwent training to become an Audio En...

A holiday scam is a type of scam that will take advantage of potential travelers who are looking to go on holiday by tricking them with falsely advertised fake holiday packages. Often, these fake holiday packages will include ideal accommodation or timeshare. It is easier than you think to fall for a holiday scam as the packages look legitimate as well as the websites they are advertised on. How does a holiday scam work? -- You will come across a website with an unbelievable holiday package. Alternatively, you could receive an email promoting an amazing holiday package. -- The deal is only running for the next few hours, so you need to pay for the package on the fake website before the time runs out and you miss the deal. -- You input your private details on the seemly genuine website, therefore giving away your card details. -- The purchase goes through, but you never receive the holiday package that you paid for. -- The cybercriminals now have access t...

While most of us are used to using Facebook and social media networks, a lot of teens are just starting out and exploring the online work. Unfortunately, there are many bad guys online, especially on social media platforms such as Facebook, who are there to take advantage of new or naïve members. Use these safety and security tips and share them with your teen to ensure everyone has a safer experience. Never register for Facebook if you’re under the age of 13. Some teens want an account when they’re only 11 or 12 – not even a teen yet! However, Facebook specifically forbids anyone younger than 13 from registering. Avoid using your real first and middle name. Facebook does not allow fake names, but you can use your nickname as your first or middle name. This will keep online criminals and potential predators from obtaining more information about you. Set strong privacy settings. Not just anyone should be able to see your profile as well as your content and pho...

As of late, an unfortunate number of women have become victims of horrifying crimes and because if this we need to know how to stay safe at all times, this includes staying safe when it comes to cyber-crimes. Did you know that woman as young as 18 experience severe harassment online? Many have been stalked online as well as been the target of online sexual harassment. Because cyber-crime continues to grow and target women, it’s important to always be mindful of the dangers that lurk online. 1. Never share your password.    It may sound pretty silly, I mean, who shares their passwords, right? You would be surprised! A lot of people share their passwords with their friends or partners and while they may not intentionally want to harm you, they may accidentally share it with others. 2. Never leave your webcam on.  There are so many apps that have the capability to switch on your webcam, allowing just about anyone to record your movements without your knowl...