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This article is a follow up on a previous writing called 'Not Quite Security.' Mostly by accident I found that I could evade these simple motion detectors quite easily with a cell phone.

The facts are as follows;
Fist off we can appear totally invisible or undetected to these devices. I found that if I have the web browser open on my Nextel phone, I and anyone else can walk through these device undetected. This seems to work as long as I'm within 30' or so of the device.

Secondly it is know that every time my phone transmit data by following a link in the browser the motion detector will be set off or ding. so this gives me the ability to activate the detector any time I want to and appear invisible anytime I want to.

I wrote to the corporate headquarter to both alert them of the issue and to gather information on the make an model of the devices in use. After receiving no reply I called the security office. They immediately acknowledged knowing who I was and then refused to provide any information.

So what is one to do but to gather the information themselves. I visited the store and removed the motion sensor from the wall as to get a good view of it. It seems that they have removed any indication of the manufacturer from the device, so it is still unknown as to what type of motion detector we're talking about or who makes it.

More to come on the specifics I hope.

Posted by Aaron at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not Security
Ok, this is more of a rant but since it has a little to do with security, I have to write this. I was recently in a major department store (JCP) and was totally appalled by the technique they were using to detour thieves.
The totally obnoxious electronic bell near the dressing rooms. When they were first being used it was ok because you could reach up and turn them off. Now they have them protected by an egg-crate drop ceiling panel. These things are so loud that while waiting for my wife I noticed that everyone who went in or out of the dressing room complained.

The kicker of it is, when I asked what the store thought they were accomplishing by using these things, the cashier threatened to call security. They also indicated that they, as employees felt is was obnoxious but if they had to deal with it, they so did I.

Ok so let me get this straight, a customer is entering an environment where they would have an opportunity to commit a crime. The solution is to whack them in the head, let them know that someone could be paying attention, and now knows they're going in there, and they won't shoplift? I don't think so.
Everyone knows that the store can't put cameras in the dressing room, so no matter how much noise they create going in and out they still have the opportunity to shoplift. This in my opinion is NOT security but something that has now caused me to no longer shop for clothing in that store.

I would love to see the statistic that says "Irritating your customers prior to entering the fitting room will prevent them from stealing." What a laugh.
Folks, if your reading this, you already know that security should be approached with just the opposite attitude. You should be discreet and silent, gathering evidence until the breach has been made.

Posted by Aaron at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)