8 Security Technologies That You Never Want Going In The Wrong Hands!

As security threats grow, security technologies are also taking a new turn. New technologies are coming along almost every second day, and as they do, things are getting scarier. In the right hands, they can be really useful, but the question one asks is, which is the right hand? Take a look at these eight security technologies that would really scare you!

Take your fingerprints from 20 feet away: Ever heard of iDair? The company has created a system that is capable of taking a person’s fingerprint from 20 feet away. The product, known as AIRPrint, is meant for security personnel, but it can have devastating effects if found in the wrong hands.

Legal spyware: While spyware is usually illegal, there are some that are legal. The Spector 360 spyware, which was used by the US Food and Drug Administration, is one such example. This is a keylogger that captures the keystrokes made by a person on their keyboard. In fact, the FDA caught scientists sending emails to external sources about medical devices that they thought were dangerous. While it is questionable even as an employee monitoring mechanism, in a hacker’s hands, it is a much more potent weapon in a criminal’s hands.

Scanners that can scan you from 164 feet away: A laser scanner technology created by Genia Photonics can offer spectroscopic information, by scanning through clothing other organic material. The scanner can be used to scan for explosives and drugs from as far as 164 feet away from the person. It can even detect changes in biochemistry, like adrenaline levels etc. Not really a very comforting proposition, even in the hands of the government.

Pre Crime Cameras: This one is really freaky. The BART subway system in San Francisco is utilising surveillance cameras that can detect suspicious behaviour in a person and alert security guards for the same. Developed by BRS (Behavioural Recognition Systems) Labs, BART has plans to install 288 such cameras at 12 different places. Not much right? There’s more.

The cameras can apparently scan 150 people at a time and have been pre-programmed with a list of ‘normal’ behaviours. Deviations from the same will result in notifications being sent to the guards. Ironically, the system is being put in place in San Francisco, which is known for being a little out of the ordinary.

Software capable of analysing and storing millions of voices: Federal agencies in the US are using a database known as VoiceGrid Nation. It has been developed by the Speed Technology Center from Russia. The software is known as SpeechPro and can identifiy and scan voices from phone calls in a matter of seconds. SpeechPro has 90 per cent accuracy and needs recordings to be of decent quality and 15 seconds of length. The software is apparently already being used in 70 different countries already.

Palantir Technologies: This big data analysis firm originally started with PayPal, helping them to defend against fraud. The company now is working with agencies like the CIA and FBI identifying relevant information from hundreds of databases from within an organisation. It puts all this information together at an incredible speed. The company’s advisors consist of Condolezza Rice, former Secretary of State and George Tenet, formed CIA director.

Mobile backscatter vans: These vans look like box trucks and can see through cars from a long distance. Known as the Z Backscatter Vans, they have been developed by American Science and Engineering.

Data extraction from cell phones: Cellebrite is a tool that downloads text messages from a person’s cell phones. Not only text messages, it also downloads images, video and GPS data from your cell phones. You may say that locking your phone with a security key will help, but you would be very wrong. The system was first adopted by the Michigan State Police.

Streetlights recording conversations: LED-based streetlights that can auto adjust to the brightness on the street sound really good. Illuminating Concepts, a company known for such lights, has come up with Intellistreets. What is the problem you ask? The lights also have a built-in speaker, WiFi connection and can stream audio content by recording anyone within earshot. They also have video recorders.