Mil-Tech

10 Ways Satellites Have Been Used to Spy on YOU

In these post-9/11 days of the Patriot Act, there has come a sharp transformation of America’s collective psyche with regard to the interrelationship between public security and personal liberty. Whereas in times past we had been a people who placed freedom above all else, today we seem more willing to compromise that freedom in the name of national defense. So then it comes as no surprise that Uncle Sam has been keeping a watchful eye on more than just his usual suspects: terrorists, communists, and militant environmentalists. Given the fact that satellites provide a global link between other technologies, their use in intelligence gathering is extensive indeed. Here’s a list of ten ways that satellites have been used to spy on you too:

1. Intercepting E-mails – According to this report in the New York Times, the National Security Agency has used spy satellites for the interception of private emails. In an apparent case of “over-collection” of data, American citizens who were not identified as security threats were inadvertently targeted.
2. Intercepting Phone Calls – The same report indicates that phone calls of private citizens were also monitored via U.S. government-owned spy satellites.
3. GPS Monitoring – Spying is not just a government pastime either. Employers are increasingly making use of GPS technology to keep tabs on drivers. With it, they can track your movements, driving speeds, and how long you’ve spent parked under that tree on your lunch break.
4. Google Earth – It may not be real-time tracking per se, but Google’s satellite imagery can get awfully up close and personal. I could see the lawn furniture in my mother’s backyard. Just saying. Let’s hope her neighbors have a building permit for that room addition they’re working on.
5. Cell Phones – With mobile devices having been equipped with GPS capabilities, your cell phone is now essentially a tracking device attached to your hip. The overt purpose of this is to provide a local response locate for callers in emergency situations, but it still means that Big Brother can find you if he wants to.
6. Television Programming – We already know that spyware tracks our movements on the world wide web, but it seldom occurs to us that the same thing is being done via that box sitting on top of our entertainment centers. For starters, let’s just say it could at least be a source of embarrassment for some, when their cable TV provider starts offering suggested viewing based on previously viewed programming.
7. Mobile Web Tracking – For that matter, just as with TV providers and with terrestrial internet connections, satellites make it possible to track internet activity on mobile devices.
8. Private Purchasers – The Cold War having long since passed into history, satellite surveillance has become accessible to the private sector. Individual and corporate entities can buy satellite access for myriad legitimate uses such as mapping. Privatization of satellite surveillance, however, can lead to some questions about accountability.
9. Photos For Sale – One such area of concern with regard to accountability is in the sale of satellite imagery. Some privately owned satellites are taking high-resolution photos that are available for purchase for as little as $750. Even with a federally mandated restriction on their resolution, such photos can still identify Mom’s lawn chairs.
10. OnStar – This satellite-based feature featured in General Motors vehicles has recently been in the news because of a policy change regarding their service. GM apparently has decided that it would be in your(?) best interest to continue tracking your movements even after you’ve unsubscribed from the service. Additionally, they have made provision for the sale of customers’ private information.

Source > http://www.internetproviders.net

Inmarsat Mobile Satellite Services from TS2

TS2, a Polish company providing satellite services, has joined the group of authorized distributors of Inmarsat.

TS2 - http://www.ts2.pl - is the leading provider of domestic and global satellite access services. It has been providing its services to, amongst others: U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Command of Polish Navy, Government Protection Bureau (Poland), Polish National Police, Polish National Headquarters of the State Fire Services, and Border Guard (Poland).

TS2 services were, and still are, successfully used by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In these locations, reliable and independent satellite communications systems support military operations, guaranteeing their efficient execution. In addition,satellite communications systems also increase the level of security of persons taking part in military operations.

Satellite telecommunication systems are useful not only for the military. Emergency services, particularly those working in difficult conditions, where immediate response is crucial (e.g. at sea or in areas affected by natural disasters), also require an independent communications system.

The company also offers satellite phone rental for lovers of extreme tourism. In wild areas, where there is no human settlement over many hundreds of square miles, constant phone contact may increase the chances of safely surviving a trip of a lifetime.

At present, TS2 offers the following Inmarsat products:

IsatPhone – mobile satellite phone 
IsatPhone Pro is the first Inmarsat handheld to be purpose-built for its network. Optimised to deliver the best performance from the world’s most advanced mobile satellite network, it is available on a global basis over the three Inmarsat-4 satellites, which have an operational lifetime into the 2020s. IsatPhone Pro is targeted primarily at professional users in the government, media, aid, oil and gas, mining and construction sectors.

LandPhone – fixed satellite phone
A low-cost, fixed voice service, which can be used indoors or outdoors as a private or business telephone, or as a payphone-type solution in conjunction with prepay cards. Connects to a standard telephone and remote antenna, and is currently available across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN)
Delivers simultaneous voice and broadband data communications via a lightweight, notebook-size device. Provides seamless network coverage across most of the world’s landmass and offers Standard IP at speeds up to 492kbps and “on-demand” Streaming IP at up to 256kbps.

FleetBroadband 500, 250 and 150
Our most advanced maritime service is designed to provide cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications, including simultaneous voice and data, Standard IP with speeds of up to 432kbps over a shared channel, ISDN at 64kbps, and streaming data up to 256kbps.

Fleet 77, 55 and 33
These three maritime services offer a combination of global voice and fax communications, Mobile ISDN data at 64kbps and 128kbps, and our original always-on IP-based Mobile Packet Data Service (MPDS) for email, web browsing and other office applications.

FleetPhone  – maritime satellite phone
A low-cost phone service ideal for smaller vessels, consisting of below-decks equipment with an integrated voice handset connected to an omni-directional antenna.

SwiftBroadband
Designed to meet the high-speed data communications needs of passengers, cabin crew and pilots in airliners, business jets and government aircraft. Offers a package of simultaneous voice and data, plus contended IP-based data up to 432kbps per channel and 64kbps ISDN.

Swift 64
Provides bandwidth for applications such as high-quality voice, email, internet and intranet access, and videoconferencing, via its Mobile ISDN and IP-based Mobile Packet Data Service (MPDS) offerings.

Inmarsat A
The original Inmarsat system, which was withdrawn from service at the end of 2007. Based on analogue techniques, it provided global two-way telephony, facsimile, data and telex communications to the maritime community for a quarter of a century.

Inmarsat B
The first digital successor to Inmarsat A, capable of high-quality telephony, facsimile, data and telex services, and compatible with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

Inmarsat C and Mini C
A digital system based on a low-cost satellite terminal, providing two-way store-and-forward messaging, distress calling, EGC SafetyNET™ and FleetNET™, data reporting and polling. The system is approved for use under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and mandatory for Solas-compliant ships operating outside Navtex coverage areas.

IsatM2M
A two-way burst messaging service enabling a wide range of machine-to-machine applications for tracking and monitoring remote fixed or mobile assets on a global basis – whether on land, at sea or in the air.

Inmarsat D+
The predecessor to IsatM2M. A two-way data communications service that uses very small equipment, with integrated GPS, for data transfer, remote monitoring, tracking and tracing.

Inmarsat M
The first briefcase satphone, introduced in 1993. Also available in the maritime market, as a smaller, digital alternative to Inmarsat B, offering two-way voice telephony, distress alerting, fax and data services at lower data rates.

Mini M
Introduced in 1995, based on digital technology and capable of two-way voice telephony, alerting, fax and data services. Operates only in the reduced coverage offered by the Inmarsat-3 spot beams, but its notebook size has made it one of the most popular Inmarsat services on land and at sea.

GAN
A precursor to BGAN, the Global Area Network (GAN) service offers high-quality voice, plus a combination of the 64kbps Mobile ISDN and packet-based MPDS data services via a portable terminal.

R-BGAN
An IP-based entry level device within the BGAN range of terminals. It was formerly known as Regional BGAN. Inmarsat chose Hughes  Network Systems (HNS) for the development and production work associated with the Regional BGAN network, including the R-BGAN satellite IP modem, which provides data only packet-data connectivity. This service was withdrawn at the end of 2008.

Aero H / H+
Supports multi-channel voice, fax and data communications at speeds up to 9.6kbps anywhere in the global (hemispherical) beams of Inmarsat’s satellites.

Aero I
Brings multi-channel voice, fax and data at up to 4.8kbps to corporate aircraft, military transports and regional airliners through smaller, cheaper terminals.

Aero L
Provides airline and government operators with global, real-time, two-way data communications, principally to support air traffic control and airline operations.

Mini M Aero
Suited to border patrol, coastguard, emergency services and remote-area operations applications. Supports a single channel for voice, fax or 2.4kbps PC data, SIM-card capability and STU-III encrypted voice.

Aero C
For non-safety-related text or data messages from anywhere in the world. With integrated GPS, it can be readily installed in corporate and general-aviation aircraft and helicopters, and offers two-way store-and-forward data communications, messaging, polling and position-reporting.

TS2 to offer new military phone in Poland

Today, in Marriott hotel in Warsaw a new Iridium global network phone has been presented to the TS2 national trade partners. New Iridium Extreme™ model is the most advanced and rugged satellite phone with a unique feature of locating users anywhere on the surface of the planet. It is more than a satellite phone – it provides customers with a solution for transmission of voice, data, Wi-Fi, GPS, SMS, SOS and tracking services under the harshest conditions, anywhere on the planet.

Key features:

- Compliance with US Military 810F. It meets the highest standards of resistance to dust, sand, shock, vibrations, low pressure, high and low temperature, rain and long-term moisture. It can be used everywhere, on sea, land, in mountains or on the desert.

- The only phone with constant user tracking. Iridium offers an open development platform for custom location-based solutions providing real time tracking. Through certified online portals you can track shipments, materials delivery, ships, planes, cars, employees, expedition participants or inform your family and friends about your location.

- Iridium Extreme™ is the first-ever phone with built-in programmable one-touch SOS button. It is a GPS-enabled solution that allows calling help immediately and giving a precise user location.

- It allows to create a Wi-Fi hotspot everywhere on the planet. Through satellite phone connection you can connect any Wi-Fi appliance, smartphone or computer directly to Internet.

Iridium Extreme™ will be made available starting from 12 October 2011. The current price is the equivalent of $1567,50.

TS2 http://www.ts2.pl is the leading provider of domestic and global satellite access services. It has been providing its services amongst others, to: U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Command of Polish Navy, Government Protection Bureau (Poland), Polish National Police, Polish National Headquarters of the State Fire Services, and Border Guard (Poland).

TS2 services were, and still are, successfully used by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. In these locations, reliable and independent satellite communications systems support military operations, guaranteeing their efficient execution. In addition, satellite communications systems also increase the level of security of persons taking part in military operations.

Satellite telecommunication systems are useful not only for the military. Emergency services, particularly those working in difficult conditions, where immediate response is crucial (e.g. at sea or in areas affected by natural disasters), also require an independent communications system.

The company also offers satellite phone rental for lovers of extreme tourism. In wild areas, where there is no human settlement over many hundreds of square miles, constant phone contact may increase the chances of safely surviving a trip of a lifetime.

More on Iridium Extreme™ http://www.ts2.pl/pl/Iridium-9575

Iridium Extreme™ is a registered trademark of Iridium Communications Inc.