Mikael Thalen
@mikaelthalen.bsky.social
Tech Reporter at Straight Arrow News-mthalen@san.com
-mikaelthalen@protonmail.ch-Signal: mikaelthalen.12
-mikaelthalen@protonmail.ch-Signal: mikaelthalen.12
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
In 2023, students at Ohio State blocked the doors to the president's office.
Little did they know, live video from campus CCTVs were being fed straight to DHS.
It's part of a little-known, decades-long surveillance effort built on the back of college football.
www.foiaball.com/p/dhs-colleg...
Little did they know, live video from campus CCTVs were being fed straight to DHS.
It's part of a little-known, decades-long surveillance effort built on the back of college football.
www.foiaball.com/p/dhs-colleg...
Scoop: Inside DHS's vast college football surveillance effort
If you go to a college football game, the feds have cameras on you.
www.foiaball.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:19 PM
In 2023, students at Ohio State blocked the doors to the president's office.
Little did they know, live video from campus CCTVs were being fed straight to DHS.
It's part of a little-known, decades-long surveillance effort built on the back of college football.
www.foiaball.com/p/dhs-colleg...
Little did they know, live video from campus CCTVs were being fed straight to DHS.
It's part of a little-known, decades-long surveillance effort built on the back of college football.
www.foiaball.com/p/dhs-colleg...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New, by me at this.weekinsecurity.com: I wrote ~3,700 of my finest words on North Korea's remote IT workers, who have infiltrated businesses across the U.S. and Europe and aren't slowing down. Probably the most pervasive cyber threats today.
Here's my primer on how to recognize & combat them.
Here's my primer on how to recognize & combat them.
Thousands of North Koreans have secretly infiltrated US and European companies as remote IT workers
North Korea's secret remote workers are a major threat facing U.S. and European businesses today, taking jobs in Fortune 100 and smaller companies alike. Here's how to recognize and combat the threat.
this.weekinsecurity.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM
New, by me at this.weekinsecurity.com: I wrote ~3,700 of my finest words on North Korea's remote IT workers, who have infiltrated businesses across the U.S. and Europe and aren't slowing down. Probably the most pervasive cyber threats today.
Here's my primer on how to recognize & combat them.
Here's my primer on how to recognize & combat them.
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: CBP has quietly launched a facial recognition app for local cops to do immigration enforcement. Scans their face, tells cops whether to contact ICE about this person or not. A truly rapid expansion of ICE's facial recognition app to local cops
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
CBP Quietly Launches Face Scanning App for Local Cops To Do Immigration Enforcement
The app, called Mobile Identify and available on the Google Play Store, is specifically for local and regional law enforcement agencies working with ICE on immigration enforcement.
www.404media.co
November 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM
New from 404 Media: CBP has quietly launched a facial recognition app for local cops to do immigration enforcement. Scans their face, tells cops whether to contact ICE about this person or not. A truly rapid expansion of ICE's facial recognition app to local cops
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
www.404media.co/cbp-quietly-...
NEW: Surveillance footage from inside an Israeli defense contractor has been leaked online by an Iranian-linked hacktivist group.
The footage shows defense contractors attending internal meetings, designing weapons systems and their involvement with Israel's Iron Dome.
san.com/cc/iran-link...
The footage shows defense contractors attending internal meetings, designing weapons systems and their involvement with Israel's Iron Dome.
san.com/cc/iran-link...
Iran-linked hackers leak CCTV footage from inside Israeli defense contractor
Surveillance footage from inside Israeli defense contractor Maya Engineering has been leaked online by an Iranian-linked hacktivist group.
san.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:17 PM
NEW: Surveillance footage from inside an Israeli defense contractor has been leaked online by an Iranian-linked hacktivist group.
The footage shows defense contractors attending internal meetings, designing weapons systems and their involvement with Israel's Iron Dome.
san.com/cc/iran-link...
The footage shows defense contractors attending internal meetings, designing weapons systems and their involvement with Israel's Iron Dome.
san.com/cc/iran-link...
The Texas Dept of Public Safety carried out aerial surveillance of Austin's No Kings protest after Gov. Abbott suggested that "violence & destruction" were likely.
Of course, the event was peaceful. Even the pilot, in video I obtained via FOIA, says: "Seems like it’s gonna be pretty peaceful, huh?"
Of course, the event was peaceful. Even the pilot, in video I obtained via FOIA, says: "Seems like it’s gonna be pretty peaceful, huh?"
November 3, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The Texas Dept of Public Safety carried out aerial surveillance of Austin's No Kings protest after Gov. Abbott suggested that "violence & destruction" were likely.
Of course, the event was peaceful. Even the pilot, in video I obtained via FOIA, says: "Seems like it’s gonna be pretty peaceful, huh?"
Of course, the event was peaceful. Even the pilot, in video I obtained via FOIA, says: "Seems like it’s gonna be pretty peaceful, huh?"
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: logins for Flock, the company behind the nationwide AI-camera network, are included in malware infections. Includes government and police accounts, meaning hackers could potentially break in. Senator Wyden asking FTC to investigate Flock
www.404media.co/flock-logins...
www.404media.co/flock-logins...
November 3, 2025 at 5:02 PM
New from 404 Media: logins for Flock, the company behind the nationwide AI-camera network, are included in malware infections. Includes government and police accounts, meaning hackers could potentially break in. Senator Wyden asking FTC to investigate Flock
www.404media.co/flock-logins...
www.404media.co/flock-logins...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: you can't refuse to be scanned by ICE's new facial recognition app, according to internal DHS document I obtained. Photos captured by the app are stored for 15 years, including U.S. citizens. We've seen officers scanning faces w/ phones on streets
www.404media.co/you-cant-ref...
www.404media.co/you-cant-ref...
You Can't Refuse To Be Scanned by ICE's Facial Recognition App, DHS Document Says
Photos captured by Mobile Fortify will be stored for 15 years, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, the document says.
www.404media.co
October 31, 2025 at 1:49 PM
New from 404 Media: you can't refuse to be scanned by ICE's new facial recognition app, according to internal DHS document I obtained. Photos captured by the app are stored for 15 years, including U.S. citizens. We've seen officers scanning faces w/ phones on streets
www.404media.co/you-cant-ref...
www.404media.co/you-cant-ref...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
October 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: someone managed to get into a Microsoft Teams call with phone hackers Cellebrite, who then detailed some of the company's hacking capabilities against Google Pixel phones. Also its capabilities against GrapheneOS, security-focused devices www.404media.co/someone-snuc...
Someone Snuck Into a Cellebrite Microsoft Teams Call and Leaked Phone Unlocking Details
The leaked slide focuses on Google Pixel phones and mentions those running the security-focused GrapheneOS operating system.
www.404media.co
October 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
New from 404 Media: someone managed to get into a Microsoft Teams call with phone hackers Cellebrite, who then detailed some of the company's hacking capabilities against Google Pixel phones. Also its capabilities against GrapheneOS, security-focused devices www.404media.co/someone-snuc...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
Full story: The self-described "founder" of Anonymous and part-time federal cooperator Kirtaner announced he would be returning to prison after violating the terms of his bail with $ANON.
October 29, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Full story: The self-described "founder" of Anonymous and part-time federal cooperator Kirtaner announced he would be returning to prison after violating the terms of his bail with $ANON.
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
ICE and CBP Agents Are Scanning Peoples’ Faces on the Street To Verify Citizenship
Videos on social media show officers from ICE and CBP using facial recognition technology on people in the field. One expert described the practice as “pure dystopian creep.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
New: Videos show ICE/CBP agents are scanning peoples' faces on the street to verify citizenship. ICE has tool to instantly look up unprecedented number of databases with just a photo
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
“I’m an American citizen so leave me alone”
“Alright, we just got to verify that”
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: CBP searched a record 55,424 devices at the US border over the past 12 months. While these searches are rare compared to the number of travelers, the data shows a notable uptick over the past six months. @mattburgess1.bsky.social and @dell.bsky.social w/ the scoop: www.wired.com/story/cbp-se...
CBP Searched a Record Number of Phones at the US Border Over the Past Year
The total number of US Customs and Border Protection device searches jumped by 17 percent over the 2024 fiscal year, but more invasive forensic searches remain relatively rare.
www.wired.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
NEW: CBP searched a record 55,424 devices at the US border over the past 12 months. While these searches are rare compared to the number of travelers, the data shows a notable uptick over the past six months. @mattburgess1.bsky.social and @dell.bsky.social w/ the scoop: www.wired.com/story/cbp-se...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: DHS is asking companies to submit plans to turn standard 4x4 trucks into AI-powered watchtowers—combining radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking to extend surveillance on demand.
by me @ wired:
by me @ wired:
DHS Wants a Fleet of AI-Powered Surveillance Trucks
US border patrol is asking companies to submit plans to turn standard 4x4 trucks into AI-powered watchtowers—combining radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking to extend surveillance on demand.
www.wired.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
NEW: DHS is asking companies to submit plans to turn standard 4x4 trucks into AI-powered watchtowers—combining radar, cameras, and autonomous tracking to extend surveillance on demand.
by me @ wired:
by me @ wired:
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: DHS is trying to unmask an anonymous Instagram/Facebook account that tracks ICE activity by claiming the accounts are importing merchandise. Zero evidence for that, lawyers say demand is wildly out of scope. It's a tactic to unmask critics
www.404media.co/dhs-tries-to...
www.404media.co/dhs-tries-to...
DHS Tries To Unmask Ice Spotting Instagram Account by Claiming It Imports Merchandise
There is no evidence the Instagram and Facebook account, called Montcowatch, sells anything. Lawyers from the ACLU say the move is "wild outside the scope" of DHS' authority.
www.404media.co
October 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
New from 404 Media: DHS is trying to unmask an anonymous Instagram/Facebook account that tracks ICE activity by claiming the accounts are importing merchandise. Zero evidence for that, lawyers say demand is wildly out of scope. It's a tactic to unmask critics
www.404media.co/dhs-tries-to...
www.404media.co/dhs-tries-to...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: there's been some chatter in recent days about an ICE purchase of "guided missile warheads and explosive components" in September.
However, it appears ICE simply entered the wrong product code when it entered the payment record into a federal database:
www.wired.com/story/no-ice...
However, it appears ICE simply entered the wrong product code when it entered the payment record into a federal database:
www.wired.com/story/no-ice...
No, ICE (Probably) Didn't Buy Guided Missile Warheads
A federal contracting database lists an ICE payment for $61,218 with the payment code “guided missile warheads and explosive components.” But it appears ICE simply entered the wrong code.
www.wired.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:39 PM
NEW: there's been some chatter in recent days about an ICE purchase of "guided missile warheads and explosive components" in September.
However, it appears ICE simply entered the wrong product code when it entered the payment record into a federal database:
www.wired.com/story/no-ice...
However, it appears ICE simply entered the wrong product code when it entered the payment record into a federal database:
www.wired.com/story/no-ice...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New from 404 Media: the same hackers who doxed hundreds of DHS, ICE, and FBI officials say they have personal data of tens of thousands more government officials, including thousands NSA, more in intel community. They sent me data from a dizzying list of agencies
www.404media.co/hackers-say-...
www.404media.co/hackers-say-...
Hackers Say They Have Personal Data of Thousands of NSA and Other Government Officials
The same hackers who doxed hundreds of DHS, ICE, and FBI officials now say they have the personal data of tens of thousands of officials from the NSA, Air Force, Defense Intelligence Agency, and many ...
www.404media.co
October 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
New from 404 Media: the same hackers who doxed hundreds of DHS, ICE, and FBI officials say they have personal data of tens of thousands more government officials, including thousands NSA, more in intel community. They sent me data from a dizzying list of agencies
www.404media.co/hackers-say-...
www.404media.co/hackers-say-...
Portland police deploy ‘informants’ within ICE protest crowds to aid in arrests, documents reveal www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...
Portland police deploy ‘informants’ within ICE protest crowds to aid in arrests, documents reveal
Prosecutors have cited “confidential reliable sources” in at least eight criminal cases since June.
www.oregonlive.com
October 18, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Portland police deploy ‘informants’ within ICE protest crowds to aid in arrests, documents reveal www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
New: hackers just doxed hundreds of DHS, ICE, FBI, and DOJ officials. I went through the data. In many cases does look legitimate, sometimes includes residential addresses.
“Mexican Cartels hmu [hit me up] we dropping all the doxes wheres my 1m [1 million].”
www.404media.co/hackers-dox-...
“Mexican Cartels hmu [hit me up] we dropping all the doxes wheres my 1m [1 million].”
www.404media.co/hackers-dox-...
Hackers Dox Hundreds of DHS, ICE, FBI, and DOJ Officials
Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters—one of the latest amalgamations of typically young, reckless, and English-speaking hackers—posted the apparent phone numbers and addresses of hundreds of government officials...
www.404media.co
October 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
New: hackers just doxed hundreds of DHS, ICE, FBI, and DOJ officials. I went through the data. In many cases does look legitimate, sometimes includes residential addresses.
“Mexican Cartels hmu [hit me up] we dropping all the doxes wheres my 1m [1 million].”
www.404media.co/hackers-dox-...
“Mexican Cartels hmu [hit me up] we dropping all the doxes wheres my 1m [1 million].”
www.404media.co/hackers-dox-...
In response to the No Kings protest in Austin, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is sending in the National Guard, the Texas Rangers, state troopers & Public Safety personnel “supported by aircraft and other tactical assets.” www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Abbott to send National Guard to Austin for No Kings rally
Abbott’s deployments come as Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, vilify the planned nationwide protests as a “hate America” gathering.
www.politico.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:46 PM
In response to the No Kings protest in Austin, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is sending in the National Guard, the Texas Rangers, state troopers & Public Safety personnel “supported by aircraft and other tactical assets.” www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Never been a laptop sticker guy, but when I saw @micahflee.com with this, I had to get one.
October 16, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Never been a laptop sticker guy, but when I saw @micahflee.com with this, I had to get one.
"The Bulletin is the latest sign that Trump’s NSPM-7 national security directive ordering federal agencies to root out domestic terrorism will ramp up surveillance and monitoring of protests and free speech."
Following the NSPM-7 directive for feds to focus on anti-ICE terrorism, the FBI and Homeland produced an intel bulletin linking anti-ICE protests to terrorism.
Bulletin here: www.kenklippenstein.com/p/leak-feds-...
Bulletin here: www.kenklippenstein.com/p/leak-feds-...
Leak: Feds Think Protests Hide Terrorism
“No Kings” protest eyed amid NSPM-7 domestic terror panic
www.kenklippenstein.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
"The Bulletin is the latest sign that Trump’s NSPM-7 national security directive ordering federal agencies to root out domestic terrorism will ramp up surveillance and monitoring of protests and free speech."
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
NEW: A stunning new study finds that satellite transmissions—from calls and texts on T-Mobile to US and Mexico military communications—were sent unencrypted for any snoop to grab. @agreenberg.bsky.social and @mattburgess1.bsky.social have the scoop: www.wired.com/story/satell...
Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data
With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypte...
www.wired.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:01 AM
NEW: A stunning new study finds that satellite transmissions—from calls and texts on T-Mobile to US and Mexico military communications—were sent unencrypted for any snoop to grab. @agreenberg.bsky.social and @mattburgess1.bsky.social have the scoop: www.wired.com/story/satell...
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
ICE is likely surveilling protesters’ phones in Portland using fake cellphone towers, aka stingrays.
Here’s my interview with @mikaelthalen.bsky.social about what’s happening.
Here’s my interview with @mikaelthalen.bsky.social about what’s happening.
October 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
ICE is likely surveilling protesters’ phones in Portland using fake cellphone towers, aka stingrays.
Here’s my interview with @mikaelthalen.bsky.social about what’s happening.
Here’s my interview with @mikaelthalen.bsky.social about what’s happening.
Reposted by Mikael Thalen
Mikael Thalen's video explainer is the best, simplest explanation that I've ever seen of how these somewhat obscure devices work. Well worth your 2 min. 24 secs.
EXCLUSIVE: A cell-site simulator, commonly referred to as an IMSI-catcher or "Stingray," may have been used at the ICE facility in Portland.
Analysis of cellular signals in the area showed phones receiving abnormal spikes in requests for their unique identifiers. san.com/cc/exclusive...
Analysis of cellular signals in the area showed phones receiving abnormal spikes in requests for their unique identifiers. san.com/cc/exclusive...
Exclusive: Fake cellphone tower likely surveilled protesters at Portland ICE facility
Law enforcement officials may have deployed a secretive cellphone surveillance technology last weekend at Portland’s ICE facility.
san.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Mikael Thalen's video explainer is the best, simplest explanation that I've ever seen of how these somewhat obscure devices work. Well worth your 2 min. 24 secs.