Rocky Mountain Tracking

Daily GPS News

Safety in Enablement of GPS Location Services Possible on smartphones

April 15th, 2013

While the perks of GPS tracking location services can be appealing, many users of smartphones have raised valid questions of privacy and security. What safeguards do cell phone manufacturers use to ensure security of clients’ data? How easy it is for strangers or predatory individuals to access GPS tracking data from smartphones? Are cell phone companies doing anything to address the concerns of their clients?Indeed they are. Trustworthy smartphone and app developers have worked very hard to keep a standard of integrity and safety in their products.

The technologies of smartphones has exploded in recent years, enough so that government officials have yet to truly establish set laws specifically against smartphone hacking and also for smartphone privacy protection. Location services on smartphones can place users at risk of attack from hackers and other criminal individuals, who may utilize stolen data and GPS tracking to prey upon smartphone users. But smartphone and smartphone app developers have designed many privacy tools within their products in order to enable users to guard themselves against attack.

One feature of GPS-enabled phones is an on/off toggle control for location services and GPS. Tracking of a user’s phone or collection of data is not possible while this feature is turned off. This setting can be changed from the phone’s settings or controls page at the will of the user.

Creators of smartphone apps often have similar switches or controls displayed on the smartphone’s overarching settings page. Users can change them at will, and in some cases on a use by use basis. Users may find that they desire to use locations services or GPS technology at some times, and then to avoid using them at others.

Also, many trusted PC security software providers are now offering mobile security software, so users can download and install anti-malware programs directly onto their smartphone. Some of these software providers include AVG, McAfee, and Norton.

The risks of privacy violation, GPS tracking, and hacker attack are very real for smartphone users, it is true; however, if users keep their wits about them as they browse and roam, using caution in trusting apps or third-parties, smartphone users can enjoy a fulfilling and safe mobile experience.

Emphasizing the Positive Side of GPS Monitoring

October 2nd, 2012

JEA, the electric and water company that serves the city of Jacksonville, Florida, has joined the ranks of companies that now use GPS monitoring to keep constant eyes on its equipment. Like similar businesses and local government agencies all over the country, JEA has decided that the many benefits provided by monitoring are worth the expense of fitting multiple vehicles and expensive pieces of equipment with devices.

If you read about this new development within JEA, you will notice that all of the advantages listed are very positive. For example, the primary emphasis is on the safety of employees, as GPS can be used to quickly locate workers who encounter dangerous conditions while working on utilities in the field. It also makes finding broken down vehicles much more convenient.

But you won’t find much discussion of what many companies consider one of the greatest benefits of GPS: accountability for employees that might be tempted to misuse company property or conduct personal activity while on the clock. If the boss is watching your truck’s movements on a screen, you are far less likely to make a detour to the grocery store while on a job. The equipment installed by JEA also tracks whether a vehicle’s engine is running or not—useful for finding out whether a worker habitually leaves his engine running and the air conditioning on during long service visits. Finally, when GPS monitoring logs accurate mileage, supervisors can use that data to corroborate reimbursement requests that drivers turn in.

JEA, perhaps in an effort to present its best face to the public, doesn’t make much of these “bad behavior” deterrents, although it does mention them in passing. Instead, it wants customers to take away the assurance that the company is working hard to protect its assets and its employees. The GPS monitoring equipment prevents anyone from opening the doors of service vehicles without a specially designed key fob carried by employees. Also, while GPS-fitted equipment is being repaired, JEA can retain the ability to see exactly where it is at any given time.

JEA customers should be happy about the utility company’s use of GPS equipment. It reflects a wise investment that will reduce waste, protect expensive machines, and help employees remember to follow their better judgment because their supervisors are always watching.

Bank Robber Busted By GPS Tracking Device

September 28th, 2012

It’s incredible that in today’s world, people still think they can get away with bank robbery. Surely, there are some criminal master-minds who can successfully steal from a bank, but for the most part, financial institutions are very secure. There are cameras in every bank, and typically there is at least one guard on duty. However, it’s GPS tracking technology that’s really catching these bank robbers. If you pay any attention to news sources, there are multiple stories published about bank robberies foiled by GPS tracking devices. One would think that the criminal element might catch on, but a recent incident proves the opposite.

Most, if not all, bank tellers are prepared for an attempted robbery. One of the newer tactics against bank robberies is having a decoy bundle of cash, equipped with a discrete GPS tracking device, ready. This way, when tellers are told to put the cash in the bag, they covertly slip in the decoy bills in with the rest of the money. The burglar thinks he or she has made away with a bundle of cash, not a tracking device that will lead police right to his or her doorstep. This is more or less exactly what happened to 33-year-old Teshawanda F. Herbert, who was charged with bank robbery in Chicago in late August 2012.

The woman reportedly tried to withdraw cash from a nonexistent account at Popular Community Bank a few days prior to allegedly holding up the same bank. Around noon on a Tuesday, Herbert approached the same teller who, a few days prior, wouldn’t give her money from an account that didn’t exist. According to the police report, Herbert handed the teller a note stating that she was robbing the bank, telling the teller that her husband was waiting for her in the parking lot. The teller slipped a GPS tracking device into the bag of cash, and let the woman escape before contacting police. Law enforcement tracked her quickly, and turned her over to the FBI for investigation.

GPS Tracking Application Foils iPhone Theft in Minutes!

August 1st, 2010

Thieves snatching cell phones isn’t anything new. In fact, it happens all the time, which is why Covia Labs devised a GPS-tracking app for iPhone. It just so happens that while one of Covia’s employees was testing the app, a thief rode by on a bicycle and stole her iPhone.

Covia couldn’t have asked for better advertising, since the iPhone that was stolen was running the GPS-tracking app at the time that it was taken. Within moments, Covia employees were able to locate the phone, call police, and the thief was apprehended. Covia CEO, David Kahn, liked the theft to a “…bank robber who arrive during the security test.”

GPS trackers have been responsible for locating numerous stolen phones over the past few years. Thanks to a GPS tracker, Long Island police were able to locate fourteen stolen phones that were stolen from a public works department. In addition, many cell phone companies now include GPS tracking applications just in case a phone is stolen. These apps must be turned on so as more and more stories surface like this one, you can bet people are turning on their tracking capabilities.

Even though a cell phone user must have a GPS tracking application in order to track a stolen phone, these applications are quickly becoming the norm. Other personal objects such as computers and purses are also becoming difficult for thieves to abscond with, since individuals can now place a GPS tracking device inside of nearly anything. While snatching a phone or purse from an unsuspecting victim used to be child’s play, thieves are quickly discovering that technology is making their work tougher – too bad!

(Source acquired via Wired.com, July 30, 2010. Written by Harriette Halepis for Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc.)

Dissapoint the Thieves with Hidden GPS Tracking

July 27th, 2010

From Indianapolis comes news that more people have been arrested in a wide-spread auto theft ring operating in central Indiana. The thieves had stolen 68 vehicles and replaced the VINs and titles with phony ones to be able to license and sell them to unsuspecting customers. The vehicles were hidden in storage units and apartment and garages as well as with their new, unsuspecting owners who had purchased them from the suspects.

Who thinks about checking a VIN on a vehicle that you are going to purchase? No one really. So you purchase a car that is rightfully someone else’s and now you make payments on what? A complicated sort of affairs involving lawyers ensues. This scenario could have been mitigated with the installation of GPS Tracking devices.

Consider that if consumers and dealers alike caught on to how effective GPS Tracking is for vehicles, then there would be more of them and they would help owners recover from theft much sooner.

GPS Tracking Fights Car Thieves

Here are the important ways that GPS Tracking deters car thieves:

Location Monitoring

Ever wonder where your car is located? Maybe not yet, but you might eventually. This is true if you have a teenage driver in your house. Or, a spouse that you suspect is not being faithful. You can use a GPS Tracking device to verify not only location, but truthfulness about the locations of the drivers. How you use this information is up to you, but it can help bring closure to many domestic situations.

Directional Monitoring

Which direction is your vehicle going? Who is driving? How can you know for sure that it hasn’t been stolen? Looking at the direction of travel on your PC screen is the place to start for answers. After that, it is just a matter of verifying the information by a conversation with the driver(s). Some models of GPS Tracking units have a geo-fencing option which allows you to obtain a text message or email if a vehicle breaks a boundary that you have set.

Speed Monitoring

No one goes the speed limit, right? True, but you need to know if someone is driving your car at excessive speeds. The reason is not only because they can get a ticket or even worse, and accident, but also the wear and tear on your vehicle is unnecessary.

Other Benefits

There are other benefits of outfitting your own vehicle with a GPS Tracking device. Check with your insurance agent about a discount in your insurance premiums. This is an often overlooked money saver. In fact, the savings will eventually pay for the device (depending on which one you purchase).

With all the anti-theft solutions out there, GPS Tracking delivers more value than you expect. Always check your vin numbers on used cars and personally go to the DMV to ensure you are not getting a “fast one” pulled on you and your wallet. It took over one year to solve the case in Indiana due to the sharp eye of an employee in the DMV in that state. One year is a long time to sort out the theft of 68 cars. That is quite a lot of police man hours and investigative detectives skills to sort it out. Don’t let a situation like that enter your family. Buy a GPS tracking device today!

Vitamins Hijacked (then Swiftly Recovered with GPS Tracking)

July 26th, 2010

Truck drivers make their living by driving long hours and transporting large amounts of goods within a state or between states. They are targets for theft because their goods carry significant value. Can you imagine your rather large tractor trailer stolen right from the truck stop while you were dining? It continues to happen, even though safeguards are in place to protect expensive consumer goods traveling cross country.

A GPS tracking system allows a person possessing a GPS-enabled device to track people or possessions that have a GPS device attached to them. The GPS tracking system has twenty-four satellites spread in six orbital spheres above the earth. These satellites provide coverage for virtually every place on earth. The system transmits signals from the satellites to the GPS-enabled device, allowing tracking of a person or possession in real-time. You are able to precisely locate and follow movements through GPS tracking. GPS tracking may be used for historical time. With the assistance of tracking software, you can watch a track later on video and determine the movement of a person or possession.

A GPS tracking system came in handy in a recent theft of a tractor trailer transporting $500,000 worth of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, mostly consisting of vitamins. The Batesville, Arkansas-based truck began its journey in Pennsylvania and journeyed into Virginia where the driver and passenger stopped to eat at a Glade Spring truck stop. It was stolen as they ate inside. The truck driver and passenger later reported they were sure they locked the truck. Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s detective Jaime Blevins tracked the stolen truck using a GPS tracking device placed with the pharmaceutical vitamins. About ninety minutes after the truck was reported stolen, police recovered the truck in Tennessee. Tennessee Highway Patrol officers located the abandoned truck on the side of the road with the cargo left intact. However, the seal on the truck was broken, indicating the robber inspected the goods. The thief abandoned the truck before an interstate truck weighing station so he would avoid inspection by highway officials.

The GPS tracking system set up in the cargo sent signals to Jaime Blevins, his Virginia-based law enforcement partners, and highway officials in Kentucky and Tennessee. Once the truck stopped moving, Tennessee patrolmen recovered the stolen truck. Delay in shipment was the only consequence. They were lucky this thief did not destroy the rig, trailer or the contents. Having GPS tracking find the truck fast prevented further damage of precious goods. Shouldn’t GPS be a part of your delivery process?

Be Cautious on the Net and Stay Safe with GPS Tracking

July 12th, 2010

It comes with territory, so to speak, that social networking opens users up to dangerous security issues. The two sites that are encouraging ‘checking in’ wherever you may be are gowalla.com and foursquare.com.

The first reason that these social networking sites are raising concern is because they encourage users to ‘check in’ which provides your location instantly to those in your group.

The Internet & Security

The second reason is because they are being used improperly by those who sign up.

The positive and great things that smartphone technology has brought us have created a breeding ground for potential hazards. As with anything, caution is the way to approach these sites.

A social network that encourages you to provide your location is dangerous in that not only do people know where you are, but they also know where you are NOT. Home comes to mind as the most likely place that you are vulnerable. Thieves target houses that they know are unoccupied.

And, just because your social network includes only ‘friends’ does not mean that you cannot be targeted. Social networking sites are not known for their impeccable security methods.

In their defense, site creators issue guidelines on how to use their site and where to use it. It does not include things like telling your social network that you are at home, in bed, or God forbid, in the bathroom. You are encouraged to meet up with those in your social network at public places and entertainment venues, etc. And, they include some already marked out public places.

But, you can add your own, and here’s where the problem of security comes into play. People are adding their homes, rooms in their homes and even (as mentioned) their beds. The more users tell people where they are located, the more they give out information on where they are not or, if they are in a place that makes them vulnerable.

One important guideline when using these is to only check in at public places. Keep your private treks at or from home private.

Also, one last thing to consider is to purchase a GPS Tracking device to help monitor your locations (privately) and add an extra layer of insurance from a security standpoint. These devices are much less expensive than ever, and you can find a model that will meet your needs.

When opening up yourself to potential invasions of security or privacy it is best to take extra precautions to protect yourself because you never know when you might be the target of some very bad people.

article by James Neely

Car Thieves Strike Craigslist

July 11th, 2010

by Harriette Halepis

Source acquired via Newser, July 8, 2010 – Public warnings related to Craigslist are nothing new, but this time the warning is coming straight from the New York Police Department. The NYPD has been repeatedly warning the general public to be extra careful when allowing potential buyers to test drive listed cars. Savvy Craigslist listers are quickly finding out that GPS tracking devices can do more than track stolen goods – they can potentially save lives.

Craigslist and Auto Theft

The NYPD has picked up on a recent scam that many within the New York City (and other) area have fallen prey to. By contacting a Craigslist poster, thieves pretend to be interested in various listed automobiles. Then, upon asking to take a car for a test drive, the cars disappear entirely. Most of these vehicles wind up in chop-shops, and some are resold after identifying vehicle information has been altered.

In addition to simply taking a car for a test drive and never returning, the NYPD is also warning Craigslist posters about a new carjacking tool dubbed “the jiggler.” This tool can be inserted into certain ignitions causing a car to start up automatically. Once a thief notes the location of a Craigslist car for sale, this tool is frequently used to steal any unattended vehicle.

While it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on any car that is listed on Craigslist, it is not a good idea to go along for a test drive. Many thieves are armed and dangerous, and car owners may become injured if a thief decides to steal a car while an owner is present.

A safer option is to install a personal GPS tracking device inside of a vehicle. In the event that a vehicle is stolen, this device will lead owners and authorities directly to the automobile. Not only is a tracking key an effective way to find a stolen car, it’s also a great way to prevent an unsuspecting owner of becoming injured.

Fake Cocaine Embedded with GPS Tracking Nabs Police Officer

July 10th, 2010

Source acquired via Toronto Sun, July 2, 2010 – The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) recently set up a drug sting operation called “Project Ocaper” that was meant to track down Peruvian drug dealers. What the RCMP discovered was that a fellow RCMP officer stole a brick of fake cocaine along with various other confiscated goods.

Drugs in Bag

Constable Sheldon Cook was found guilty of stealing one brick of fake cocaine and 21 MP3 players from a police building. Cook stole the fake drugs and the MP3 players while he was on duty. What Cook did not know was that RCMP police had filled numerous bags with flour and GPS tracking devices in order to arrest Peruvian drug dealers. When the drug shipment arrived at a Toronto airport (inside boxes of mangoes), police began to track the shipment.

While the GPS trackers that were inside of the fake cocaine shipment stopped working for two days, police were able to track the fake cocaine once the devices began working again. RCMP found the GPS trackers inside of a shipment that was inside of Cook’s home. Cook told a Toronto court that he had been framed by his fellow police officers, though he was found guilty. Cook will be sentenced in Toronto on August 5, 2010.

While the GPS trackers that were inside of the fake cocaine shipment did not work at first (for unknown reasons), the two trackers eventually led police to Cook’s home. Without the help of the GPS tracking devices, Cook would not have been apprehended. The Toronto court that heard Cook’s case did not believe that Cook had been set up by his co-workers. Instead, Judge Casey Hill found that Cook has acted alone when he stole both the fake cocaine and the MP3 players.

Does the Use of GPS Systems Compromise Your Privacy?

July 9th, 2010

The obvious answer to this question is ‘yes.’ The implementation of GPS Tracking devices has long been at the forefront of privacy discussions. In fact, there are real dangers that are inherent if the motivation behind their use ever turns to illegal practices. Even some well-intentioned people allow a measure of privacy invasions to accomplish their goals.

GPS & Privacy Risk

That is why you should recognize the risks and know how to protect your privacy and rights. Here are the things that you should be aware of regarding this topic.

Using GPS Enabled Cell Phones Compromises Your Privacy

Turning on the feature that you want to use to track your kids in turn makes them vulnerable to outside tracking. The simple fact that the smartphone is available on the cell system as a GPS device makes it open to attention by prying eyes. Think before you decide to use it, and then turn the GPS part off (if you can) once you are finished with it.

Your Privacy Can be Breached by Tracking Your Vehicle(s)

Tracking devices can be attached to your cars or trucks without your knowing. These can be the passive types of trackers, or active ones that show in real-time where you are going and the location of your vehicle. If you suspect that this is the case, you can perform a thorough inspection of your car to see if there is a device attached.

Your Rights are Secondary to Existing Laws

We all know how important our right to privacy is these days, but it is a simple fact that they are getting trampled upon more and more. Those who choose to track you can submit any evidence that they obtain in a court of law and it is accepted as factual. There are those who have tried to prohibit this from happening with no success. Even though you are supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty, it doesn’t always work that way.

Tracking is Done Without Your Knowledge or Permission

As mentioned before, you can be tracked without your knowing. Permission is not required for using GPS Tracking devices for those in the general public. Private investigators have turned to using them for their own purposes. Police are required to get a court order before using them, but that does not always happen, either.

Tracking is Occurring Right Now

The GPS signals are everywhere and are difficult to avoid. It is difficult for them to penetrate some buildings, but some systems also use cellular signals to assist. On-going tracking is occurring right now for various uses.

Just knowing that they exist can help you navigate the world of gps tracking. Don’t forget that use of gps tracking devices is assisting our courts in monitoring criminals given access to the outside world. The use of these devices is varied and becoming more commonplace. Knowing your rights of privacy is important. We will try to keep you updated in this area. Bookmark this blog and stay “in-the-know”!