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| Terror Networks |
| Soldiers need to watch for TrackStick on their Vehicles |
| 2007-01-23 |
| And what clever technology are the bad guys using? They are using a lot of stuff you can buy via the internet. These are items that can assist Islamic terrorists in collecting information, in preparation for attacks. Take, for example, the Trackstick. This looks like a large USB memory stick. Actually it is, but only has a megabit of memory. The rest of the space is taken up by a GPS receiver and a small computer that records where TrackStick has been at 1-15 minute intervals (you choose) for up to a week (on two AAA batteries). Plug the TrackStick into your computer and, using the TrackStick software, you get a map, or a list, of where the TrackStick has been. Googe Earth maps can be used. You could hook the TrackStick up to a transmitter, which would produce a slightly larger package, but one that would send you the current location of the TrackStick. With this simple technology, you can do all sorts of sneaky, or simply practical, things. You don't need a lot of money. TrackSticks cost $240 each, no questions asked (although there is a warning that it's illegal to track someone without their permission.) But if you're on a mission from God, you already have permission. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #10 JFM, I see. I think most terrorists are too stupid and too impatient to use these things. Now an Iranian intel guy using kids to track American units... I can see happening. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-01-23 15:50 |
| #9 DarthVader I expressed myself poorly. A better formulation would have been: if you are unable to prevent your bases against bad guys putting tracksticks on vehicles then you can't prvenet them of placing bombs, or in other terms if your bases are well guarded enough so they can't place bombs then they will have a difficult time placing datasticks. Thus I believe article being quite irrelevant. |
| Posted by: JFM 2007-01-23 10:39 |
| #8 I think the difficult task would be to reclaim the the little gizmo to get the info. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2007-01-23 10:38 |
| #7 I've actually had the email for this thing. It looks cool and it's exactly the sort of thing parents or stalkers might like. Wonder if I ought to take 'em up on the offer to become a distributor... |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2007-01-23 10:15 |
| #6 Yep, pretty soon those terrorists are going to be getting phased-plasma rifle in the forty watt range by mail order. Harumph. First of all, the bad guys have to know what a trackstick is. Then they have to get one to Iraq, by mail order, I guess. But then the hard part happens. Some Iraqi has to sneak up to a US vehicle and plant the thing on board. *And* some time later retrieve it for its information. This matters if the vehicle takes the same route or goes to the same secret destination every day, or at the same time, but how many military vehicles do that? The bottom line is it does not provide information useful to criminals and terrorists, but *does* provide information useful to *our* side, about what *they* are doing. That is exactly the intel policemen want to have. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-01-23 09:46 |
| #5 JFM - You can get patrol patterns, forward OP posts locations, etc. Call in a rocket or morter barrage on the place and set up ambushes. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-01-23 09:28 |
| #4 I wondered when the bad guys would start using this stuff. Pretty much nowdays in Iraq, you find anyone with unusual electronic equipment you arrest them on the spot. If they have guns too, shoot them. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-01-23 09:26 |
| #3 You need to be able to stick it on/under the vehicle. If bad guys are able to put Tracksticks then why not put a bomb instead? |
| Posted by: JFM 2007-01-23 09:26 |
| #2 Note to troops in the field; if you find anybody with a TrapStick, put a slow leak in his heart. You can keep the TrapStick. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2007-01-23 09:22 |
| #1 ...You know, I bet a lot of parents are going to be interested in that thing... Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2007-01-23 09:18 |