May 31, 2012

Password Security



One thing many of people tend to overlook is their own personal information security. Is your home computer password easy to guess? Why? Is your phone code only 4 digits? Why? (Did you know the police may search your phone without a warrant if they can crack the passcode? But it's not only them, it's the guy who "finds" the phone when you leave it sitting on the bench right beside you.)

Financial information, personal data, private photographs... Most of us now have these things in our pockets and secure them with a simple 4-digit code. Think about it.

When you get serious about securing your data, go on over here and check out this tool. Put in your passwords (or, for the really paranoid, put in something that isn't one of your passwords but follows the same type of pattern) and it'll predict how long, given modern technology, that password would take to crack. Standard type password like your dog's name? (Let's try Rover.) Less than a day to crack it.

By the way, the best way to create a strong password? Pick a phrase. Take the first letter of each word. Capitalize some and replace others with other characters that are similar (and thus easy to remember). Add something to the end to make it specific to the site where you use it.

So, for example: My name is Redneck and I hunt fugitives. First letters: MniRaIhf. A couple are already capitalized, so now just a few substitutions: Mn!RaIh4. Let's see what that tool says about that one. [inputs it] Well, the tool says it'll take 110 years to crack that one. See the difference?

Secure your information, people. It really isn't that hard.

- Redneck

May 30, 2012

3EIFRU - The Best Of The Best

Its been several months working with the crew perfecting our training regiment, the reason being for all this repetitious training is trying to create a safe "pocket" in the danger zone that we working in on a nightly basis. If anyone recalls a couple of weeks ago or a month or so two "bounty hunter bothers" working out of Bakersfield were shot and killed in the attempt of arresting a fugitive, this is what are crew is trying to prevent and being the dangerous job that we have its crucial that we train without fail to prevent that from happening to anyone else. I have several years in combat situations in different countries stretching from Somalia, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, and I learned no matter what you know or do its a strong team unit that pulls you through and the training behind it. I believe in 3EIFRU to be the best of the best in this field because our crew has the best Vets in this company, we watch each others backs and no matter what everyone is coming back alive.

May 27, 2012

Training today...

Good training today... Trained for about 4 hrs revisiting and introducing to the newbies, Knucklehead and Blow, stacking, approach on a house, room clearing, take downs, etc. Its ALWAYS important to not get complacent in your training... I know I always say this... But, you just can't say it enough. You can never train one aspect to much... Its ALWAYS important to revisit every aspect of fugitive apprehension... It's like weight training, training 3 days per week... In a given week, you would maybe train chest, biceps, and shoulders one day... back, triceps, and abs another day... and legs and cardio another... (hypothetically speaking) Given that information, you're training each body part once per week... however, you revisit that same body part the following week... and again, and again in weeks to come in order to gain strength and size... This is similar to that of training in Fugitive Recovery... It's extremely important to continue to train all aspects on a regular basis, in order to get better and better to stay at the top of your game..!

Remember... LIVES ARE AT STAKE.!!!

Happy training,
MD

May 24, 2012

A Training Sesh With 3EIFRU

At 3:30 we were called to the Hideout (HQ) to meet a potential new crew member, This is where we met Knucklehead (call sign) a former marine and green as they come but Redneck says the kid has potential, and I keep asking myself "potential for what?," I mean we already have one jar head we're trying to get rid of (Redneck) lol! is like having 2 thumbs up your ass, I mean one is painful enough why try another up there. I'm kidding for those of you that don't know me well enough, I am an army DS.
Training consisted of showing the new kid how to manipulate his sidearm, procedures on contact and cover and handcuff protocol. All in all its always great to practice the fundamentals even though we've ran through this a millions times its always good rule of thumb to keep doing this until we can't get it wrong.

    Weds Training

    Ran the crew through some basic training yesterday. Mainly wanted to have them work with two newbies we're bringing into 3EI and 3EIFRU. Worked on some basic weapons drawing, speed and tac reloads and weapons malfunctions. not difficult stuff but stuff that needs to be known in the streets. Going to work on residential assaults and tac med this upcoming Sunday. Will try to post pics via our 3EI Facebook Page

    May 23, 2012

    Training... Training... and more Training..!

    Here at 3EIFRU, we can't stress enough about the importance of TRAINING!!! This alone sets our Team apart from each and every one of our peers. 3EIFRU trains continously, honing our skills to the point where it becomes second nature. Often times in this business, FRA's become complaceant in their skills... and that becomes DEADLY.!! Lives are at stake here people.!! Take pride in what you do.!! Set time out for you, your team, etc and train the fundamentals. IT JUST MIGHT SAVE A LIFE!!! Many thanks to our families, friends, peers and most of all... our FANS for your continued support.!! Here's to making our world a better place.!! Many thank! MD

    May 21, 2012

    3EIFRU coming on a TV near you.!!!

    Yes, people... You heard right..! We're on our way to reaching one of many goals in the 3EIFRU family. We've got word back that we have a few Major Networks interested in our talents on the screen. Our dream of sharing our talents and what we do to assist in the betterment of our world we all share, with our families, friends and most of all... our FANS!!! We wouldn't have made it this far without the love and support of you all!!! We thank each and every one of you for that!!! We can only ask that you continue to support us throughout this journey! Many thanks! Mad Dogg

    This and That, just dropping facts!

    I guess 3EI is blowing up like I knew we would, it took a minute but now is the time to get this started and show the world how great we really are. So far 2 networks have shown interest and the rest are right behind them eagerly rushing to show their interest as well, remember networks, the longer you wait the longer it'll take for the viewers to see how bad ass we are and your ratings will stay the same. 
    The crew (Rebel, Nacho and myself Reaper) have been continuously thinking of ways to better our team, checking to see that every angle of safety is visible to us when we do our work, we are starting our med-tac training soon and I have a solid history in the medic fielding seeing as I worked as a EMT-P for several years, this is to insure that all the team members in 3EIFRU is safe and will receive the fastest prehospital attention is the situation arises. 
    Make sure you guys keep your eyes open for a channel lineup of 3EI coming to a channel near you.   
    Does your team do Med-Tac training? 

     

    There's more to this field of work than carrying around a weapon and putting handcuffs on people. Training is the key to success. The hard part is finding out what kind of things you should be doing for training. For example we are doing Med-Tac training this coming sunday, a great thing to know not only for work but in general. Knowledge never hurt anybody did it? Imagine this scenario... You kick in a door clear a house with no incident. Your defendant is present and hes cuffed and ready for transport. A car pulls up and starts shooting at the house you're in. You have 2 guys down in the front yard. If you have no medical trainig at all, not only do you not have an outer perimiter for security anymore you now have two Agents with potentially fatal wounds unprotected in the front yard. That Med training you had the chance to do but skipped out on could have been what saved their lives. It is a proven fact in the Military that somewhere around 65% of combat related deaths could have been avoided from  Vietnam until now. I'm not an expert on this subject but from what I was told while I was taking the Army Combat Life Saver course is that most of those deaths occured because nobody knew how to treat that small wound that bled for 15 minutes. Or how to seal a wound off so it doesn't get infected. This is good stuff to know. But go ahead skip out on training your guys. Sitting on your ass is more important. Or you can always call us and well train them.

    -REBEL-

    Proper Trigger Control

    Here's a very insightful piece from the blog Loadout Room explaining a problem many of us have never considered. Here's the Cliff's Notes version:

    When a firearms instructor shows a new shooter the sight picture diagram, it is critical they explain that this is a Platonic ideal.  The shooter will never see that static image.  Frequently, the shooter feels that, as they briefly see the perfect sight picture in the diagram, they must “freeze” it.  They use the trigger like the shutter button on a camera.  This is ultimately self defeating.  You can’t pull the trigger fast enough to catch the image.  The result is a trigger jerk which moves the barrel off the target.
     Just read the whole thing.

    - Redneck

    iPhone Hacks

    I get calls all the time from clients and potential clients asking if their phones have been bugged or hacked. It is a really difficult task of determining these types of situations. These may be a bit of helpful information for those of you who have the same questions.

    iPhone Hacker Tool Steals Data from Jailbroken Phones






    Researchers at Mac security firm Intego have uncovered a new tool hackers can use to steal data from jailbroken Apple iPhones. The tool leverages the same default password issue as the ikee worm targeting iPhone users in Australia.

    Security researchers have found a new tool targeting users of jailbroken iPhones.
    On the heels of the discovery of a worm targeting jailbroken iPhones in Australia, security researchers at Intego now say they have detected a program known as iPhone/Privacy.A that hackers can use to swipe personaldata.
    The program does not get installed on the iPhone, but instead is a tool a hacker can install on any computer running Mac OS X, Windows, Linux or Unix. An attacker can use it to scan a wireless network for jailbroken iPhones and then exploit the same default SSH password issue leveraged by the ikee worm.
    “When connecting to a jailbroken iPhone, this tool allows a hacker to silently copy a treasure trove of user data from a compromised iPhone: e-mail, contacts, SMSs, calendars, photos, music files, videos, as well as any data recorded by any iPhone app,” according to the Intego advisory. “Unlike the ikee worm, which signals its presence by changing the iPhone's wallpaper, this hacker tool gives no indication that it has invaded an iPhone.”
    Unlike the ikee worm, which announced itself by changing the wallpaper once it was installed, this new tool does nothing to indicate to the iPhone user that their device has been compromised, Intego warns.
    “While it is not possible to protect the iPhone from this hacker tool - it does not install anything on an iPhone – VirusBarrier X5 can ensure that Macs, especially in businesses, are protected from this hacker tool being installed,” according to Intego. “We would like to stress that users who jailbreak their iPhones are exposing themselves to known vulnerabilities that are being exploited by code that is circulating in the wild.”
    However, the easy solution to this for those who want to jailbreak their iPhones is to change their root password. Instructions on how to do that can be found here.
    “The advice is loud and clear: if you jailbreak your iPhone, don't leave the default root password as "alpine" or you're asking for trouble," Graham Clulely, senior technology consultant at Sophos, told eWEEK.

    Working on this week

    Monday, start of a new week. Lots happening. Have a few skips in that we need to get back in the tank. Also, just picked up a few new PI cases and a meeting this week with the well-known C-Man. Have to get the crew orientated on some new projects as well.

    Also, trying to build up some business in the Alabama and MS markets.

    Standby for Breach

    May 18, 2012

    Update



    As has been mentioned, Third Echelon Investigations (Protective Division) is now handling the exterior security for four of Denver's most exclusive nightclubs. Ronin and Shadow (AKA, sometimes, Bacchus) closed that deal last week, and plans are in development to take over the interior security, as well as several other clubs located in Alabama. These are not "bouncers" we're putting in these places, they're trained and equipped security officers with the knowledge and experience to handle problems with the appropriate amount of force, if any, and to act to prevent problems before they happen.


    We'll be heading up to Bakersfield on Monday to track down another skip. It's been a dry spell while we concentrated on other business, but now it's time to ramp up the Fugitive Recovery Unit again. I know all the guys are looking forward to it.


    The show is looking good, with a couple major networks expressing interest. Fuck you, DOG, we're coming for you! We're better than you at the business, and we'll be better on TV too!

    - Redneck

    Tips for PI's


    Working as a private investigator is a fascinating but endlessly challenging occupation. In this article I have set out ten top tips that may make life a little easier for those new to the profession.
    1. On surveillance operations, take something to fill the long hours when nothing is happening but you don't want to fall asleep. Books and newspapers provide cover, but have the drawback you might find them so interesting you forget to concentrate on the job in hand. Cassette tapes, either music or spoken word, can be the best solution.
    2. Always have plenty of spare cash with you so that you don't risk waiting for change when you need to get somewhere quickly. Take plenty of banknotes, too, in case you want to buy information or bribe your way out of an awkward situation.
    3. An investigator’s best ally is a good lawyer. In good times he (or she) can be a steady source of work and practical day-to-day help, and in bad times -- e.g. when you are accused of breaking the law -- he may be able to offer support and legal representation. It can make sense to initiate a straightforward barter arrangement where parties exchange advice and skills in line with a simple debit/credit running total. Obviously, before trying to set up such an arrangement, ensure you like and feel comfortable with the solicitor concerned.
    4. Similarly, it pays to get on the right side of the local police. PIs who are former officers will have an advantage here, of course. Although officially to the police you are simply just another member of the public, as they get to know and (hopefully) respect you, they may sometimes be willing to pass on the benefit of their knowledge and experience. Despite the prickly relationship between the police and private investigators often depicted in TV dramas, much of the time your interests will coincide, and it's therefore in everyone’s interests to co-operate. In addition, the police themselves sometimes engage private investigators -- another reason to establish a good working relationship with them.
    5. Perhaps more controversially, it can also help to have contacts on the other side of the law. One PI who specializes in security work says his best friend is a convicted housebreaker who points out weak spots in properties which burglars could benefit from, reveals the latest 'word on the street', and much more. Obviously it is wrong to fraternize with known criminals for dubious purposes, but sometimes their 'professional' expertise can be undeniably helpful.
    6. While they will never entirely replace cameras, a camcorder can be a useful tool for a PI to possess. They can be used for a wide range of purposes, from gathering evidence in a divorce case to taking pictures of a child, believed to have been abducted, for the mother to identify. Modern camcorders are little larger than ordinary cameras. They can be concealed beneath a coat or in a handbag and brought out to be used without attracting undue attention. You might also consider having one fitted in your car. As well as gathering evidence, a camcorder here can provide useful information that isn't always obvious to the naked eye. It is also invaluable if you are driving but still want to keep a permanent eye on your subject.
    7. Another tool well worth the modest investment required is a pocket torch or flashlight. This is obviously essential when working at night or in darkened rooms. A compact model will do, but always have plenty of back-up batteries on hand. As well as providing illumination, a flashlight can be used to dazzle an assailant or even in the last resort as a weapon. Some have built-in defence mechanisms such as sirens and sprays designed to immobilise an attacker.
    8. Like private individuals, the investigator can use reasonable force in some instances, such as when threatened or to safeguard other people whose lives and property are endangered. The force must be appropriate to the degree of danger and its imminence, however. So if you are hired to watch for trespassers over a piece of land it might be acceptable to approach and warn such individuals, but it will almost certainly be wrong to threaten violence against them.
    9. Libel and slander laws cover the investigator as much as any other private individual and must be considered at all times, both in verbal and written communications. Be sure of the accuracy of everything you say, do and write.
    10. Remember that, while a degree of subterfuge may be necessary from time to time, you should always aim to remain on the right side of the law. One thing you should never do is impersonate a police officer, as this is always illegal and regarded as a serious offense.

    California's Penal Code 1299 Repealed


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    As of January 1st 2010, Penal Code 1299 also known as the Bail Fugitive Recovery Persons Act is no longer in effect. The law that was enacted in 1990 was passed in order to set training standards and requirements for individuals who wanted to become Bounty Hunters in California. What does this all mean? Well if your already a bounty hunter and 1299 compliant this doesn't affect you at all, but if you are a person who did not have the training required by Penal Code 1299, then you no longer need the training certifications specified in 1299 . This also means that there are no longer any requirements like age or criminal history. This law was an important part of the Bail Enforcement industry, and to many already in the field it is a law that they strongly feel should be renewed because of the amount of serious problems that may arise with individuals working in bail recovery who do not have the training or knowledge to safely recover a fugitive.

    NOTE: 3EI will not hire nor work with anyone with less than formal training. Just because the law says you're of means nothing to 3EI............................... and 3EI does perform it's own BG checks.

    3EI and 3EIFRU Hiring

    We're looking for operator types, based in central Los Angeles, Baltimore, Washington DC, Birmingham and Montgomery Alabama, Jackson Mississippi and select areas of Montana. If you've got the stones and are willing to grow and be a part of this thing of ours, contact info@thirdechelonpi.com.

      Back to LA From Denver and on to TV

      So returned from Denver, CO. Locked down that security contract we have been working on and now it's on to the happs in LA. Meetings have been going on in NYC in regards to 3EI's upcoming TV show. Have a network already vying for it! A well known one you should know. I've got the crew making preparations for this thing as it is a big f'ing deal. Remember our Production Company is GRB out of LA. Creators of First 48, Intervention and other award winning television shows, so you know 3EI will be a hit.

      Stay tuned bitches

      May 11, 2012

      Leaving Denver next week and headed back to Los Angeles, meetings with GRB and TV network Executives coming up. Looks like show is moving forward an we should have it all signed up and ready to go by the end of June..............POW! Proprio Sulla Bocca!!!
      So we've taken over security at some of nightclubs in Downtown Denver this week and today starts our physical take over. We are also attempting to do the same in Birmingham and Montgomery Alabama with the assistance of Lonna Garewal and Terry Kemp.

      Watch people...................

      May 5, 2012

      Signs of Cheating

      46 Clues Your Partner is Having an Affair
      Some may apply some may not, either way you can call us
      Some of these signs of cheating are "tongue in cheek" while others are tell-tale signs that commonly appear with a cheating husband or cheating wife.
      1) You find birth-control pills in her medicine cabinet, and you've had a vasectomy.
      2) Mutual friends start acting strangely toward you. (They either know about the cheating or have been told stories about what a horrible wife or girlfriend you are.)
      3) Your cheating husband or wife stops confiding in you and seeking advice from you.
      4) Sets up a new e-mail account and doesn't tell you about it.
      5) He leaves the house in the morning smelling like Irish Spring and returns in the evening smelling like Safeguard.
      6) She joins the gym and begins a rigorous workout program.
      7) She buys a cell phone and doesn't let you know.
      8) He sets up a separate cell phone account that is billed to his office.
      9) The cheating husband carries condoms, and you are on the pill.
      10) Begins to delete all incoming phone calls from the caller ID.
      11) Deletes all incoming e-mails when they used to accumulate.
      12) He becomes "accusatory," asking if you are being true to him, usually out of guilt.
      13) Raises hypothetical questions such as, "Do you think it's possible to love more than one person at a time?"
      14) He buys himself new underwear.
      15) He insists the child seat, toys, etc., are kept out of his car.
      16) The cheating wife stops wearing her wedding ring.
      17) Has a sudden desire to be helpful with the laundry.
      18) Has unexplained scratches or bruises on his or her neck or back.
      19) Suddenly wants to try new love techniques.
      20) He/she fairly suddenly stops having sex with you.
      21) He/she suddenly wants more sex, more often.
      22) Supposedly works a lot of overtime, but it never shows up on the pay stub.
      23) Picks fights in order to stomp out of the house.
      24) You find out by accident he or she took vacation day or personal time off from work - but supposedly worked on those days.
      25) Shows a sudden interest in a different type of music.
      26) Spouse's co-workers are uncomfortable in your presence.
      27) Has a sudden preoccupation with his or her appearance.
      28) Spends an excessive amount of time on the computer, especially after you have gone to bed.
      29) He throws up a lot because he just ate at his mistress's house and had to eat the dinner you prepared when he got home.
      30) Your spouse is away from home, either nights or on trips, more than previously.
      31) His/her clothes smell of an unfamiliar perfume or after-shave. You see lipstick on your husband's shirt.
      32) The amount of money being deposited into your checking account drops off.
      33) You find items of intimate apparel or other small gift-type items that you did not give your spouse.
      34) Your spouse seems less comfortable around you and is "touchy" and easily moved to anger.
      35) You get calls where the caller hangs up when he or she hears your voice.
      36) He/she loses attention in the activities in the home.
      37) Your intuition (gut feeling) tells you that something is not right.
      38) He/she has a definite change in attitude towards everyone in the home.
      39) She uses a low voice or whisper on the phone or hangs up quickly.
      40) She has a "glow" about her.
      41) Atypical erratic behavior.
      42) He sneaks out of the house.
      43) She sleeps with her purse by the bed
      44) She goes to the store for groceries and comes home 5 hours later.
      45) He tells you can get hold of him at a different telephone number.
      46) The telltale signs of a cheating spouse? Having to ask that question in the first place.

      CEO and VP In Denver

      In Denver, signing deals, running game, starting more biz and scaring 5 year olds!!!!