Proof Smart Meters Are Being Used to Spy On Us
By Andrew Puhanic
theintelhub.com
September 24, 2012
IF you have ever wondered if your smart meter is being used to spy on you, well now there is proof that governments and private organisations are using data collected from smart meters to spy on you.
Information about power usage, which can be used to identify when a home is being occupied, is being shared with third parties of which includes government agencies, private organisations and off-shore data processing centres.
This unethical breach of privacy was discovered on the website of one of Australia’s largest electricity retailer, Origin Energy.
Electricity customers, who sign up for an online service that provides the account holder with detailed information about their electricity usage, are unwillingly agreeing to share their private information with third parties.
A 496 word Privacy/Consent policy form explicitly states that customers who wish to sign up for the service that provides them with information about their electricity usage, must agree that the following organisations have access to their private data:
- Government authorities
- Electricity installers
- Mail houses
- Data processing analysts
- IT service providers
- Smart energy technology providers
- Debt collection agencies
- Credit reporting agencies
A spokesperson for the electricity company (Origin Energy) responsible for this revelation was recently quoted as saying “the additional information requested about each household adds to the richness of the Origin Smart experience” (Source: The Age).
One private organisation that is being given personal information of Origin Energy customers is Tendril, a self-described consumer engagement application and services provider and an organisation that believes smart grids can help fight climate change.
Alarmingly, Tendril’s own website doesn’t explicitly state how it uses data gathered by its clients and for what purposes the data can and cannot be used for.
What implication this has for Australian residents is unknown.
There has been an overwhelming opposition to the roll-out and installation of smart meters around the world.
Smart Meter opt-out coalitions are present in almost all major municipalities that have smart meters present. Unfortunately, in many municipalities an opt-put option is not available.
The author (Andrew Puhanic) was forced to have a smart meter installed on his property, with the only notice given about the installation being a letter informing the ‘month’ that the smart meter would be installed.
The greatest concern with smart meter data being shared with third parties is the fact that the third-party organisation could easily identify (over time) a pattern of when you do and do not use electricity.
This information could fall into the wrong hands and could be used to determine when your home is un-occupied.
In Australia, the erosion of privacy was escalated further by a new proposal to force internet and telephone companies to retain customer records for more than two years. For more information about this proposal, click here.
Households that are forced to have smart meters installed must be assured that the information their electricity company collects is not shared with third parties.
Ultimately, smart meters are designed to collect information about household electricity usage and now there is proof that electricity companies are openly sharing information collected by smart meters.
So what happens when a tyrannical government or criminal has access to your electricity usage records?
This article originally appeared on the Globalist Report
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Related articles/videos:
- Stop Smart Meters: The Film
- Citizens Rally in Vancouver to Stop Smart Meters
- SmartMeters send almost 10,000 signals a day
- Woman Defends Property Against Smart Meter Invasion
- Power Company to Customer: Smart Meter or No Power at All
Prof. Earl Lee interview – “Magic Mushroom Cults of the Dead” – #153 – Gnostic Media [audio]
by Jan Irvin
Gnostic Media
October 11, 2012
This episode is an interview with Prof. Earl Lee, titled “Magic Mushroom Cults of the Dead” and is being released on Thursday, October 11, 2012. My interview with Earl was recorded on October 04, 2012.
Earl’s new book is From the Bodies of the Gods, Psychoactive Plants and the Cults of the Dead – As Revealed in Pagan, Hebrew, Minoan, and Christian Traditions.
The origins of modern religion in human sacrifice, ritual cannibalism, visionary intoxication, and the Cult of the Dead – Explores ancient practices of producing sacred hallucinogenic foods and oils from the bodies of the dead for ritual consumption and religious anointing – Explains how these practices are deeply embedded in the symbolism, theology, and sacraments of modern religion, specifically Christianity and the Eucharist – Documents the rites of Cults of the Dead from the prehistoric Minoans on Crete to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Hebrews to early and medieval Christian sects such as the Cathars Long before the beginnings of civilization, humans have been sacrificed and their flesh used to produce sacred foods and oils for use in religious rites. Originating with the sacred harvest of hallucinogenic mushrooms from the corpses of shamans and other holy men, these acts of ritual cannibalism and visionary intoxication are part of the history of all cultures, including Judeo-Christian ones, and provided a way to commune with the dead. These practices continued openly into the Dark Ages, when they were suppressed and adapted into the worship of saintly bones–or continued in secret by a few “heretical” sects, such as the Cathars and the Knights Templar. While little known today, these rites remain deeply embedded in the symbolism, theology, and sacraments of modern religion and bring a much more literal meaning to the church’s “Holy Communion” or symbolic consumption of the body and blood of Christ. Documenting the sacrificial, cannibalistic, and psychoactive sacramental practices associated with the Cult of the Dead from the prehistoric Minoans on Crete to the ancient Egyptians and Hebrews and onward to early and medieval Christian sects, Earl Lee shows how these religious rites influenced the development of Western religion. In particular, he reveals how Christianity originated with Jesus’s effort to restore the sacred rites of Moses, including the Marzeah, or Feast for the Dead. Examining the connections between these rites and the mysterious funeral of Father Sauniere in Rennes-le-Chateau, the author explains why the prehistoric Cult of the Dead has held such power over Western civilization, so much so that its echoes are still heard today in our literature, film, and arts
Born in Rockford, Illinois (just west of Chicago) Earl has lived in Arkansas, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Kansas. He has a B.A. from Lyon College, a Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas, and a Master’s in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He currently holds the rank of University Professor and works at Pittsburg State University in Kansas. The rank of University Professor is a distinction awarded to only five professors a year.
Earl has written extensively in areas of Freethought and Censorship. His articles have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including an article on textbook censorship in the bestselling anthology: You Are Being Lied To.
His recent books include From the Bodies of the Gods, and he recently co-authored a SciFi novel– The Hour of Lead: A Novel of Kansas and Other Alternative Realities.
Currently he is working on a werewolf novel, along with a variety of horror stories, parodies, and erotica. His horror fiction is often graphic and always literate. You can find him at:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12343180-from-the-bodies-of-the-gods
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:59:03 — 68.3MB)
Romney Rep. Bob McDonnell Reluctantly Anti-NDAA [video]
We Are Change
October 17, 2012
Follow Sierra @ http://twitter.com/sierra_adamson
Republican Governor Bob McDonnell and representative for Romney during the Presidential debates, spoke to Sierra Adamson about his state of Virginia nullifying the NDAA. There will more interesting videos coming from the spin room on this channel, so don’t forget to subscribe to WeAreChange. We release as many videos as we can every Monday through Thursday
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Worm spreading on Skype IM installs ransomware
by Steven Musil
CNET News
October 8, 2012
A malicious worm spreading through Skype instant messages threatens to take control of a victim’s machine and hold its contents for ransom.
The issue, which was first brought to light Friday by GFI, tricks users into downloading a ZIP file by displaying the socially-engineered message, “lol is this your new profile pic?” along with a link that also spreads the message to other Skype users. The ZIP filed contains an executable file that installs a variant of the Dorkbot worm and creating a backdoor via “Blackhole,” an exploit kit used by criminals to infect computers through security holes.
The backdoor allows a remote attacker to take control of the machine and install the ransomware, a malicious application that locks the user out of the computer via password or encryption and demands a payment, or ransom, in exchange for its contents. This particular strain demands a payment of $200 within 48 hours or risk having their files deleted.
[hat tip: Mile High Liberty Radio]
Israeli terror drones pound besieged Gaza Strip
An Israeli Heron TP, also known as the IAI Eitan, drone ([PressTV] file photo)
October 17, 2012
Early on Wednesday, five remote-controlled Israeli assassination drones fired missiles at targets in the northern part of Gaza, injuring two people.
On Sunday, two people were killed and three others injured when Israeli fighter jets struck targets in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military frequently bombs the Gaza Strip, saying the actions are being conducted for defensive purposes. However, disproportionate force is always used, in violation of international law, and civilians are often killed or injured.
Gaza has been blockaded since 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.
The apartheid regime of Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages, and adequate healthcare and education.
MP/HGL
Israel Did Not React To The Drone – Resistance Girl [video]
108morris108
October 18, 2012
Hezbollah’s defiance grows stronger everyday. What other surprises does it have? And Hezbollah supporters ask where are the Arab Regimes with all their billions of $ of weapons, this is a message of the drone. There are Arabs that are not pawns.
Resistance Girl is at http://twitter.com/Amani_Lebanon
Obama Rep. Schultz on The NDAA and Secret Kill List [video]
We Are Change
October 17, 2012
Follow Luke @ http://www.twitter.com/lukewearechange
At the second Presidential debate at Hofstra University, Luke Rudkowski got a chance to talk to Obama’s representative congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The spin room lived up to its name as both Obama and Romney representatives dodged questions from WeAreChange after the debates. There will more interesting videos coming from the spin room on this channel, so don’t forget to subscribe to WeAreChange. We release as many videos as we can every Monday through Thursday.
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