The Department of Defense warned U.S. contractors today about a new espionage threat: Canadian coins that contain tiny radio frequency transmitters. Apparently, three U.S. contractors were found to have such coins planted on them as they passed through Canada between October 2005 and January 2006.
Interestingly, the CIA acknowledges it has used American coins in the past to transmit data and film. Makes you wonder why all this is coming out now. It has also been noted that the transmission range could not be more than a few feet, which raises some questions. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Canada's spy agency says it had nothing to do with it (did you know they had spies? Yeah, sure, they look all friendly...)
The lesson is clear: carrying coins is a security risk. Next time you are in Starbucks and your pockets are jingling, fill up the tip jar and don't look back. It's your patriotic duty.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Penny for your thoughts
Posted by Dr. Strangelove at 12:03 PM
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5 comments:
Is this why Chinese coins have a hole in the middle?
// posted by LTG
So does one of the Norwegian Kroner. Watch our for the Norwegians. They are probably working for the Finns. And we all know who the Finns work for.
And you guys thought those ridges in the quarters were so blind people could find them. Ha.
// posted by USWest
The ridges are there so historically they can't be shaved or clipped, but of course they're not made of precious metals anymore.
// posted by LTG
Canadian spy coins? This sounds like the kind of thing only a state government would be able to pull off. So who's doing it? The Russians, Chinese or Israelis?
// posted by RBR
For those of you keeping score, the LA Times reports today that the Department of Defense has retracted its initial claims, now saying the release was an error and the allegations of spy coins had never been substantiated.
I cannot decide if this makes the initial report more or less credible.
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