Wi-Fi technology was introduced to us approximately 20 years ago. Today, pretty much no matter where in the world you go apart from the most remote places, there is some form of wireless internet, with billions of people accessing it every day for work, social media, shopping, banking and everything else. However, like most things, wireless Internet comes at a risk. That’s where Wi-Fi security comes in. Wireless security, which includes encryption algorithms and other security protocols to protect data sent over Wi-Fi networks, plays a vital role in our internet-obsessed society. Wi-Fi security is one of the main preventive measures to help mitigate cybercrime.

At VALKYRIE (GB) LIMITED, we educate our internal staff about the constant attack vector. This morning we set up a pineapple in one of the rooms and named it ‘Super-Fast Free WiFi’. We had a few people connect, and after this exercise, we gave them a brief overview of what had happened and what to do to mitigate the risk. Again, awareness is critical, as per all our previous posts on the subject. If you don’t know the threats, how do you prevent them from happening?

A quick reminder of the basics from Gurpreet Thathy our Director of Cyber Security and Electronic Counter Measures

1. Make sure you’re connecting to the right network. If you don’t know it, don’t connect to it
2. Try not to use public WiFi better to use your mobile network (e.g. 4/5G), and if you do, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your data
3. If you wouldn’t say the information in public, then don’t send it in public. Always consider what you’re sending and if you have done as much as you can to protect against the risks

The client specifically wanted their surveillance team tested in response to a short notice tasking including planning, action on target and reporting.

Based on the client’s requirement, we conducted a day’s classroom based refresher training followed by a day’s on the ground activity involving several scenarios that they had to react to. It was an excellent two days with the classroom work taking place at our office in Belgrave Square and the exercise spread over several locations in and around London.

The team thoroughly enjoyed the package, the hot weather didn’t deter their enthusiasm and the feedback was great. The accompanying image is a few examples of the end product achieved by the team.

If you have a requirement for similar training, please get in touch – E: security@valkyrie.co.uk | T:  +44 (0) 2074 999 323

Have a great weekend and enjoy the sun!

Originally designed by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Battersea Power Station was built in two stages which externally form a seamless and near symmetrical whole, but internally are designed in two distinct styles. Battersea A, which completed in 1935 is in the Art Deco style prevalent at that time, while Battersea B, which completed in 1955, reflects the post war austerity with its industrial utilitarian design.

At their peak, the iconic turbines supplied a fifth of London’s electricity, including some of the capital’s most recognisable addresses such as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. The Power Station was fully decommissioned in 1983.

As a child, I remember walking around the derelict area and to me, it felt dark and depressing.  Now, however, the redevelopment is amazing and has created a significant boost to the UK economy, craftsmanship and suppliers have been sourced from all corners of the country as part of the Power Station’s restoration. Thousands of jobs have been created for the construction and design industries as part of the building’s restoration, and over 2,500 jobs will be created once the Power Station opens to the public this autumn.

The transformation of the site is truly amazing.  We would certainly recommend a visit, especially as there is now a new Underground Station that serves the power station via the Northern Line!

Festival season is upon us, which means travel, tents and hopefully the time of your life. But how can you keep your valuables safe when you’re dancing the night away in your wellies.

Here at Valkyrie we thought it would be a good idea to remind you how to stay safe during these events:

• Leave unnecessary valuables at home. Take very little worth stealing. Keeping your belongings safe
• Try taking nothing more than your phone, your debit card and your ID (if you’re lucky enough to get asked your age) and keep it with you in a small waterproof bag/cover
• Take an additional power pack with you for your phone to ensure it stays charged
• Try to avoid taking large sums of cash with you, instead use the machines on site or check in advance if traders will take card payments
• Some festivals now run ‘cashless’, allowing you to load your wristband with credit in advance. Check with your event if this is available and load up before you go
• Consider utilising a secure locker – some festival now provide lockers to protect your personal belongings from theft. These can usually be booked in advance and are open 24 hours a day, so you can access them anytime at the festival
• When you go to sleep, put your valuables in your sleeping bag with you or in your pockets
• Beware of pick pockets and don’t keep valuables exposed whilst in crowds. It’s better to keep them in secure inside pockets, attached to you, or in a bumbag/money belt
• If you do have your valuables stolen, report it immediately to the security staff. If you’re eligible to claim on your insurance, you’ll need a police report. Before you go to any festival check what your home insurance and travel insurance cover
• Never leave valuable items in your tent when you are not there. Thieves often unzip tents or cut holes in them to grab things that are easily accessible
• Stay in contact with your friends, consider using the ‘buddy-buddy system’, where you look out for a friend, and they look out for you. Organise a time and meeting place with your buddy in case you get lost or want to go off to see different things.  Don’t always rely on your phone, as your battery may go flat, or you may have no signal, or the network may become overloaded
• Stay aware of your surroundings and situationally aware, keep an eye out for aggressive behaviour from other and avoid, remove yourself from aggressive situations as well. Try to avoid getting into arguments, fights or altercations
• Know your alcohol limits – you don’t need to stay completely sober, but you should avoid getting totally drunk. Being intoxicated can be dangerous at festivals, as people may use this to take advantage of you. It’s best to avoid this situation
• Listen to the communication that the festival tells you, they should clearly communicate to you the safety measures they have in place. If you follow their guidelines, you’ll be much safer and reduce the likelihood of being a victim of a crime.

Remain vigilant at all times and in an emergency, always call 999.

If we can be of assistance – E:  Security@valkyrie.co.uk | T: +44 (0) 2074 999 323

In their summer 2022 edition, we feature on page 28 and here is a link to our article:

https://issuu.com/vantagemedialimited/docs/burlingtons_issue9_issuu/28

If you require our services, or would like to know more about Valkyrie, please contact us at security@valkyrie.co.uk or telephone 02074 999 323.

The next stage of fingerprinting doesn’t involve touching anything at all.  So-called contactless fingerprinting technology uses your phone’s camera and image processing algorithms to capture people’s fingerprints. Hold your hand in front of the camera lens, and the software can identify and record all the lines and swirls on your fingertips. This sounds great and futuristic, like something you would see in the Minority Report; however, what does this mean in the real world and, more importantly, the security world?

For starters, providers will not only potentially have access to your data on devices, but they will also now have biological information about you (whether it’s prints or facial recognition). Now we all know password compromise is an issue; however, this will not stop the attacks from occurring but instead increase them. Spoofing a fingerprint has been done many times. My colleague Gurpreet spoke about looking at the swipe pattern in the early days of android, and he was able to figure out using a UV light what direction the swipe was. This was some time ago, so tech has changed, but hopefully, you get my point.

Technology is there to aid us but creating awareness about the pros and cons of technology is the absolute key. If you know the threats, look at ways to protect yourself against them.  If you need any advice, please contact us at security@valkyrie.co.uk or 02074 999 323.

Young minds are so impressionable. With all the social media activity, 24 hours news coverage and the pressures in life, it’s sometimes easy to get lost.

This week, the daughter of our Director of Cyber Security and Electronic Counter Measures, Gurpreet Thathy, asked him what he did at work today, he explained that he did some forensic work and a ‘bug sweep’. Now she is only 6, and said bug sweeps, were looking for ‘ants and spiders’? This clearly made Gurpreet giggle, but ultimately a fair question. Gurpreet then explained to her what it meant. She understood the concept but not why people would want to eavesdrop on other people. Maybe a little too young for the ‘why’ conversation and Gurpreet decided to save it for another day. What made Gurpreet most proud was her inquisitive mind and her interest in what her dad did. After the conversation she decided to brand her dolls house with the Valkyrie brand and said, ‘I want to be like you, Dad’. Brilliant!

Have a great weekend!

As a combined incident the bombing of three Tube trains and a bus resulted in the worst single terrorist atrocity carried out on British soil since the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie – 52 innocent people lost their lives with a further 700 injured. At just after 08:50 three explosions took place on the Underground – 26 people died at Russell Square, 6 at Edgware Road and 7 at Aldgate. Almost an hour later, a fourth device was set off on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square, killing 13.

As a servicing police officer I personally remember the day vividly. My police colleagues and I were directly involved in the immediate investigation of this tragic event.  However, I had to leave early as my wife was caught up in the attack on the bus at Tavistock Square, thankfully she only received minor injuries

Here at Valkyrie, we would like to remember everyone affected by these awful events.