PEN LINK
| PEN LINK Ltd |
|---|
| Official Website: http://www.penlink.com |
| Official about page: http://www.penlink.com/About/tabid/123/Default.aspx |
| Country: United States |
| Location: 5936 VanDervoort Drive, Lincoln, NE 68516 |
| Founded: 1987 |
| Business: Live-time Interception, Data Collection/Retention/Database,Recording and Analysis of Intercepted Communications |
| Contact |
| Phone: +1 (402) 421-8857 |
| Fax: +1 (402) 421-9287 |
Contents
Background
Pen-Link is a Privately held company. In September 2007, "Murman sold 30 percent of his stock in the firm to employees, setting up an employee stock ownership program that will allow workers to share in the ownership of the company." Omaha World Tribune
Since 1998, Pen-Link, Ltd. has sponsored the “CALEA Implementation Agent” (CIA) Training. Pen-Link
"In business for over 20 years, Pen-Link, Ltd. provides Law Enforcement and Intelligence agencies with state-of-the-art software and systems for the collection, storage, and analysis of telephonic- and IP-based communications. Pen-Link’s software and systems -- Pen-Link 8, LINCOLN, and Xnet -- are widely recognized as industry standards, with thousands of licensed Law Enforcement and Intelligence users in federal, state, and local agencies worldwide. Pen-Link systems are widely favored because they not only excel at intelligence gathering and live collection, but they also bring to bear a powerful suite of reporting and analytical tools; the type of functionality that is essential in drilling down through today’s extensive data sets to reveal relationships that might otherwise go undetected." -Pen-Link-
Pen-Ink integrates and distributes products with their Tech Partners (listed below). Training/Classes "Agencies can also arrange to have one or more of our trainers visit for an On-Site CATS, PAC, or WIN Class. Let us fire up the Pen-Link jet and head to your site! For more information, contact Dawn at (402) 421-8857. (We don't really have our own Jet, but the picture looks pretty cool, right?)"
One US Court has ruled that a Pen-Link wiretap report was admissible, according to the website news page as it appears below. It is currently unknown to Telecomix Blue cabinet researchers if this court case decision was before the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. Since only one judges name appears, "Honorable Judge Alfred A. Delucchi," we assume it is a lower court decision and not case law.
"Pen-Link Testimony Satisfies Court - Tuesday, March 02, 2004 Press Release from Pen-Link, Ltd., Lincoln, NE. March 2, 2004, 4:30 PM, Central Time
Summary: Mr. Mike Murman and Dr. Kevin Clements, from Pen-Link, Ltd., testified on March 1, 2004, in the case of the People vs. Scott Peterson. Pen-Link, Ltd. is the manufacturer of the LINCOLN System used to tap Peterson's phones. The morning after hearing testimony from Murman and Clements, the Honorable Judge Alfred A. Delucchi issued a ruling to allow the wiretap information into evidence. Murman and Clements are extremely pleased about this ruling."
- The following is an excerpt from a Wired story in 2006 "Crashing the Wiretapper Ball." It is a perfect example of the ongoing lack of accountability that surveillance companies have, regarding the abuse of their products, especially in the hands of tyrants and dictatorships.
"In the bar that night, things got interesting. A group of men associated with the Pen-Link and Lincoln electronic surveillance systems came in. I exchanged small talk with them for a bit, then moved to their table. Although I had identified myself as a journalist, an enthusiastic reseller of the equipment decided to hold forth. We drank a great deal, so I won't name him.
"I'm not much concerned about wiretaps in America and Europe," I'd been saying to one of the Pen-Link engineers, "but I wonder if it bothers you to consider what this technology can do in the hands of repressive governments with no judicial oversight, no independent legislature."
Our man interrupted. "You need to educate yourself," he said with a sneer. "I mean, that's a classic journalist's question, but why are you hassling these guys? They're engineers. They make a product. They don't sell it. What the hell is it to them what anyone does with it?"
"Well, it's quite an issue," I said. "This is the equipment of totalitarianism, and the only things that can keep a population safe are decent law and proper oversight. I want to know what they think when they learn that China, or Syria, or Zimbabwe is getting their hands on it."
"You really need to educate yourself," he insisted. "Do you think this stuff doesn't happen in the West? Let me tell you something. I sell this equipment all over the world, especially in the Middle East. I deal with buyers from Qatar, and I get more concern about proper legal procedure from them than I get in the USA."
"Well, perhaps the Qataris are conscientious," I said, "and I'm prepared to take your word on that, but there are seriously oppressive governments out there itching to get hold of this stuff."
He sneered again. "Do you think for a minute that Bush would let legal issues stop him from doing surveillance? He's got to prevent a terrorist attack that everyone knows is coming. He'll do absolutely anything he thinks is going to work. And so would you. So why are you bothering these guys?"
"It's a valid question," I insisted. "This is powerful stuff. In the wrong hands, it could ruin political opponents; it could make the state's power impossible to challenge. The state would know basically everything. People would be getting rounded up for thought crimes."
"You're not listening," he said. "The NSA is using this stuff. The DEA, the Secret Service, the CIA. Are you kidding me? They don't answer to you. They do whatever the hell they want with it. Are you really that naïve? Now leave these guys alone; they make a product, that's all. It's nothing to them what happens afterward. You really need to educate yourself.""
Products
Monitoring, Collection, Recording, Analysis of Intercepted Communication Products page
Training and Class Descriptions
- Pen 8
"The Pen-Link 8 Software Suite is the most recent release of our industry standard telecommunications intelligence and analysis software. With the latest release, we have built on our long-standing tradition of providing interfaces for all types of telecommunication cases. You will find state-of-the-art reporting and analysis tools in Pen-Link 8, plus many new features that enhance the value of your software investment right out of the box. As soon as you fire it up, you will be amazed at Pen-Link 8's unequaled blend of power, functionality, and ease of use. We are certain you will agree the features offered by Pen-Link 8 are unsurpassed. The capabilities are endless and the support is the best in the industry."
"Some of the biggest enhancements to Pen-Link v8.2 involve new and enhanced monitor roles for monitoring live calls. For example, the enhanced Primary Monitor role allows a user to be a Primary Monitor on multiple Targets simultaneously, and the new Secondary Monitor role allows greater flexibility in distributing human resources. These new and enhanced monitor roles improve the sequence of events that occur when a new call begins."
- LINCOLN Collection System
"LINCOLN provides a complete system solution for any CALEA-based or facilities-based (local loop) approach to electronic surveillance. Our system encompasses hardware, software, and services to meet all of the intercept needs of an LEA.
The core LINCOLN System is built on server hardware and client/server software that is typically run on a Local Area Network (LAN) in the wireroom.
Our LINCOLN product is the LAN server, consisting of a LINCOLN Server Platform (hardware) running LINCOLN 2 Administrative Software.
The client workstations on the LAN run a network installation of Pen-Link software.
The LINCOLN Server is equipped with the hardware necessary to terminate the physical connections of the e interface for any carrier that offers CALEA-compliant delivery. With these connections in place, the LINCOLN System essentially becomes a passive node on the telecommunication carriers’ networks, so that it may receive real-time intercept information delivered by the carriers, for any of the agency’s legally authorized intercepts.
The collection process itself is controlled by the Pen-Link 8 client software, which also offers a suite of unparalleled analytical capabilities."
- LINCOLN Server
"The LINCOLN Server is where all incoming CALEA CDC and CCC connections terminate. LINCOLN routes live call data and call content to the appropriate Pen-Link workstations. In a normal network setting, LINCOLN records all intercepted call content, making multiple redundant copies. The LINCOLN Server also stores all data in Pen-Link’s database, providing central storage for the LAN."
- LINCOLN Access Points (LAP)
"The advancement of CALEA, especially in wireless telephone applications, has caused many of the traditional "tip and ring" technical agents to reduce the number of pen register cases at a state and local law enforcement level because of costs. Furthermore, in order for an analog tech agent to be effective in managing pen, trap & trace, and wiretap investigations, their skills must be centered in computer and networking technology. Unfortunately, for many state and local law enforcement agencies, the costs and perhaps lack of technical skills to conduct CALEA based intercepts has forced them to abandon the use of pen register orders to gain valuable and timely intelligence on the target of an investigation. If your agency has fallen into this category, we are here to let you know that now is the time to get back into the "pen" business. We've developed a cost effective, cooperative law enforcement effort called LINCOLN Access Points (LAP) that will get you back into the "pen" business."
- Pen-Proxy
Current Pen-Proxy features include the NeuStar LEAP Interface, i1020 Cell Tower Database, Real-Time Call Alerts and Precision Location Services. Pen-Proxy lets Pen-Link v8.1 and LINCOLN v2.1 communicate with various "outside" services, routing data to or from these services, providing you with enhanced intelligence and capabilities directly from within Pen-Link.
- New Cell Phone Forensics Autoload
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Imagine this… suppose you’re an investigator on a fugitive case. You know if you can get the number of a wireless phone the fugitive is using, then you would be a huge step closer to tracking him down. The problem is you don’t have the phone number. There are various approaches and investigative techniques to “developing” the needed target phone number. Some such approaches involve the phones of known associates of the fugitive: family, friends, old girlfriend, ex-wife, etc. Suppose you should happen to come into temporary possession of the cell phones of some of these associates, even if only for a brief moment? There are various devices available that, when joined to a cell phone, can extract the different types of data contained in that phone.
Countries using Products
Worldwide, according to their website. Pen-Link has their own jet and will go anywhere to provide their products and training. They also have annual conferences in the USA and Bogata, Columbia.
"Here at Pen-Link, we are dedicated to providing you with the best support and services available, anywhere in the world, for any type of product."
"Latin American Conference Brings New Light to Pen-Link - Wednesday, October 15, 2008
What does Pen-Link plus seventy-five law officials from all over Latin America equal? A success! In July, Pen-Link hosted the first ever Latin American Conference in Bogotá, Colombia. Attendees from countries such as Colombia, Peru, Panamá, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Guatemala gathered to learn about everything new at Pen-Link and brush up on their Pen-Link skills.
Tech & Business Partners
- NAURUS
" NARUS Teams with Pen-Link - Tuesday, June 13, 2006
NARUS TEAMS WITH PEN-LINK TO OFFER INDUSTRY’S MOST POWERFUL INTEGRATED LAWFUL INTERCEPT SOLUTION Strategic Agreement Solution Compliant with Both CALEA VoIP and ETSI Internet Access and E-mail Standards
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—June 13, 2006— Narus, Inc. today announced a strategic agreement with Pen-Link Ltd. to market Narus, Inc’s NarusInsight Intercept Suite (NIS) software in conjunction with Pen-Link’s LINCOLN 2 product collection and reporting solution. These combined best-of-breed technologies will provide the industry’s first lawful intercept solution that is fully compliant with the CALEA T1.678 VoIP standard in the US, as well as the European ETSI TS 102 232/233/234 standards for Internet access and e-mail." see also Blue cabinet/Narus
- SS8
"SS8 Networks Partners with Pen-Link - Monday, February 13, 2006 Partnership combines best-in-class Lawful Intercept platforms to simplify purchase, installation and support of regulatory-compliant implementations
BARCELONA (3GSM WORLD CONGRESS 2006) - FEBRUARY 13, 2006 - SS8 Networks, the leading provider of Lawful Intercept solutions for telecommunications service providers, today announced a global marketing, distribution and support agreement with Pen-Link, Ltd. of Lincoln, Nebraska." see also Blue cabinet/SS8
- NEUSTAR
"NeuStar Interface Being Added to Pen-Link 8.1 - Thursday, June 12, 2008
If you use Pen-Link, chances are you also use NeuStar. Many of you told us that it would be convenient if we could make an interface between Pen-Link and NeuStar. Makes sense to us! You'll be happy to learn that we're building an online interface to NeuStar's LEAP service into Pen-Link 8.1.
Reports
- September 26, 2007: Pen-Link employees cash in on growing surveillance business Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, NE)
- 2006: Crashing the Wiretappers Ball Wired
- "Currently Supported U.S. and International Standards - Friday, August 17, 2007
Pen-Link / LINCOLN supports the following standards for delivery and collection of telephone and Internet intercept data and content. Supported call data transport methods include IP, X.25, and FSK. Supported call content transport methods include analog (POTS), T1, E1, ISDN, BRI/PRI, and IP. Support for new standards are added as they are implemented by carriers. The addition of new standards is included in system maintenance."
- "VoIP Service Providers Must Comply with CALEA - Friday, July 21, 2006
A recent ruling by the FCC (FCC 05-153, In the Matter of: Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act and Broadband Access and Services) determined that VoIP Service Providers are required to provide access to law enforcement agencies for the purposes of lawful interception."
People Responsible
- Mike Murman, Chairman and Founder of Pen-Link
- Owner of Glacial Till Vineyards near Bennet, Nebraska
- On the Executive Board of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management Corporate Executive Board. The J.D. Edwards Honors Program, the Jeffrey S. Raikes School is a one-of-a-kind program in the United States combining computer science and business management education for only the highest caliber of students in the country.
- Dr. Kevin Clements
- Dawn at (402) 421-8857
