What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Bird in the Cage? Since I started my IP investigations and protection blog in 2016, I have come to learn more and more about the Chinese government’s wide-reaching program to steal trade secrets from the United States and other Western democracies. I also discovered that one method they use is to coerce ethnic Chinese individuals living in the West into stealing on their behalf. A few years ago, I listened to an interview with Senator Mark Warner, where he explained that visiting Chinese students are often pressured by the Chin ..read more

Good news! My first IP spy novel, Bird in the Cage, will be published in just 5 days, and I now have a book trailer for you to watch. Here again is a brief description of the story: Bird in the Cage weaves a complex narrative of espionage, murder, and quantum technology. NYPD lieutenant Max Valentin, part of an elite IP Crime Strike Force, is in relentless pursuit to outwit a cunning Chinese spy determined to steal quantum research from a New York City university. Unraveling the threads of a global conspiracy where confidences are currency and trust is a rare commodity, Max and his team embark ..read more

In May, we posted about the threat of a ransomware hacking group called ‘Scattered Spider,’ a collaboration between Russian and English-speaking hackers. ‘Scattered Spider’ was allegedly involved in the Las Vegas hack of several hotel-casinos, including the MGM Grand. The MGM Grand reportedly refused to pay the ransom of $30 million and had to spend $100 million to get their systems up and running again. In the 60 Minutes episode we mentioned in our previous post, the host asked the FBI official in charge of their Cyber Division: “Have you made any arrests in the Las Vegas cases?” The FBI off ..read more

I’m excited to announce that my first IP spy novel, Bird in the Cage, will be published in 30 days (July 6th.) Here’s a brief description of the story: “Bird in the Cage” weaves a complex narrative of espionage, murder, and quantum technology. NYPD lieutenant Max Valentin, part of an elite IP Crime Strike Force, is in a relentless pursuit to outwit a cunning Chinese spy determined to steal quantum research from a New York City university. Unraveling the threads of a global conspiracy where confidences are currency and trust is a rare commodity, Max and his team embark on a high-stakes battle ..read more

Dear IP Probe Blog Reader, I hope this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe. I want to take a moment to announce that this month is the “Eighth Anniversary” of the IP Probe Blog and to thank you for your continued interest in our work. To date, we have published over 236 posts on a broad range of global IP investigation and protection issues. It has been gratifying to see that hundreds of IP professionals (including IP attorneys, general counsels, law enforcement, private investigators, and brand protection specialists), as well as others interested in the fight against IP t ..read more

A recent 60 Minutes report shed light on the growing ransomware threat, particularly focusing on the coordination between English-speaking (US, UK, Canadian) hackers and Russian hackers, which is advancing the effectiveness of social engineering. What is Social Engineering? Social engineering involves manipulating individuals to divulge confidential information, often by impersonating trusted personnel. While this tactic isn’t new, the collaboration between Western hackers and notorious Russian hackers has intensified its impact. The New Threat Traditionally, phishing attempts could be identi ..read more

Today, at the outset of the congressional hearing on the Fentanyl Crisis and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the chairman of the committee, Representative Mike Gallagher, presented a seven-minute video. This video captures the direct involvement of the CCP in subsidizing illegal fentanyl manufacturing and encouraging its distribution outside of China. I urge you to take the time to watch it. It is a gripping video. Video transcript. Video of today’s entire 3-hour hearing. Disclaimer: IPProbe.Global is a service to the professional IP community. While every effort has been made to ..read more

The U.S. Congress, Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has announced a hearing scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, April 16th, at 8:00 a.m., focusing on “The CCP’s Role in the Fentanyl Crisis.” This issue has been on my radar since 2019, and I’ve penned several posts about it. (See attached links below.) Back in November 2019, the death toll in the U.S. due to fentanyl overdose stood at 30,000. Fast forward to 2022, as per the 2023 DOJ announcement, and that number has surged to a staggering 110,000 Americans. Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice made headlines with indic ..read more

Earlier this month, reports emerged of a Chinese employee at Google who allegedly downloaded over 500 confidential AI software files, transferred them to his personal account, and purportedly aimed to benefit two Chinese companies. This incident is emblematic of a recurring pattern—Chinese nationals working for American firms pilfering trade secrets and sharing them with Chinese entities they are affiliated with. One notable aspect of this case is the accused’s brazenness in touting access to Google AI secrets while courting potential investors in China. According to a U.S. Department of Just ..read more

On January 31st, leaders in U.S. cybersecurity testified before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The focus was on the fundamental flaws in the nation’s critical infrastructure and the urgent need for action. While the takedown of the Chinese hacking operation Volt Typhoon made headlines, the broader issues addressed by the heads of the FBI, CISA, NSA, Cyber Command, and the ONCD (Office of the National Cyber Director) deserve equal attention. FBI Director’s Major Announcement: FBI Director Chris Wray unveiled the operation against Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsore ..read more