A very important and serious development has occurred.
I have been reporting in this thread regarding the novel models of THB recruitment used by cultic criminal networks in relation to social networking websites, blogs and websites using lifestyle quizzes and astrology and numerology features in order to collect victim data and manipulate choices, but this has now reached a whole new level of sophistication.
The latest development that I know if is that the Russian network, most commonly referred to in news stories as "Ashram Shambala" has developed in Iphone application called Moonwhile.
There is a video on one of the network's youtube channels (to my knowledge their only Danish channel) demonstrating and advertising the app here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdIdka8xMpE&feature=feedu the text accompanying the video is as follows:
Review for Apps (iPhone only)
www.moonwhile.com developed by Rassvet and Belbooks. MoonWhile is an alternative way to plan your days - from a moon perspective! Have fun planning your life moonwhile. MoonWhile provides you with information on the position of the moon and recommendations for planning your daily activities according to it. Find out when it is best to pay a visit to your hairdresser, to throw a party for your friends and family, or to take better care of your health. Get the most of your life by consulting the moon!
? Features ?
? Suggestion of daily activities
? Selene's femininity level
? Calendar view with monthly activities
Version 1.0 of MoonWhile contains data for the period from 1. January 2011 to 31 December 2011 and is computed for Northern Hemisphere only.
? Support ?
If you have any questions, suggestions or comments please send us an email at support@moonwhile.com.
Keywords
moon, luna, lunar, calendar, health, plan, diet, activity, activities, selene, health, life
Category:
Education
Tags:
moon luna lunar calendar health plan diet activity activities selene life moonwhile rassvet belbook simple supernatural
If you actually watch the video it has the Russian network's branding all over it from the white titles on the dark blue cloudy background through to the "goddess" Celine graphic, clearly designed to appeal to young women and girls.
The dietary recommendations are also congruent with the Russian network, drink more water today, today eat fruit, today eat root vegetables, etc. and the central theme of the app telling you how nigh or low your "feminine energy" is on a certain day could be lifted straight out of one of their websites.
Alarmingly the app also provides advice on what days are good for travel and all kinds of other information that would be very useful for traffickers to use in order to control victims.
Of course in a way this is just a modern repackaging of a con that it as old as the hills. Fake psychics, mediums and astrologers have used predictions and forecasts to manipulate victim choices since time immemorial. What is truly terrifying about this development is its capacity to reach and influence thousands and potentially even millions of victims if the app become popular and spreads via social networking sites like facebook.
I am not a techie person and I don't know a lot about Iphone apps but it seems to me that this app could potentially be used both to collect sensitive, identifying data from potential victims (maybe via installing malware?)as well as influencing and manipulating victim choices via lunar forecasts.
You can see this app for sale here on the Itunes website
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moonwhile/id425670093where the following text appears:
$1.99
Category: Lifestyle
Released: Mar 23, 2011
Version: 1.0
1.0
Size: 12.5 MB
Language: English
Seller: RASSVET ApS
© 2011 RASSVET ApS
Rated 9+ for the following:
Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes
I am curious to know about the mature / suggestive themes - I imagine that they relate to tips on stuff like "today is a good day to learn erotic dance / strip tease" and / or "today is a good day to get in touch with your sacred sexual energy" and all the other stuff these criminal routinely advocate.
The app was designed by BellBooks (a Danish subsidiary of the Russian network) and a Danish IT company called Rassvet
The Rassvet webpage is here
http://www.rassvet.dk/fb page here
http://www.facebook.com/rassvetI do not know to what extent Rassvet is involved with the Russian network. They may just be an IT company who have created an app for a client or they may be part of the Russian network. I do not have the time or resources to find out, but this needs to be looked at IMO.
edited as I just wanted to make clear the connection between the owner of the youtube channel BellBooks (the lady who appears in the video promoting the apps) and the Russian network best known (in Russian news reports at least) as Ashram Shambala
This is the Ashram Shambala Danish website
http://shamanschool.50webs.com/Astro-carate.htmIt is 100% clearly identifiable as their website to anyone who has
studied the Russian network as it promotes astrokarate, astroaikido,
shamanism, and Altai.
Also on this page
http://shamanschool.50webs.com/intro.htmIt promotes all the usual Russian network's workshops, Cleopatra
Magic, Indigo Children, Business Magic, Slavic Yoga - it is all there.
The "who are we" page confirms 100% that the site is Ashram Shambala
http://shamanschool.50webs.com/Who%20we%20are.htm"An organization was founded by Altai Chi (Master of Golden Altai) to
combine new knowledge with ancient teachings in order to gain great
wisdom to help the people of the world harness their natural energies
so as to be able to attain peace, happiness, love, and liberty. In the
years since 1989, the Academy of Golden Altai has become known as one
of the best in the world."
"Golden Altai" is one of many names of the cult.
now, the links page is interesting
the links are
www.goldenaltai.orgwww.bogomudr.orgwww.dengyldnenaal.1go.dkThe first 2 are dead links to the Russian network's old websites, the
3d link is to a Danish website run by a woman called Irina Bjørnø.
She is the Scandanavian rep of the Russian network and owner of the
Bellbooks youtube channel
She also appears in almost all of the videos on the Bell Books youtube channel.
You can recognise her from both the website and the youtube channel
Her FB page is here
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1105997008and is full of Ashram Shambala VIP contacts, for example, the following FB IDs are senior members of Ashram
Shambala who are FB friends of Irina Bjørnø
Ancient Wisdom Tree (VERY snr member real name Paul / Pavel Handozhko
aka Biven Mamonta aka Kargan Kenesh and loads of other aliases)
Aharata Xalapa (recruiter operating in Mexico)
Celestial Wisdomof Altai (UK based recruiter)
Altai Fuente de Vida (South American based recruiter)
Chekes Rada (VERY senior VIP recruiter operating internationally aka
master Chekes aka Soledad)
I hope that this helps to clarify the seriousness of the situation.
edited to add some further thoughts.
In the video Ms Bjørnø is very encouraging of potential users to email her with suggestions and feedback. IME this network prioritises harvesting email addresses and other contact details.
I think that the app as advertised is just the first "hook". Anyone buying it is already is someone who believes that their life is influenced by planetary movements and is also someone owns an Iphone, so purchasers fit into the demographic of affluent females with a belief in the supernatural, the network's preferred targets for victims.
Once the customer has purchased the app then there will be opportunities for her to upgrade a more advanced version that delivers a more tailored lunar and astrological forecast once she has provided the network with further details regarding her DOB, location etc. She may even be invited to submit details regarding her travel plans so that the app can advise her re good and bad times to travel and to what country etc.
We know from the video advertising the app that it advises on good days to engage in "dynamic exercise", yoga and massage and also trips to the beautician (by coincidence all of which are themes of the network's workshops).
It would be relatively easy for the network to recommend attendance at its various schools and workshops via the app, and of course by that time the network will be in possession of the victim's phone number, email address, DOB and other sensitive / identifying information.
edited to add
a news story: Hidden iPhone File Tracks Users' Every Move
The security of Apple's iPhones and iPads is being called into question after it emerged the devices contain a hidden file that tracks the owner's locations.
The finding was reported by two British computer programmers at a technology conference in San Francisco.
The pair found Apple has been logging the whereabouts of 3G phone and iPad users since it updated its mobile operating system a year ago.
The location data is taken from mobile phone masts and Wi-Fi networks and recorded on the device along with the time and date.
However, one of the concerns is that when a person syncs their phone or iPad with a computer the information is transferred to the hard drive permanently.
Anyone with access to this computer, including a hacker, could then trace the user's movements.
And if the phone or iPad was lost or stolen a stranger would also be able to view the data with the right software.
Although other mobile phone companies collect information in similar ways, it is usually kept behind a firewall.
It then normally requires a court order to gain access to it - but this is not the case with this data.
Pete Warden and Alasdair Allan, the researchers behind the discovery, have now set up a webpage to inform the public about the file.
On the page it states: "By passively logging your location without your permission, Apple have made it possible for anyone from a jealous spouse to a private investigator to get a detailed picture of your movements."
Mr Warden, who worked for Apple for five years, has created a free downloadable programme that allows them to see the location data on a map.
It is not known why Apple is collecting the data or whether the function can be disabled.
The company failed to return calls made by Sky News Online.
The criticism of the technology giant's operations comes after the company revealed on Wednesday that it had nearly doubled its second quarter profits.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Apple-Security-Called-Into-Question-After-Tracking-File-Found-In-iPhones-And-iPads/Article/201107315976574?lpos=Technology_Top_Stories_Header_4&lid=ARTICLE_15976574_Apple_Security_Called_Into_Question_After_Tracking_File_Found_In_iPhones_And_iPads*feel less bad about not having a Iphone*