Jump to content

Pen-Link: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
added info on Cobwebs acquisition, Tangles, and notable clients
Line 2: Line 2:
| name = Pen-Link, Ltd. (PenLink)
| name = Pen-Link, Ltd. (PenLink)
| location = [[Lincoln, Nebraska]], USA
| location = [[Lincoln, Nebraska]], USA
| owner = Spire Capital
| products = PLX, Pen-Link 8, LINCOLN2, PenProxy, Xnet
| products = PLX, Pen-Link 8, LINCOLN2, PenProxy, Xnet
| homepage = http://www.penlink.com/
| homepage = http://www.penlink.com/
}}
}}


'''Pen-Link, Ltd., (PenLink)''' is a software company that develops enterprise-grade communications surveillance data collection and analysis solutions{{solution-inline|date=August 2019}} for domestic law enforcement.<ref name=Omaha>{{cite news |first=Chet |last=Mullin |title=Pen-Link employees cash in on growing surveillance business |work=Kearney Hub |date=September 25, 2007 |access-date=September 11, 2020 |url=https://kearneyhub.com/news/local/pen-link-employees-cash-in-on-growing-surveillance-business/article_80216234-5028-5e21-9e8d-6ae6edcbae08.html}}</ref> Their flagship products include PLX and PenPoint.
'''Pen-Link, Ltd., (PenLink)''' is a software company that develops enterprise-grade communications surveillance data collection and analysis products for domestic law enforcement.<ref name="Omaha">{{cite news |last=Mullin |first=Chet |date=2007-09-25 |title=Pen-Link employees cash in on growing surveillance business |url=https://kearneyhub.com/news/local/pen-link-employees-cash-in-on-growing-surveillance-business/article_80216234-5028-5e21-9e8d-6ae6edcbae08.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820013505/https://kearneyhub.com/news/local/pen-link-employees-cash-in-on-growing-surveillance-business/article_80216234-5028-5e21-9e8d-6ae6edcbae08.html |archive-date=2019-08-20 |access-date=2020-09-11 |work=[[Kearney Hub]]}}</ref>

== History ==
In July 2023, PenLink merged with Israeli surveillance contractor Cobwebs Technologies, when the latter was acquired for $200 million by private equity firm Spire Capital, which also owns PenLink.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orbach |first=Meir |date=2023-07-11 |title=Web intelligence startup Cobwebs acquired for $200 million by private equity firm Spire Capital |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sj11008xsfh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803181040/https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sj11008xsfh |archive-date=2023-08-03 |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=[[Calcalist]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Mitch |date=2023-07-11 |title=Cobwebs Technologies Joins PenLink to Expand its Digital Investigative Platform |url=https://www.penlink.com/cobwebs-technologies-joins-penlink-to-expand-its-digital-investigative-platform/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614235026/https://www.penlink.com/cobwebs-technologies-joins-penlink-to-expand-its-digital-investigative-platform/ |archive-date=2024-06-14 |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=PenLink |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Products ==
PenLink's flagship products include PLX, PenPoint, and Tangles.


One of the more publicized uses of PenLink's products was during the [[Laci Peterson]] murder case, where wiretaps taken with Pen-Link 8 and LINCOLN2 were used as evidence against [[Scott Peterson (convicted murderer)|Scott Peterson]].
One of the more publicized uses of PenLink's products was during the [[Laci Peterson]] murder case, where wiretaps taken with Pen-Link 8 and LINCOLN2 were used as evidence against [[Scott Peterson (convicted murderer)|Scott Peterson]].

Tangles is a web platform that scrapes data from the [[Web standards|open web]], [[deep web]], and [[dark web]], as well as allowing for the tracking of mobile devices within a user-designated area, in a process known as "[[Geofence|geofencing]]," through an optional add-on feature called WebLoc.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=D’Annunzio |first=Francesca |date=2024-08-26 |title=Texas State Police Gear Up for Massive Expansion of Surveillance Tech |url=https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-tangle-cobwebs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240904001954/https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-tangle-cobwebs/ |archive-date=2024-09-04 |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=[[The Texas Observer]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Clients ==
The company's clients include [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|US Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE), which signed a $2.7 million two-year contract with PenLink, and in 2024 the [[Texas Department of Public Safety]] (DPS) signed a $5.3 million five-year contract with the company to supply it for a surveillance tool known as Tangles through 2029, which Texas DPS has used since 2021.<ref name=":0" />


==See also==
==See also==
Line 15: Line 27:


==References==
==References==
https://www.kearneyhub.com/news/local/pen-link-employees-cash-in-on-growing-surveillance-business/article_80216234-5028-5e21-9e8d-6ae6edcbae08.html
<references/>
<references/>


Revision as of 19:34, 5 September 2024

Pen-Link, Ltd. (PenLink)
HeadquartersLincoln, Nebraska, USA
ProductsPLX, Pen-Link 8, LINCOLN2, PenProxy, Xnet
OwnerSpire Capital
Websitehttp://www.penlink.com/

Pen-Link, Ltd., (PenLink) is a software company that develops enterprise-grade communications surveillance data collection and analysis products for domestic law enforcement.[1]

History

In July 2023, PenLink merged with Israeli surveillance contractor Cobwebs Technologies, when the latter was acquired for $200 million by private equity firm Spire Capital, which also owns PenLink.[2][3]

Products

PenLink's flagship products include PLX, PenPoint, and Tangles.

One of the more publicized uses of PenLink's products was during the Laci Peterson murder case, where wiretaps taken with Pen-Link 8 and LINCOLN2 were used as evidence against Scott Peterson.

Tangles is a web platform that scrapes data from the open web, deep web, and dark web, as well as allowing for the tracking of mobile devices within a user-designated area, in a process known as "geofencing," through an optional add-on feature called WebLoc.[4]

Clients

The company's clients include US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which signed a $2.7 million two-year contract with PenLink, and in 2024 the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) signed a $5.3 million five-year contract with the company to supply it for a surveillance tool known as Tangles through 2029, which Texas DPS has used since 2021.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mullin, Chet (2007-09-25). "Pen-Link employees cash in on growing surveillance business". Kearney Hub. Archived from the original on 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  2. ^ Orbach, Meir (2023-07-11). "Web intelligence startup Cobwebs acquired for $200 million by private equity firm Spire Capital". Calcalist. Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  3. ^ Green, Mitch (2023-07-11). "Cobwebs Technologies Joins PenLink to Expand its Digital Investigative Platform". PenLink. Archived from the original on 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  4. ^ a b D’Annunzio, Francesca (2024-08-26). "Texas State Police Gear Up for Massive Expansion of Surveillance Tech". The Texas Observer. Archived from the original on 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-09-05.


Stub icon

This United States manufacturing company–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This article about a telecommunications corporation or company in the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pen-Link&oldid=1244222537"