[ISN] Missing Computer Adds to Airport Screeners' Woes

From: InfoSec News (isnat_private)
Date: Mon Jul 21 2003 - 01:28:58 PDT

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    Forwarded from: William Knowles <wkat_private>
    
    http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/queens/nyc-screen0721,0,3811514.story?coll=nyc-manheadlines-queens
    
    By Glenn Thrush
    Staff Writer
    July 21, 2003
    
    [Federal officials are quietly scouring the Washington, D.C., area for
    a stolen laptop computer loaded with vital information on dozens of
    airport baggage and passenger screeners that could be used to forge
    IDs.
    
    The computer, property of the federal Transportation Security
    Administration, contains screeners' names and addresses, along with
    social security numbers, birthdates and other personal data. It was
    stolen from an agency staffer's car in late May, according to TSA
    spokeswoman Chris Rhatigan.
    
    "We are working furiously to get it back and we've sent out a message
    to let all of our screeners know they need to safeguard their personal
    information," Rhatigan said.
    
    There's no indication the theft was terrorism-related, but Washington
    police and transportation officials are worried that the highly
    sensitive contents could get into the wrong hands, she said.
    
    "We're not giving out too much information on this because we don't
    want to provide a road map for the terrorists," Rhatigan said.
    
    The laptop is password-protected and contains other security features
    that should make it hard for all but a hardened hacker to access, she
    said.
    
    Word of the missing computer comes just two weeks after a pair of top
    TSA officials resigned amid criticism that the agency has performed
    background checks on 22,000 of 55,000 employees, while failing to vet
    85 criminals who got jobs at U.S. airports.
    
    In June, Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge announced a cost-cutting
    plan to lay off 6,000 screeners by the fall. Kennedy and Newark
    Liberty International airports, stand to lose 396 and 273 full-time
    positions, respectively, or about 20 percent of their screeners.  
    LaGuardia Airport will lose 36 or about 4 percent.
    
    The TSA is fighting efforts by unions to organize the screeners. Union
    activists and screeners gathered on the steps of City Hall yesterday
    to accuse the agency of covering up security breaches and bullying
    employees who complain to their supervisors.
    
    "We don't have any whistleblower protection, so when we complain about
    something that isn't right we can be fired or transferred," said
    Miguel Shamah, a screener at LaGuardia. "That creates a danger because
    the truth isn't getting out." Rhatigan called the comments
    irresponsible and accused union organizers of "trying to scare the
    flying public."
    
    
    
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