-----Original Message----- From: NIPC Watch To: Daily Distribution Sent: 12/28/01 6:11 AM Subject: NIPC Daily Report 28 December 2001 NIPC Daily Report 28 December 2001 NOTE: Please understand that this is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any verification of the information contained in the report nor does this constitute endorsement by the NIPC or the FBI. General - The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) plans to seek authorization to add a third agent to its cyber crime unit. Last May, the US Justice Department authorized funding to train two agents to conduct online investigations for the DCI special unit. To date, DCI has handled 70 Internet crime cases. (Cody Enterprise, 27 December) The full report of the Gilmore Commission, released 15 December 2001, recommends measures for responding to terrorism that echo many of the cybersecurity and information technology measures to emerge since the 11 September attacks. Technology is mentioned throughout the report as a key component of homeland security. The Commission called fro improvements in health communication networks and information-sharing among federal, state and local health departments and emergency management agencies. To enhance cybersecurity, the Commission recommends broader representation on Critical Infrastructure Protection Board, and the appointment of a government?funded, public and private sector non?profit entity to provide cyber detection and alert and warning functions. (InfoSec News, 24 December 2001 ) Legislation intended to encourage the sharing of security data without fear of it becoming public has failed in Congress. In bipartisan legislation, members of the House and Senate sought to amend the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to protect security data shared with the government from disclosure. The failed legislation also included antitrust protections for companies that collaborate on security issues. (Computerworld, 27 December) International -Two Pakistani-based hacker groups, the "Anti India Crew" (AIC) and the "World Fantabulous Defacers" (WFD), defaced 20 Indian Web sites between 22 and 23 December. The hardest hit was www.idbi.com, which belongs to the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI). Other victims were the Bangalore?based Indian Institute of Science, The Tribune Newspaper, and the Engineering Export Promotion Council. The defaced IDBI site carried a hacker message proclaiming the defacement as a retaliation for India's anti?Pakistani attitude following the 13 December attack on the Indian Parliament. (IndiaExpress Bureau, 27 December 2001) Water Supply -Water utilities have posted extra guards at reservoirs and treatment plants, but the biggest threat to the nation's water supply may be from the pipes that carry the water. Across the country, water utility officials are taking steps to prevent terrorists from reversing the flow of water into a home or business in order to push poisons into local water-distribution systems. The technique, called "backflow," uses utility pipes for the opposite of their intended purpose: Instead of carrying water out of a tap, the pipe spread toxins. Water officials say the only sure way to prevent backflow attack, is to install valves to prevent water from flowing back into the pipes. (The Wall Street Journal, 27 December) Transportation - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted Enhanced Class B (ECB) airspace restrictions over 30 major metropolitan areas last week, and also said Visual Flight Rules flights could resume in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. A series of notices to airmen, issued on 19 December, reduced the size of the no-fly zones around New York City and Washington, D.C. and added a temporary flight restriction around a propane facility near Boston Logan Airport. New York's zone is now a two-nautical mile radius centered on the World Trade Center site. Washington's zone was reduced to a 15-nautical-mile radius of the Washington Monument, continuing to keep general aviation out of Reagan National Airport. Special operations such as news and traffic helicopters, sightseeing tours, and banner towing aircraft also may resume business. (Aviation Week, 26 December)
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