-----Original Message----- From: NIPC Watch To: Daily Distribution Sent: 2/14/02 7:45 AM Subject: NIPC Daily Report 14 Feb 2002 NIPC Daily Report 14 February 2002 The NIPC Watch and Warning Unit compiles this report to inform recipients of issues impacting the integrity and capability of the nation's critical infrastructures. SNMP attack tool in the wild. Oulu University in Finland created an automated tool to test for vulnerabilities affecting Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). This tool can also be used by hackers as a vulnerability assessment device. (Security Wire Digest, 13 Feb) Cybercrime may carry stiffer penalties. House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-NY, and Rep. Lamar Smith, R-TX proposed a bill to clarify sections of the USA Patriot Act that would give the government authority to increase the penalties for crimes such as hacking, computer fraud, and advertising illegal devices. The proposed bill also calls for Internet Service Providers to provide information to the government in "emergency situations." The USA Patriot Act was passed after 11 September to tighten cyber security. (ZDNet News, 13 Feb) White House sets up cybersecurity coordination center. Richard Clarke announced plans to set up the Cybersecurity information Coordination Center to coordinate the government's response to cybersecurity attacks. The center will join the Critical Infrastructure Protection Board, the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office and the Analysis and Warning Section of the National Infrastructure Protection Center. (FCW.com, 13 Feb) UBS Warburg revives Enron gas, power-trading operation. London-based UBS Warburg, has acquired Enron's gas and power trading IT infrastructure, including its intellectual property and 625 of its former employees, and reincarnated it as UBS Warburg Energy, or UBSWenergy.com. UBS purchased only the gas and power trading platform from Enron, leaving the former Fortune 500 company with the less profitable steel, water, bandwidth and pulp and paper exchanges. (ComputerWorld, 12 Feb) 'Warhol' porn worm warning. A worm named "Warhol" is affecting users of Microsoft Instant Messenger. If you receive the following message, "Go To http://www.masenko-media.net/cool.html NoW !!!," or a similarly named message, do not following the link. The code also sends the message to addresses in your contact book. (VNUNet, 14 Feb) Japan and US to strengthen ties to fight cyber terrorism. The Japanese and US Defense officials confirmed have that they will strengthen cooperation in fighting cyber terrorism for actions directed at facilities like nuclear power stations and air control towers. The two sides also agreed to promote the sharing of information and access to telecommunications systems for Japan's Self Defense and the US forces. (Tokyo Jiji Press, 14 Feb) Russian government cracking down on Cyberterrorism. At a meeting of the Federal Antiterrorist Commission in early February, the Russian government discussed wide-ranging plans to assist in the ongoing U.S. campaign against terrorism. Part of this assistance includes plans to cracking down on cyber-terrorism. The plan also speaks to preventing biological and chemical terrorism and deterring attacks on the Russian transport infrastructure. (Info Security News, 13 Feb) Japanese firm 'illegally' accessed NASDA computer. An employee of a major satellite maker illegally accessed a National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) computer and obtained classified data on a super-high-speed Internet satellite scheduled for launch in 2005. (Tokyo Kyodo, 14 Feb) Call to speed up cyber crime law. Dubai Police have urged the authorities to speed up legislation governing cyber crime. Maj. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief, stressed the need for exchange of the latest technologies and knowledge related to IT between the law enforcement forces and IT experts. (Gulf News, 13 Feb)
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