CRIME FW: NIPC DAILY REPORT FOR 19 MARCH 2002

From: George Heuston (GeorgeH@private)
Date: Tue Mar 19 2002 - 06:34:47 PST

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    -----Original Message-----
    From: NIPC Watch
    To: Daily Distribution
    Sent: 3/19/02 5:41 AM
    Subject: NIPC DAILY REPORT FOR 19 MARCH 2002
    
    NIPC Daily Report	19 March 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.
    
    U.S. military scours Windows systems for hacker back doors. The US Army 
    and Navy are conducting a high-priority security review of their 
    Microsoft Windows systems for the presence of an unauthorized 
    remote-control program, sources familiar with the investigation have 
    confirmed. A representative of Wisconsin-based Binary Research 
    International, which distributes RemotelyAnywhere, said military 
    investigators contacted the company last week for assistance after an 
    undisclosed number of copies of the program were discovered on 
    Department of Defense computer systems. (NewsNow, 18 Mar)
    
    Cell phone, laptop networks connect. Laptop users may soon be able to 
    roam like callers on cell phones.  Nokia has developed a modem for 
    laptops that can access 802.11b networks, which laptops use to surf the 
    Net wirelessly, and cell phone networks.  802.11b transmits its signals 
    in an unregulated and crowded spectrum shared by transmissions from 
    cordless phones. Despite its shortcomings -- which include porous 
    security against hackers and a signal that travels only 100 yards at a 
    time - wireless technology has found a home in airport executive 
    lounges, hotel lobbies, and a growing numbers of homes and businesses. 
      Cellular carriers have their own wireless networks, using a signal 
    that travels over a portion of spectrum licensed from the Federal 
    Communications Commission. The signal travels for 30 or 40 miles at a 
    time, but is significantly slower than 802.11b.  (CNET, 17 Mar)
    
    Wireless worries in a 9/11 world. Seven million people access wireless 
    networks, some of them hackers. There are fears that computer-controlled
    
    power grids, telephone networks, even water treatment plants could fall 
    prey to wireless attack.  "War dialing" and " war driving" are two 
    hacking techniques employed.  With war dialing, a hacker dials through 
    phone numbers in search of a computer with an open front door.  The war 
    driving technique involves a hacker shuttling around neighborhoods 
    looking for vulnerable systems.  Unencrypted broadcasts make it possible
    
    for wireless hackers to hop onto a network, intercept, and then go out 
    to the Internet or attack hosts within that network.  "If at the same 
    time that a serious terrorist attack happens, our phones stop working 
    ... or our power goes out, it would amplify things considerably," says 
    Kevin Poulsen, a former hacker who now writes about computer security 
    issues for SecurityFocus.com.  (MSNBC, 18 Mar)
    
    Hacking grows with Internet use.  The US General Accounting Office 
    reports that nearly two-thirds of roughly 250,000 attempted break-ins 
    into federal computer systems were successful.  The total number of 
    reported computer security incidents doubled in 2001, compared with the 
    previous year, with more than 52,000 Web site attacks, viruses, network 
    intrusions and other security breaches recorded by the Computer 
    Emergency Response Team at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University. 
    Analysts predict the number of computer security incidents may double 
    again this year.  Experts say many companies just don't consider all the
    
    potential threats, or they don't place enough emphasis on computer 
    security-allocating more money to other areas of their business. 
    (Newsweek Web, 15 Mar)
    



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