CRIME 27 March Daily Report

From: George Heuston (GeorgeH@private)
Date: Wed Mar 27 2002 - 07:55:24 PST

  • Next message: George Heuston: "CRIME NIPC Daily Report for 29 March 2002"

    Note first item on wireless vulnerabilities, compiled in Chamber of Commerce
    survey...
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: NIPC Watch [mailto:nipc.watch@private] 
    Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5:38 AM
    To: Daily Distribution
    Subject: 27 March Daily Report
    
    NIPC Daily Report
    27 March 2002
    
    Wireless London is wide open. A comprehensive seven-month audit found 
    that 92% of the 5,000 wireless networks in London have not taken basic 
    steps to protect themselves against casual attacks. The survey, 
    sponsored by the International Chamber of Commerce, used some novel 
    software tools that can spot networks that standard network-sniffing 
    tools often miss. Although wireless networks do have some basic security 
    features built into them, the vast majority of networks found during 
    this latest survey had not turned them on.  Of the few that had 
    activated their encryption system, most were using default settings, 
    making it easy for an attacker to guess the key needed to unscramble 
    data. (BBC News, 26 Mar)
    
    Hoover Dam still locked down. The new police checkpoints at Hoover Dam 
    near Boulder City, Nevada are expected to remain permanent, as is the 
    ban on trucks.  Both measures were implemented after September 11 to 
    guard against someone driving explosives onto the dam and blowing it up. 
    Officials regard Hoover as an especially inviting target because a 
    devastating attack on it could not only damage a symbol of American 
    engineering ingenuity but also wreak havoc on parts of the Southwest.  A 
    major attack on the dam, officials warn, would threaten to unleash a 
    torrent of water that could destroy cities for hundreds of miles, 
    disrupt power to Las Vegas and other area cities, and weaken the 
    region's agriculturally based economy for years.  (Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar)
    
    Report cites unaccounted plutonium. According to an inspector general 
    report released on 26 March, the Energy Department cannot fully account 
    for small amounts of potentially dangerous plutonium provided under 1954 
    Atoms for Peace program to 33 countries including Iran, Pakistan and 
    India.  Some of the plutonium packages contained between 16 and 80 grams 
    of the radioactive material and "would be a serious health hazard if 
    damaged," an official familiar with the report said. " Although 
    relatively small amounts of plutonium are involved, Energy Inspector 
    General Gregory H. Friedman said in his report, "Recent world events 
    have underscored the need to strengthen the control over all nuclear 
    materials, including sealed sources." He added, "In the wrong hands, 
    these sources could be misused." (The Washington Post, 27 Mar)
    
    Trains, buses may screen baggage. Richard Bennis, the new director of 
    maritime and land security for the Transportation Security 
    Administration says baggage screeners could soon be operating on trains, 
    buses and cruise ships.  Addressing a security conference at Tufts 
    University, Bennis said, "Passenger security will be dealt with the same 
    intensity as aviation security."  The director said specific proposals 
    for screening passenger baggage could be announced as early as July. 
    (Associated Press, 26 Mar)
    
    Pakistani plotted to bomb Florida power plants, officials say. Federal 
    immigration officials have arrested and are seeking to deport a young 
    Pakistani immigrant who they allege conspired last March and April with 
    others, whom they declined to identify, to acquire guns and explosives 
    for a jihad against the United States.  It is unclear whether the 
    accused man obtained any weapons.  Last spring, an informant reported 
    that the man was trying to organize a jihad in South Florida to bomb 
    electrical power stations and other sites.  One supposed target was a 
    Florida Power and Light plant near the Fort Lauderdale Airport. 
    Officials declined to say why the plot failed.  (New York Times, 25 Mar)
    
    Canada checking into lapel-pin radiation detectors for Customs to allay 
    US concerns. The Canadian government is considering giving Customs 
    Inspectors lapel-pin radiation-detection devices to allay US concerns 
    that Canada could be a conduit for terrorists smuggling a so-called 
    "nuke in a box" across the border.  Revenue Minister Elinor Caplan said 
    that her department is "seriously investigating" a proposal to issue the 
    detectors. The small devices would beep to indicate when radioactive 
    materials are near, allowing the inspectors to intercept nuclear bombs 
    or weapons designed to spread radioactive materials. The radiation 
    detectors would be part of a five-year, $110-million program to beef up 
    high-tech scanners at Canadian seaports, airports, and border crossings. 
    Their order coincides with the stationing of US and Canadian customs 
    inspectors on each other's territory, which began on 25 March. (Toronto 
    The Globe, 26 Mar)
    



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sun May 26 2002 - 11:39:38 PDT