Note Microsoft's free security analyzer, discussed infra--this should reheat the discussions! 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. Vandals strike New York dairy farm tanks. Since last fall 14 investigations have been opened in western New York State to determine circumstances surrounding the dumping of antibiotics into milk storage tanks. In some instances, cows have been injected with antibiotics. Authorities advise that only a small amount of antibiotic is required to contaminate a load of milk. A vial dumped into one storage tank contaminates the entire tank or truckload because collection trucks make numerous stops on a single run and the milk from each farm is mixed together along the way. None of the tainted milk has been placed on store shelves or into milk products because milk is tested for contaminants before being unloaded from the trucks at processing plants. To date, 44,000 gallons of milk worth approximately $49,000 has been tampered with. (Associated Press, 8 Apr) INS sets new rules for student visas. Hoping to better track foreign visitors and keep out would-be terrorists, immigration officials are tightening student visa rules and proposing shorter US trips for tourists and business travelers. Effective immediately, any foreigner wishing to study in the US must have an approved student visa before taking courses. Also, the INS also is proposing to restrict tourists and business travelers to 30-day visits, down from six months. (Associated Press, 9 Apr) WWU Comment: These changes alone may have little effect on domestic security. The ability to track visas does not equal the ability to the track visitors. District not ready for germ attack. According to a report commissioned by DC Mayor Anthony Williams, Washington D.C. may be vulnerable to a biochemical attack because its hazardous materials unit suffers from deficiencies in equipment, funding, staffing, training, and fire management support. The city is a target-rich environment with a high number of high-profile universities, hospitals, military and law enforcement facilities, government buildings, research labs, and printing and engraving plants that could be attacked. The city's design is itself a vulnerability, given its many traffic circles that could hinder emergency and evacuation vehicles. (Washington Times, 9 Apr) FAA faulted for inspection lapses. Three and a half years after launching a program to more effectively inspect airlines for potential safety problems, the Federal Aviation Administration still lacks the people, training and management focus to carry out the job, according to a new government report. The report prepared by the US Transportation Department's inspector general, faults the FAA for failing to carry out adequately an enhanced inspection regime designed to keep closer tabs on the nation's largest carriers. Intended to be more proactive in identifying and cracking down on operational and maintenance lapses, the initiative continues to lag behind in analyzing data and properly training inspectors, the report says. (Wall Street Journal, 9 Apr) Microsoft offers free tool for security checks. On 8 April, Microsoft Corp. made available a free tool designed to search out security vulnerabilities hiding in Windows-based computers. Called the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA), the tool is intended to provide users with an easy way to check their systems for common problems that arise when computers are configured incorrectly or when users fail to install suggested security patches. After scanning a system with the tool, users receive a security report card that lists all the holes and vulnerabilities found during the scan. The MBSA does not actually download and install fixes, but provides instructions on how to do so. The tool, which is 2.5M bytes in size, can be downloaded from Microsoft's developer Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/Tools/mbsahome.asp. (IDG News Service, 9 Apr)
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