CRIME NIPC Daily Report 20 May 2002

From: George Heuston (GeorgeH@private)
Date: Mon May 20 2002 - 11:13:19 PDT

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    NIPC Daily Report
    20 May 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.
    
    The NIPC issued Information Bulletin 02-005 on 17 May; "Hijacked
    Tractor-Trailer Transporting Sodium Cyanide Found in Mexico with Missing
    Cargo". This bulletin can be viewed at
    www.nipc.gov/publications/infobulletins/2002/ib-02-005.htm
    <http://www.nipc.gov/publications/infobulletins/2002/ib-02-005.htm> . NIPC
    Information Bulletins communicate issues of concern to the national
    infrastructure.
    
    New terror attack is imminent, Cheney warns U.S. Terrorists around the world
    are exchanging cryptic messages at a rate not seen since the days leading up
    to 11 September, raising fears that al-Qaeda is planning another attack on
    America or its interests abroad.  The White House confirmed yesterday that
    intelligence agencies have gathered information in recent weeks indicating a
    renewed threat. CIA sources disclosed this weekend that the number of
    intercepted messages from people believed to be part of the al-Qaeda network
    pointed to the possibility of an attack in the United States, or on overseas
    bases and embassies. Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, said that an attack
    against the U.S. was almost certain. "It's not a matter of if but when," he
    said. "We don't know if it's going to be tomorrow or next week or next year,
    partly because we're having some success in disrupting the organization and
    making it more difficult for them to carry out their operations."   (World
    News , 20 May)
    
    Senate panel OK's more cybercrime dollars. The U.S. Senate Commerce
    Committee voted on 17 May to increase funding for anti-cybercrime programs,
    despite claims from software and high-tech groups that last-minute changes
    to the bill could stifle innovation. The "Cyber Security Research and
    Development Act," sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., would give $970
    million over five years to the National Science Foundation and National
    Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to improve government computer
    and network security. The technology industry supports the bill, but many
    businesses dislike changes made by co-sponsor Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.,
    that direct NIST to set guidelines for security settings on many common
    software products used by the federal government. (Washington Tech, 17 May)
    
    Efforts to beef up port, rail security lose steam.  After passage of an
    aviation security package last fall, security measures for railroads and
    ports appear to have all but drowned in a political quagmire.  Tensions are
    particularly high over a House provision that would expand cargo oversight
    beyond the Customs Department to include the Transportation Security
    Administration and the military.  The Senate would prefer to keep the
    authority within Customs.  Meanwhile, recent reports of terrorists entering
    the country in cargo containers are increasing pressure on legislators to
    get to a House and Senate conference.  "If one container gets through,
    they'll close down the ports. It would be economic devastation far worse
    than the aviation system shutting down for a couple of months," said a
    Senate aide close to the efforts. (Government Executive, 16 May)
    
    Some airport workers bypass security.  John Magaw, who heads the new
    Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said his agency is looking at
    ways to restrict access to secured areas to "improve security and ensure the
    integrity of our nation's airports." Secured areas are those places beyond
    airport passenger checkpoints where employees can walk up to the airplanes.
    Pilot programs to test various security procedures are planned for 20
    airports. Mary Schiavo, a former Transportation Department inspector
    general, said TSA has been so concerned with stopping terror hijackings that
    it hasn't moved quickly to prevent bombs from getting onto planes through
    the cargo hold or on a food cart.  Reports from the Transportation
    Department's inspector general, Kenneth Mead, and the FAA, said airports
    have failed to adequately restrict access to runways and airplanes.
    (Associated Press, 18 May)
    
    The Transportation Security Administration is considering creating a type of
    911 in the sky.  Under the plan, airline passengers would be able to dial a
    toll-free number without using a credit card, be connected to a regional
    center, and have the call handled like a 911 call.  (CNN, 19 May)
    
    New FCC regulation to push wireless broadband.  Seeking to speed the
    deployment of wireless broadband in the U.S., the Federal Communications
    Commission (FCC) on 16 May amended its regulations on spread-spectrum
    technologies used by fixed wireless operators.  Under the adopted changes,
    the FCC will allow both Bluetooth and 802.11 (Wi-Fi) local area network
    (LAN) wireless technologies to be combined in a single device and to share
    spectrum in unlicensed bandwidths.  The gist of this action, initially
    proposed two years ago, is that the FCC is supporting new and improved
    methods of spectrum sharing in the unlicensed bands.  (Wireless NewsFactor,
    17 May)
    
    NRG seeks to shut plants in power-starved Connecticut.  Failing to negotiate
    better power prices with New England's electricity grid operator, global
    energy giant NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) wants to shut down three money-losing
    generators at a Connecticut power station.  The move could leave the
    energy-starved region in the lurch this summer, when air conditioners push
    energy demand to an annual peak. (Reuters, 17 May)
    
    Three detained for filming water reservoir.  Three men detained after a
    local resident saw them filming atop a reservoir water tank in Easton
    Connecticut have been released, authorities said on 17 May.  The incident
    attracted considerable local media attention, given heightened fears of
    water contamination since the 11 September attacks on the World Trade Center
    and Pentagon.  But Easton Police Chief John Solomon said there was no
    evidence the water supply at Easton Reservoir had been interfered with.
    Police and FBI agents said they had determined the three men, of Indian
    descent, were simply taking shots of the reservoir with a new video camera
    early on 16 May.  (Reuters, 17 May)
    
    NYC water vulnerable to attack.  Security at city water facilities fail to
    meet federal and State guidelines, making them potentially vulnerable to
    biological or chemical attacks, according to a report released on 19 May.
    The report, compiled by the New York State Assembly Committee on Oversight,
    Analysis and Investigation, found that security at the facilities failed
    more than half of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and State
    Department of Health guidelines.  (Associated Press, 19 May)
    
    This public announcement is being issued to alert US citizens to a possible
    terrorist incident in Turkey. This Public Announcement expires on May 22,
    2002.  The U.S. Government has received unconfirmed and fragmentary
    information that suggests unknown terrorists may be planning to conduct a
    terrorist incident, possibly to include activities directed against Civil
    Aviation. The Government of Turkey has taken prudent measures to address
    this possible incident. The U.S. and Turkey continue to consult and
    cooperate together in the war on terrorism.  (U.S. Department of State, 17
    May)
    



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