-----Original Message----- From: Nipc Watch To: daily Sent: 6/20/02 6:09 AM Subject: NIPC Daily Report 20 June 2002 Importance: High NIPC Daily Report 20 June 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. NIPC Advisory 02-005: Remote Vulnerabilities in Apache Web Server Software. The NIPC issued an advisory to highlight the significance of a vulnerability that could affect a majority of active Web sites. The advisory can be found at www.nipc.gov <http://www.nipc.gov> White House briefly evacuated. The White House was briefly evacuated 19 June night after a small plane failed to make radio contact with Reagan National Airport as it flew over the capital. An F-16 military jet was scrambled and tracked the plane until it landed at an airport in Richmond, Va. Law enforcement officials said a Cessna plane was flying southwest in restricted airspace over the capital and failed to make radio contact with the control towers at Reagan National Airport. The plane then changed direction, prompting the Secret Service to end the evacuation. Within 15 minutes of the evacuation, staff was allowed to return to the building. (Associated Press, 19 June) Ridge won't back direct aid to cities. The nation's cities can expect significant federal help in fighting terrorist threats, but the money won't necessarily come in the form many Mayors want it. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge did not endorse the group's position that the money be distributed in direct block grants to cities. He also frowned on the idea of the money going toward overtime for police, fire and emergency personnel. The Mayors have noted that police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel will be the front line of defense when it comes to responding to terrorist attacks and threats. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 June) Cyberterror threat ignored. Silicon Valley firms are not taking adequate precautions against possible cyberattacks. The downturn in the economy has cut into information technology budgets to address the problem, and even if security gets more favorable treatment than other IT areas in budgeting, companies may still be underestimating the threat. This information was gleaned from a 12 June survey of more than 500 company risk managers and IT heads that were questioned as to the Internet-related and software-related companies' commitment to cybersecurity. The survey shows companies do not plan well enough to assess cybersecurity risks or work to protect against those risks. The survey shows many CEOs and risk managers falsely assume that the problem has been taken care of at their companies. (San Jose Business Journal , 19 June) Two kilograms of uranium discovered in car in central Russia. Russian police and the Federal Security Service seized two kilograms of uranium found in a car in central Russia. Police also discovered a fragment of a combustible bar used in nuclear reactors in the car. The United States and Russia set up a joint task force in May to prevent terrorists from acquiring radioactive substances for use in building weapons of mass destruction. (Hindustan Times, 18 June) WWU Comment: This discovery follows the recent arrest of an individual accused of planning to build and employ a 'dirty bomb' in the US Small quantities of radioactive material dispersed via conventional explosives could have a severe affect on the nation's infrastructure. Hong Kong urged to let US personnel observe cargo inspections. A US Customs official urged Hong Kong on 19 June to allow American officials to observe the inspection of cargo containers bound for the United States in a bid to detect potential terrorist threats. Hong Kong is one of America's largest trading partners and one of the world's largest ports. Since the 11 September attacks, US authorities have been concerned about cargo containers potentially being used to carry nuclear or biological weapons or other dangerous material into the United States. 570,000 sea containers from Hong Kong entered the United States in 2001. Many Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong exporters are now bypassing Hong Kong and using other Chinese ports. (Reuters Asia , 19 June) WWU Comment: The last sentence, above, highlights the questionable value-added approach of applying resources to specific cargo origination ports. Thorough inspections at major destination ports (see below) may make better use of resources. $3.8m awarded for port security. The US Department of Transportation this week gave a total of $3.8 million to Boston and Everett police, the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, and a start-up North Quincy company that is developing a device to better track cargo. The grants are part of $92.3 million in federal security money allocated to 51 ports nationwide. Boston Harbor, like many urban ports, is considered to be a prime target for terrorists, with liquefied natural gas storage facilities, Logan International Airport, sewage plants, and national symbols, such as the USS Constitution and the John F. Kennedy Library, easily accessible by water. (The Boston Globe, 19 June)
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