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"Gunman in Nebraska Kills 8 at a Mall and Then Himself"
International Herald Tribune (12/06/07) ; Friedberg, Ardy; Davey, Monica A gunman killed eight people and wounded five others before killing himself Wednesday at a mall in Omaha, Nebraska. The shooter was identified as Robert Hawkins of Bellevue, Neb., who reportedly lost his job earlier that day. Shoppers in a department store hid in closets, dressing rooms and behind desks after Hawkins opened fire with a rifle, shooting at least 15 rounds. Police entered the mall just six minutes after the first emergency call was received by 911, locking the mall down as they searched for the gunman. Police helicopters monitored the mall from above, as well. Eventually, officers in the mall found Hawkins' body, which was accompanied by a suicide note. Hawkins was described by a friend as a depressed person who was estranged from his family and had recently broken up with his girlfriend. He acquired the rifle Tuesday night from his father's home, claiming that he was going to use it for target shooting. The incident is believed to be the deadliest shooting in state history.
(go to web site) "One Killed by Paris Parcel Bomb"
Toronto Globe & Mail (12/06/07) A legal secretary was killed and a lawyer seriously wounded in Paris Thursday when a parcel bomb exploded in an office building that houses a Holocaust memorial group and French President Nicolas Sarkozy's former law office. The package was delivered by messenger to a fourth-floor law firm on the busy Boulevard Malesherbes in central Paris, three floors above the President's former office but just across a hall from the Holocaust organization. Investigators from the country's anti-terrorist squad were examining the remains of the package, Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said.
(go to web site) "Survey: Serious Dangers for Nurses"
Courier-Post (N.J.) (12/03/07) ; Johnson, Linda A. The U.S. Senate Budget Committee is considering two new bills that would enable New Jersey hospitals and nursing homes to prevent workplace violence and increase medical safety measures. The legislation was drafted after some troubling research findings emerged regarding the safety of New Jersey nurses. According to a survey of over 1,000 nurses by Anzalone Research, over 60 percent of nurses polled have been exposed to "superbugs" like MRSA, a drug-resistant staph infection, and more than half have experienced injuries from moving patients. About one-third of respondents have experienced violence at their job sites, and 58 percent of the nurses have considered leaving their jobs at hospitals and nursing homes due to such risks. Officials from the Health Professionals and Allied Employees Union believe the bills will slow the egress of nurses from the workforce, and provisions in the bills will give hospitals and nursing homes six years to design and implement worker safety programs.
(go to web site) "Standoff Ends Peacefully at a Clinton Field Office"
New York Times (12/01/07) ; Goodnough, Abby Three campaign workers at Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's New Hampshire field office were taken hostage Friday by a man claiming to have a bomb. According to police officials, Leeland Eisenberg walked into the office on North Main Street Friday afternoon with road flares taped to his chest, taking three staff members, one volunteer, and a child hostage. He quickly released the child and volunteer, who notified the authorities. A state police negotiator talked with Eisenberg throughout the afternoon, denying his request to speak to Clinton, who was in Virginia to give a speech to the Democratic National Committee. Eisenberg released the hostages unharmed, and soon after came outside and surrendered to police. A local newspaper reported that Eisenberg was supposed to appear before the Strafford County Superior Court Friday on domestic violence charges filed by his wife, who also filed for a divorce last week. During the hostage situation, several nearby buildings were evacuated, including the campaign offices of candidates Sen. Barack Obama and John Edwards. Clinton's campaign activities, including the DNC speech, were cancelled for the rest of the day.
(go to web site) "Road Worrier"
Long Island Business News (NY) (11/30/07) ; Solnik, Claude As globalization continues its march on the business world more executives need to spend time overseas. Unfortunately, in the post-9/11 world, traveling as an American can be a dangerous prospect. One growing concern for many executives is kidnapping. The highest-profile kidnapping cases are for political and revenge purposes. However, many kidnappings are perpetrated purely because of money, which makes executives a ready target. About 20 percent of the kidnap victims last year were business personnel or 1,000 professionals and executives are kidnapped annually, according to insurenewmedia.com. To protect traveling executives and employees, about 60 percent of the Fortune 500 have kidnap insurance, and many firms sign up for services, like iJet, that provide business travelers with up-to-date information on crime, transportation, or other issues about travelers' destinations. Although some executives choose to hire U.S.-based security companies to protect and guide them, experts argue this course of action may make matters worse by raising their visibility. Instead, experts recommend hiring a low-profile local who is familiar with the culture. Although many business travelers worry most about going to the Middle East, almost three-quarters of the kidnappings recorded between 2000 and 2004 occurred in Latin America. Another 15 percent of kidnappings in this time period occurred in Asia, while Nigeria has become a popular spot for kidnappings. With these kinds of numbers many executives are choosing to conduct business through video-conferencing.
(go to web site) "Access Control Best Practices"
Security Technology & Design (11/07) Vol. 17, No. 11, P. 32 ; Davis, Michael L. Access control is a major concern among organizations, and experts agree that layered security is the best approach, in that one security breach can be detected by the next level of security protocols to prevent disaster. When engineers, consultants, architects, and others select a reader, the level of security necessary should be determined beforehand. One viable choice is proximity technology, such as contactless smart cards, which experts consider to be the most secure of the available reader technologies. The second component of these reader systems includes upstream communication with another device--whether a panel or computer running access control software, which needs protection as well--though not all protocols are compatible with all readers available on the market. Wiring should be housed in conduits for the most protection, and wires should be secured through soldering and shrink-wrap tubing. Utilizing security screws limits the number of tools available for removing panels and readers, and access controls should not grant access to cards when users already are inside the building or office space. Tamper detectors are available for panels as well, and some systems engage geographic locators to ensure cardholders are not in two places at once. Another step in authentication is the keypad, though passwords need to be changed periodically; some buildings also may need biometric readers to ensure the card and person using it match. Other best practices include ensuring lost or stolen cards are deactivated immediately, abolishing spare cards, and tailoring access control systems to each specific site to monitor security more closely.
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"First Witnesses to Testify at Guantanamo"
Associated Press (12/06/07) ; Fox, Ben Witnesses are expected to take the stand Thursday in a pretrial hearing to determine if a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay has jurisdiction over the case of an accused al-Qaeda member. Salim Ahmed Hamdan, formerly a driver for Osama bin Laden, has been in custody for nearly six years and was charge over three years ago. However, his case has been delayed by legal challenges, including a case that went to the Supreme Court. In these hearings, Hamdan's defense will argue that Hamdan was not a major al-Qaeda member and had no knowledge of terrorist attacks. On Wednesday, a judge rejected a request to talk to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and two other detainees due to "security obstacles." Defense attorneys were hoping that a meeting with high-level al-Qaeda members could show that Hamdan was not a terrorist. Prosecutors, who charged Hamdan with conspiracy and supporting terrorism, want him designated as an "unlawful enemy combatant" under the Military Commissions Act, which would allow the case to be heard by a military tribunal. Hamdan's lawyers hope that the court will instead consider him an enemy prisoner of war, which would allow for a court martial that would give him more legal protections. If convicted, Hamdan could face the maximum sentence of life in prison.
(go to web site) "In Trial Run, City to Send Notification of Disasters"
New York Times (12/05/07) ; Santos, Fernanda New York City unveiled a pilot notification program for residents, Notify NYC, in which residents and workers sign up to receive alerts via cell phone, email, or text messages regarding floods, chemical spills, or other emergencies. The messages, either informational or emergency-related, will help residents be prepared and inform them how to respond if events occur in their area. Residents can sign up for the alerts through the city's Website, and officials note the information provided will be protected. The first alerts from the six-month pilot program will go out on Dec. 10. Depending on how successful the program is during the trial period and how well cell phone carriers and other firms handle the inordinate number of messages, the city will roll out the program on a citywide basis. The program, for now, will focus on the northeast Bronx, southwest Staten Island, Lower Manhattan, and the Rockaways in Queens. Residents participating in the program are encouraged to provide feedback to local officials.
(go to web site) "Kidnap Video Orders UK Quit Iraq"
CNN (12/04/07) A video aired Tuesday by an Arabic television network shows two armed militants threatening to kill a hostage if Britain does not pull its troops out of Iraq in 10 days. The hostage is believed to be one of five British nationals who were kidnapped on May 29, 2007, from Iraq's Finance Ministry. Canadian-based security firm GardaWorld confirmed that they had identified the hostage in the video as one of their employees. British government officials criticized the network for airing the video, which they said "adds to the distress of the men's families and friends." BearingPoint, another security company who had an employee kidnapped, said that British and American security officials are working together to resolve the situation. In October, three people linked to a Shiite insurgent network backed by Iran were arrested in connection to the abduction. Britain currently has approximately 5,000 troops in Iraq, and is scheduled to pull half of their force out of the country by spring.
(go to web site) "Rep. King to Battle President on Terror Fund Cuts"
Newsday (12/04/07) P. A7 ; Eisenberg, Carol The White House plans to slash antiterrorism spending in high-risk areas by almost 50 percent next year, much to the chagrin of some of the state's lawmakers. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), senior Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee and loyal Bush supporter, plans to organize Congressional allies against the budget cuts, which would affect police departments in New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk. Overall, the proposal would decrease grants nationwide from $2.2 billion to $1.4 billion. King disputes statements from White House officials who claim the cuts are only a trial. "They say they definitely intend to make the cuts, otherwise they won't be able to balance the budget by 2012," King says. Some Republican lawmakers have expressed support for King's battle, while other major Republicans in the House remain noncommittal to date. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman, both independents, say President Bush's proposal could have dangerous implications, and support King in his efforts to overturn the measure in Congress.
(go to web site) "U.S.: Iran Halted Nuclear Weapons Program in 2003"
Washington Post (12/03/07) ; Pincus, Walter A recent report by the U.S. intelligence community reveals that Iran halted its nuclear weapons agenda in 2003 due to international pressure. Intelligence officials say the Iranian government has been investigating other forms of weaponry such as missiles, and has left evidence to suggest the contentious country may once again begin enriching its uranium supply. However, U.S. officials say with "moderate confidence" that even if the Iranian government restarts its nuclear weapons program immediately, they likely will not have nuclear capability before 2010 or even 2015.
(go to web site) "Customs to Collect Full Sets of Visitors' Prints"
USA Today (12/02/07) ; Hall, Mimi Foreigners coming to this country will soon be required to have every finger scanned at airports as part of a new government anti-terrorist initiative. The initiative is designed to improve the US-VISIT program, which aims to provide a clearer idea of who is entering the United States and apprehend undesirable individuals. Increasing the system from two fingerprints to 10 will allow more in-depth checking against terrorist watch lists and databases of illegal immigrants and criminals. "Biometrics can be a game-changer," says Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke. "They represent what terrorists fear most-- an increased likelihood of getting caught."
(go to web site) "Tracking Dangerous Cargo"
Security Management (12/07) Vol. 51, No. 12, P. 66 ; Straw, Joseph Transporters of hazardous materials have to consider several safety and security issues, including the possibility that cargo could be turned into a weapon by terrorists. "Al-Qaeda is testing how to use chlorine and other chemicals as weapons," says P.J. Crowley of the Center for American Progress. "They haven't been successful yet. But when they figure it out, they'll put it up on the Internet." The Department of Homeland Security is working to address this concern, with plans to pass a final rule sometimes soon that would mandate the remote tracking of rail cars carrying toxic inhalation hazards and attempt to cut down on "standstill" times that offer the best chance of a successful attack. The rule will focus on the use of global positioning system (GPS) technology to track rail cars in real-time, however most carriers rely on automatic equipment identification, not GPS, which offers only one-way communication. DHS, through the Transportation Security Administration, is also focusing on the real-time tracking of trucks carrying hazardous materials on U.S. highways. The Hazmat Truck Security Pilot Program launched in 2005 is evaluating remote alert and vehicle disabling systems in addition to real-time tracking. One system provides a "geofencing" capability, which lets a vendor or government agency known when a driver strays from the previously approved route and gives them the ability to remotely slow or stop the vehicle. Thus far, trucking companies have been against mandatory tracking programs, while drivers have called for a change in the screening process, which is costly and time consuming. The TSA is soon expected to implement its long-delayed Transportation Worker Identification Credential, which would ease the screening process. The producers of hazardous materials have also taken steps to limit risk, such as helping in the development of a bomb-resistant rail tanker car and sharing more information with authorities.
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"FBI: Millions of Computers Roped Into Criminal 'Robot Networks'"
CNN (11/29/07) Over the past five months more than 1 million computers have become part of "botnets," an emerging type of cyber attack in which hackers take over computers without their owners' knowledge and use them to commit fraud, identity theft, and denial of service attacks, according to the FBI. That figure comes on top of the 1 million computers that were known to have been part of botnets five months ago, when the FBI launched an initiative aimed at stopping the growth of the networks. Despite the increase, the FBI's initiative--called Operation Bot Roast--has had an impact. Since the initiative was launched in June, 13 search warrants have been issued around the world--including one for a person in New Zealand whose international botnet coding group is suspected of infecting more than 1 million computers. In addition, eight people in Washington, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, and Kentucky have been indicted or found guilty of crimes related to botnets. Meanwhile, the number of computers that had been used to carry out at least one cyber attack a day dropped 17 percent in the first half of the year compared with the previous reporting period.
(go to web site) "Best Practices for LAN Security Projects"
Business Communications Review (11/07) Vol. 37, No. 11, P. 54 ; Prince, Jeff LAN security projects are complex, in that they involve multiple teams, directories, and applications, and must tackle issues such as insider threats, regulatory compliance, and user access to sensitive data. However, successful LAN projects share certain best practices. For one, IT departments that confer with business units to understand the project's business drivers tend to be the most successful. Indeed, the first step in any LAN security project is to pinpoint and rank the business unit access requirements. By doing so, the company is identifying the wider set of network access control (NAC) issues: Establishing who can get onto the LAN and restricting what they can access. Next, companies must figure out what role their endpoints will play in the overall LAN security system. An important component of LAN security is admission control. Therefore, security and desktop teams, along with the business units, should discuss "posture checking" software. A pilot phase is key to ensuring that customers can develop and enforce policies in the security and network access control platforms that are ultimately chosen, and many customers pair NAC implementation with a directory clean-up endeavor as well. Next, customers can determine a minimum collection of rules for controlling access; most customers begin by applying posture checks and authentication controls. Phase 2 of access control typically involves restricting access by user type. After the kinks in the first controls are ironed out, customers can collaborate with business units to expand their policies.
(go to web site) Abstracts Copyright © 2007 Information, Inc. Bethesda, MD |
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