April 2008

BusinessWeek: The New E-spionage Threat

The New E-spionage Threat

Cover Story April 10, 2008, 5:00PM EST
Appears in BusinessWeek, April 21, 2008 Print Edition, Pg. 33-41

A BusinessWeek probe of rising attacks on America's most sensitive computer networks uncovers startling security gaps

by Brian Grow, Keith Epstein and Chi-Chu Tschang

The e-mail message addressed to a Booz Allen Hamilton executive was mundane?a shopping list sent over by the Pentagon of weaponry India wanted to buy. But the missive turned out to be a brilliant fake. Lurking beneath the description of aircraft, engines, and radar equipment was an insidious piece of computer code known as "Poison Ivy" designed to suck sensitive data out of the $4 billion consulting firm's computer network.

The Pentagon hadn't sent the e-mail at all. Its origin is unknown, but the message traveled through Korea on its way to Booz Allen. Its authors knew enough about the "sender" and "recipient" to craft a message unlikely to arouse suspicion. Had the Booz Allen executive clicked on the attachment, his every keystroke would have been reported back to a mysterious master at the Internet address cybersyndrome.3322.org, which is registered through an obscure company headquartered on the banks of China's Yangtze River.

The U.S. government, and its sprawl of defense contractors, have been the victims of an unprecedented rash of similar cyber attacks over the last two years, say current and former U.S. government officials. "It's espionage on a massive scale," says Paul B. Kurtz, a former high-ranking national security official. Government agencies reported 12,986 cyber security incidents to the U.S. Homeland Security Dept. last fiscal year, triple the number from two years earlier. Incursions on the military's networks were up 55% last year, says Lieutenant General Charles E. Croom, head of the Pentagon's Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations.

Private targets like Booz Allen are just as vulnerable and pose just as much potential security risk. "They have our information on their networks. They're building our weapon systems. You wouldn't want that in enemy hands," Croom says. Cyber attackers "are not denying, disrupting, or destroying operations?yet. But that doesn't mean they don't have the capability..."

-- Source/continues: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_16/
b4080032218430.htm

Afghan President escapes assassination bid

27 Apr 2008 - 01:30 CDT

Afghan President escapes assassination bid

AFGHANISTAN: President Hamid Karzai was hussled away but escaped unhurt after an assassination attempt during an official celebration in the capital of Kabul.

A Presidential Palace source said Mr Karzai was safe, but the Taliban, which claimed responsibility for the attack, said three of its fighters were killed. "Yes, he is safe and fine," a palace source said, declining to be named.

Government ministers were also seen leaving the celebration near the presidential palace and state television cut off live transmission of the celebration, which marked the 16th anniversary of fall of Kabul to the Mujahideen. Sounds of gunfire could be still heard after television stopped coverage of the event.

Taliban insurgents are behind the firing at President Karzai a Taliban spokesman said. "We had our people there who fired at Karzai," Zabihullah Mujahid told a Reuters from an undisclosed location. "We had place six personnel in the area. Three of our men have been killed."

He did not immediately say how they were killed but an AFP reporter at the scene said there was an exchange of gunfire, apparently between the attackers and troops. A security official at the scene said one suspected attacker was arrested....

-- Source/continues: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/27/2228416.htm

Poison Suicide Gas Sends At Least 90 to Hospital

11:35, Thursday April 24, 2008

INTERNATIONAL HAZ-MAT NEWS/ ERRI ADVISORY

Poison Gas Suicide Puts 90 In Hospital

JAPAN: Some 90 residents of an apartment block in Japan had to be taken to hospital after a teenager committed suicide by making poisonous hydrogen sulphide gas. The 14-year-old was said to be the latest person to kill herself by the method, which has received much recent media attention in the country.

Reports say websites have sprung up showing people how to make the poisonous gas with bathroom cleaning products. Police found a container of such a product in the girl's apartment that they believe may have been used to make the gas, according to the fire department.

The apartment block filled with a "rotten egg" smell from the hydrogen sulphide gas the girl made up and released.

More than 100 residents were evacuated from the building, with most - including the girl's mother - taken to hospital.

The fire department said it found a note on the door of the girl's apartment which read: "Poisonous gas being produced".

Japan's public broadcaster says 40 such suicide case have occurred this year, citing figures from the country's suicide prevention association.

The country's suicide rate is among the highest in the world, with the annual figure from the past nine years higher than 30,000, according to police data.

-- Source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1313891,00.html

RELATED

Apr 24 03:18 AM US/Eastern

LEAD: 1 girl dies, 120 evacuate after her suspected suicide by gassing

KOCHI, JAPAN (Kyodo/AP): A 14-year-old girl was found dead Wednesday in an apparent suicide by gassing in Konan, Kochi Prefecture and about 120 neighbors were forced to evacuate, police said.

Of the 120 people, 90 people were taken or went on their own to hospitals, the police said. At least three people, including a woman, 38, believed to be the girl's mother, were hospitalized.

A 27-year-old woman who lives in the condominium briefly became unconscious, but her condition is not life-threatening, firefighters said. Others are suffering mild symptoms such as sore throat and other conditions.

The police suspect the girl may have committed suicide at her home, where she lived with her mother, in a five-story condominium in the city. A note was posted on the front door of her home that said, "Gas is being generated. Do not open."

The girl was found lying in the bathroom wearing a school uniform and hydrogen sulfide was coming out of a box placed in the bathroom, according to the firefighters.

The police said they received initial reports from condominium residents about an abnormal odor at around 19:45 p.m. Wednesday. After residents were evacuated, the condominium buildings were kept off- limits until Thursday morning, the firefighters said.

The police have conducted an autopsy on the girl and found that she died of gas poisoning. According to a friend of the girl, she came to school only several days after the new school year started earlier this month.

Hydrogen sulfide, which can be made by using common detergent or liquid bath agents, is used increasingly in suicides, accompanied by alert notices indicating that gas is being generated.

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ERRI hazardous materials specialist comment by Chief C. L. Staten: If it happens in Japan, it could happen elsewhere. If it has not already, something like this could appear in a video on FaceBook, MySpace, or some other "social network" site and the idea could then soon spread around the world. We are concerned that, potentially, this sort of idea could be adopted for use in some sort of "school violence threat" by a disillusioned/despondent student...or other nefarious person. This information regarding the dangers of routine household products, used to produce poison gases, should be noted and studied by Haz-mat crews and shared with other emergency first responders. Caution is urged about this one...DO NOT...REPEAT...DO NOT...TRY THIS AT HOME.

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Additional/Previous Reference/Data:

4/17/2008

Japanese fad: rotten-egg suicide gassing

"Traditionally" Japanese suicide with been done in the past couple of decades with carbon monoxide -poisoning with leaving a small, burning, charcoal grill in a confined space or commonly inside a rented automobile.

However, there has been a new fad in the past few months to mix Japanese SunpoleR toilet cleaner and MUTOUHAPPU (calcium sulfide) bath salts to produce deadly poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas. The problem is that poisonous hydrogen sulfide-the rotten-egg gas-produces a lot of collateral damage killing the rescuers. family members, firefighters, and police officers. It even endangers people in other apartments below the suicide room since the gas is heavier than air.

[This case follows a spate of 26 incidents in which 27 people have allegedly killed themselves by mixing detergents and generating hydrogen sulfide since the beginning of this year, police said.]

-- Source: http://news.3yen.com/2008-04-17/japanese-fad-rotten-egg-suicide-gassing/

Bloody Start To Weekend: No Fewer Than 20 Shot

Apr 19, 2008 7:19 am US/Central

Bloody Start To Weekend: No Fewer Than 20 Shot

But Police Point Out Shootings, Murders Down So Far In 2008

CHICAGO, IL: It was a violent night all across the city, with no fewer than 20 people shot on the streets from Friday afternoon through early Saturday. The shootings have sent more than a dozen to area hospitals and three to the county morgue. Nine of the shootings happened in a period of less than two hours on Friday night.

The most serious shooting happened when the night was still fairly young, at 9:30 p.m. Two teens were shot dead in the 7500 block of South Phillips Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood, Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said.

Police say gunmen jumped out of a car and opened fire. One of the teens suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and back, the other was shot in the neck, police said.

Melvin Thomas, of 14922 Washington Ave. in Harvey was pronounced dead at the Stein Institute at 1:20 a.m. Rhonell Savala, of 9750 S. Hoxie Ave. in Chicago, was pronounced dead at 12:50 a.m. Saturday at the Stein Institute. Both were only 18.

Story source/continues at: http://cbs2chicago.com/local/shootings.across.city.2.703725.html

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ERRI emergency service analyst comment: Ahhh...Spring...when a young gang members's thoughts turn to taking over another block or two, where gangs can sell drugs, guns, prostitutes, and engage in extortion. A retired Chicago emergency services chief, and long-time ERRI analyst, said today that the annual Spring territorial conflict between gangs must be underway.

"Almost every Spring we see a rash of shootings as territorial disputes break out and these are usually followed by targeted and/or drive-by shootings to ultimately settle the problems, as the gang members might see them," the chief said.

He added, "One Spring a few years ago, I responded to no less than three multi-casualty shootings in one shift...with a total of 23 people shot."

"One incident that day involved 11 people shot over a five-six square block area, by two assailants on a motorcycle and using an automatic weapon (Mac 10/11, 9mm)," he concluded.

Hamas Cleric Predicts 'Rome Will Be Conquered by Islam'

Monday, April 14, 2008

Hamas Cleric Predicts 'Rome Will Be Conquered by Islam'

A sermon last Friday by a prominent Muslim cleric and Hamas member of the Palestinian parliament openly declared that "the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital," would soon be conquered by Islam.

The fiery sermon, delivered by Yunis al-Astal and aired on Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV, predicted that Rome would become "an advanced post for the Islamic conquests, which will spread though Europe in its entirety, and then will turn to the two Americas, even Eastern Europe."

"Allah has chosen you for Himself and for His religion," al-Astal preached, "so that you will serve as the engine pulling this nation to the phase of succession, security and consolidation of power, and even to conquests through da'wa and military conquests of the capitals of the entire world.

"Very soon, Allah willing, Rome will be conquered, just like Constantinople was, as was prophesized by our prophet Muhammad," he added...

-- Source/continues at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351242,00.html

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[ERRI counter-terrrorism analyst question: Does this sound like the kind of person/group with whom the United States should go and try to negoitate? For example -- for comparison and analytical purposes only -- what would happen if a Catholic priest was quoted in the national media as saying that they were going to "take over Mecca"? And, most of all...where's the outrage and condemnation of al-Astal's remarks by the international community or the the United Nations]

Colleges try to find best method to get word out to students

Published: 4/12/2008 11:50

Colleges try to find best method to get word out to students on problems

By Joseph Ryan -- Daily Herald Staff

ILLINOIS: A full year after the Virginia Tech massacre, Illinois college campuses have taken noticeable steps to tighten security -- but many still lack universal public address systems that could help students avoid danger.

Instead, most campuses rely on a patchwork of blast e-mail, voice mail and text message alerts, a Daily Herald survey of college security has found.

Some experts say those systems might fail to reach enough students in enough time to get them to safety.

"Who is going to find out what is going on when they are in a classroom?" said Mathew Lippman, a University of Illinois-Chicago criminal justice professor who specializes in security concerns.

Lippman argues that a universal public address system is the best way to get emergency information to the most people instantly as opposed to text messages, e-mail or voice mail that rely on immediate access to a phone or computer.

Since a student ruthlessly shot 32 people to death in the nation's bloodiest school shooting nearly one year ago, university officials have been searching for ways to keep students safe from such unpredictable violence.

The hunt for answers intensified locally when a gunman shot five Northern Illinois University students and himself to death in a packed lecture hall on Valentine's Day...

Story continues at: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=171969

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Emergency.Blog Reference:

Total of Five Dead in NIU Shooting

Virigina Tech Shooting, 31 Confirmed Dead

EmergencyNet News Summary of Recent/Major School Shootings

Haz-Mat Incident at Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office

Monday, 07 April, 2008

EmergencyNet News Instant Update

Haz-Mat Incident at Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office

Breaking NOW: 04/07/2008 -- 12:26:58 PM - EDT

ORLANDO, FL: Police, fire, EMS, and Haz-Mat units have responded to an incident at the Orange County sheriff's office. The Orange County Sheriff's Office has also been evacuated after a "suspicious package" was discovered inside the building.

According to very preliminary reports, at least two people are being treated for some sort of "exposure," though the details of their illness/injury is not presently known.

The sheriff's office, is located at 2500 W. Colonial Drive at John Young Parkway, where the incident began at about 10:10 a.m. this morning, authorities said.

HAZMAT personnel are on the scene and are working to evaluate and make the package safe for removal. The contents of the package are not currently clear.

Watch EmergencyNet News for more information as circumstances warrant...

'Chilling' UK Plot Details Going Unreported by U.S. Media

April 4, 2008

Chertoff Blasts U.K. Plot Press Coverage

DHS Secretary Says 'Chilling' Plot Details Going Unreported by U.S. Media

By JASON RYAN

LONDON, ENGLAND: As the London trial for the alleged plotters of the foiled 2006 U.K. plane bombings gets underway, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff blasts what he calls minimal press coverage of the "disturbing" and "chilling" case, which led to a ban on liquids brought on aircraft for 18 months.

In a post to the department's blog, Leadership Journal, Chertoff criticized the focus on "celebrity peccadilloes and microscopic analysis of political comments," charging that the media is overlooking "a very significant story that tells us a lot about why we need some of the moderately inconvenient security measures with which we live" ? a reference to the limit on liquids allowed on board flights, and other airport security requirements.

On trial are eight men who, according to the prosecution, planned to strike at least seven jetliners bound for North America on United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada flights into New York, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, Montreal and Toronto.

The new restrictions on liquids were a result of the thwarted attack, but "because we couldn't say more without violating British legal rules, some of you may have wondered whether the plot was all that serious," Chertoff wrote. "The details being unfolded are riveting ? and chilling," he continued. "Unfortunately, the trial is not getting much play in our domestic news outlets, but the evidence should be required reading for those who travel by air..."

-- Source/continues: http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Blotter/story?id=4591780&page=1

Additional references:

Thursday, August 10, 2006 - Analysis of Improvised Liquid Bombs in London Terrorist Plot, can be found at:
http://www.emergency.com/archives/08-01-2006_08-31-2006.htm

Monday, August 21, 2006 - 11 Atlantic Bomb Plot Suspects Charged (Video), can be found at:
http://www.emergency.com/archives/08-01-2006_08-31-2006.htm

Anti-Tank Grenade Launcher Seized In Massive Crime Ring Bust

11:28 am EDT -- April 4, 2008

Anti-Tank Grenade Launcher Seized In Massive Crime Ring Bust

POLK COUNTY, FL: Thirty people were arrested and an anti-tank grenade launcher was seized along with numerous guns and stolen motorcycles in what may be one of the largest organized crime busts in Central Florida history, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

The crime ring was operating in at least three Central Florida counties. Detectives started investigating a rash of motorcycle thefts in Polk County and stumbled onto something bigger than they ever imagined that included both Osceola and Orange counties.

U.S. Marshal's arrested the ring leader at a house in Osceola County in January, but a federal grand jury just indicted Otis Carden on gun charges Wednesday and now the Polk County sheriff is talking about the investigation that turned up weapons that could've been used to make parts of Central Florida more like a war zone...

-- Story continues at: http://www.wftv.com/news/15785942/detail.html

Zawahiri says U.N. is enemy and vows attacks on Jews

Wed Apr 2, 2008, 21:36 PM BST

Zawahiri says U.N. is enemy and vows attacks on Jews

DUBAI, U.A.E.: Al Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri described the United Nations as an enemy to Muslims and vowed attacks on Jews both inside and outside Israel in a statement posted on the Internet on Wednesday. "The United Nations is an enemy of Islam and Muslims," he said in remarks made in response to questions posted on the Internet.

He defended attacks on U.N. offices in an apparent reference to twin bomb attacks on U.N. buildings in Algiers which killed 41 people in December and the bombing of a U.N. building in Baghdad in 2003 which killed 22.

Zawahiri also called for attacks on Jews. "We promise our Muslim brothers that we will do our utmost to strike Jews in Israel and abroad with help and guidance from God..."

-- Source: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=
worldNews&storyid=2008-04-02T215218Z_01_L02643688_
RTRUKOC_0_UK-QAEDA-ZAWAHRI.xml

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April 02, 2008

Al-Qaida's Zawahri says militant organization doesn't kill innocents, threatens Egypt

The Associated Press

CAIRO, EGYPT: Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri responded to criticism Wednesday about the organization's notoriously brutal tactics, maintaining that it does not kill innocents, in hour-and-a half-long audio response to questions submitted to the movement on extremist Web sites.

The audio message, which was accompanied by a 46-page English transcript, was the first installment of answers to a raft of online questions and focused mainly on future al-Qaida efforts elsewhere in the region, particularly Egypt.

"We haven't killed the innocents, not in Baghdad nor in Morocco, nor in Algeria, nor anywhere else," he said according to the English transcript which, like the audio message, appeared on Web sites linked to the group.

The answer was in response to the question "excuse me, Mr. Zawahiri, but who is it who is killing with Your Excellency's blessing the innocents in Baghdad, Morocco and Algeria?"

-- Source/continues: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/02/africa/
ME-GEN-Al-Qaida-Zawahri-Questions.php