Exclusive: Cyber Attacks will ‘Catastrophically’ Spook Public, Warns GCHQ
“A successful cyber attack against public services would have a catastrophic impact on public confidence in the government, even if the actual damage caused by the attack were minimal,” it adds. The warning forms part of a preliminary “horizon scanning” report produced by the new unit, which is scheduled to begin operations next month. Its job will be to continually monitor internet security, producing intelligence on botnets, denial of service attacks and other digital threats to national security. CSOC was established by last summer’s Cyber Security Strategy. With an initial staff of 19 and funded from GCHQ’s budget of hundreds of millions of pounds, it reports to the equally-nascent Office of Cyber Security within the Cabinet Office, which coordinates digital national security policy across Whitehall.
Now Hiring: Spy Agencies Seeking a Few Good Brains
As job losses continue to mount in almost all areas of the economy, there is one sector that is still busily hiring: U.S. security agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the CIA and the NSA. But tough-guy types need not apply. What these organizations need is a few good minds. Hoping to help fill the growing demand for qualified cybersecurity experts, Brigham Young University’s math department is recruiting students for classes in cryptography with a simple slogan: “Fight Terrorism.”
Israel and the Dubai Murder Mystery
No country that faces the threat of foreign terrorism on the scale that Israel does can afford to entirely renounce the use of targeted assassinations, despite the ethical and legal problems that such executions raise. But such acts need to be extremely rare. In the case of Israel, such operations require the explicit approval of the prime minister, and they are authorized only after the political risks are carefully weighed. In the case of Dubai, it seems that this did not occur. Either the risks were not explained to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, or he made a serious miscalculation.
Germany Arrests Three Alleged Fund-Raisers for Terrorism
German police have arrested two men and a woman for allegedly raising funds and remitting them to the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), a group affiliated with al-Qaeda, prosecutors said Monday. The three were picked up on Saturday in the southern city of Ulm and the capital Berlin. A man, 31, was later granted bail. The other man, 20, and the woman, 28, were remanded in custody. All are German nationals of foreign extraction.
Under Plan, Intelligence Agencies Would be Consulted Before Reading of Rights
The Justice Department and the FBI will consult with the intelligence community on information about terrorism suspects arrested in the United States before deciding whether to read them their Miranda rights under a plan now under review in the White House, according to senior administration officials.
Poland Admits Role in CIA Rendition Programme
Warsaw air control service confirms that at least six CIA flights landed at disused military air base in northern Poland in 2003
Experts Call Austin Plane Crash a ‘Cathartic Outburst,’ not Terrorism
To be an act of terrorism, “there has to be some political motive and it has to send a broader message that seeks some policy change,” Georgetown University professor Bruce Hoffman said. “From what I’ve heard, that doesn’t appear to be the case. It appears he was very mad at the [IRS] and this was a cathartic outburst of violence. His motivation was the key.”
Military Launches Afghanistan Intelligence-Gathering Mission
On their first day of class in Afghanistan, the new U.S. intelligence analysts were given a homework assignment. First read a six-page classified military intelligence report about the situation in Spin Boldak, a key border town and smuggling route in southern Afghanistan. Then read a 7,500-word article in Harper’s magazine, also about Spin Boldak and the exploits of its powerful Afghan border police commander. The conclusion they were expected to draw: The important information would be found in the magazine story. The scores of spies and analysts producing reams of secret documents were not cutting it.
Terrorism Focus of Talks with Pakistan: Nirupama Rao
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Monday said India’s concern about terrorism would be its main focus at the forthcoming talks with Pakistan this week.
Intel community gets new CHCO
Paula Roberts, the head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s human development directorate, will be the next chief human capital officer of the intelligence community. Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair said Roberts will oversee the design, development and execution of human resource strategies and policies to support the 16 agencies in the intelligence community.
Intelligence director Blair in Kansas
National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair is in Kansas to give an update on the United State’s efforts to detect and deter terrorists. Blair will speak Monday afternoon at Kansas State University as part of its Landon Lecture series.
Falklands Suffer the First Argentine Attack of the 2010 Cyber War
The Falkland Islands suffered a first cyber-war attack from Argentine hackers who hijacked the website of the Falkland Islands’ weekly, Penguin New, posting reasons why the disputed Islands should belong to Argentina rather than Britain.
Worth Watching: WebSecurityNews
Alex Upgraded – Becomes First Hurricane of 2010 Season
Just in from the NHC: …ALEX BECOMES THE FIRST HURRICANE OF THE 2010 SEASON AND THE FIRST JUNE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SINCE 1995… The good news is that this is looking...
Video: 2010 NCO and Soldier of the Year Competition
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Video: Marines Work with Thai Civilians as Part of Cobra Gold 2010
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Video: 2010 Homeland Security S&T Summit Webcast
The 2010 Homeland Security S&T Summit – South Central Region, that was held at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory on February 9-10, 2010 is now posted....
