Center of Excellence

By Benton Ives-Halperin, CQ Staff

Cyber-attackers are increasingly targeting application programs, including backup systems and anti-virus software, according to a report issued Tuesday by leading cybersecurity experts.

In previous years, cyber-attack patterns had focused on operating systems such as UNIX and Windows. But the expanded use of software “patches” for known computer vulnerabilities has blunted hackers’ efforts to exploit weaknesses in operating systems. Faced with more robust operating system security, cyber-attackers have altered their attack patterns to focus on software applications, such as media players like iTunes and Internet Explorer.

So this year’s SANS Top 20 — a consensus list of critical computer vulnerabilities produced by computer security experts — reflects a changing threat profile that may expose new and unprotected elements of computer security.
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By Caitlin Harrington, CQ Staff

A massive scam — now snaking its way through the in boxes of computer users —involves an e-mail falsely claiming to be from the FBI and directing users to open a virus-ridden attachment. The scam e-mail informs recipients that their Internet use has been monitored by the FBI’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center.
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By Eileen Sullivan, CQ Staff

Local officials should assume that they will be on their own during the first five days after a disaster hits, a Louisiana mayor said during a National League of Cities forum Nov. 19.

“Be prepared to strike it out on your own with no assistance from anyone for a minimum of five days, because that’s how long it took for other agencies to respond,” said Gretna, La., Mayor Ronnie Harris. Gretna is located directly across the Mississippi River from New Orleans and was hit by Hurricane Katrina, but it did not have the severe flooding New Orleans experienced. Harris and other officials from across the country participated in the forum, which was broadcast online.
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By Patrick Yoest, CQ Staff

Innovative new communications systems developed by the U.S. Army could have applications for homeland defense, according to a top Army research official, but experts say that human capabilities still lag behind technology in response efforts.

A panel at the Heritage Foundation Monday looked at the potential for the use of military “C4ISR” systems — shorthand for the areas of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance — in catastrophe response efforts.
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By Eileen Sullivan, CQ Staff

Americans have no more impetus to prepare for a disaster than they did before this year’s devastating hurricane season, according to New York University professor Paul C. Light, who released a report Friday on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina.

Instead, Katrina weakened citizens’ faith in government and did nothing to change the public’s sense of complacency when it comes to disasters, Light said Friday. “The main effect of Katrina was no effect at all,” he said. “[The public] saw a lot of chaos and they learned perhaps that the government can’t be counted on.”
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By Benton Ives-Halperin, CQ Staff

Washington state has purchased four new mobile communications vehicles to provide day-to-day support for public safety departments, according to a company release. The large vehicles are built by Seattle-based Emergency Management Equipment (EME) and will be deployed in Franklin County, Benton County, Kitsap County and the city of Medina.
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From the Homeland Security Institute, go to www.hsi.wa.gov and click on “Online Courses”. All courses meet Emergency Responder Guidelines & funding requirements.

Emergency Response Leaders

Online, ODP-Approved Courses
Free, Flexible, Accessible 24/7
Completion certificates for trainees; tracking tools for managers

All ODP Approved:

Operational Security and Safety
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
Mass Defcontamination
WMD Awareness
NIMS ICS (pending)

By Patrick Yoest, CQ Staff

A new strategy aimed at providing the federal government with real-time shipping information has not been finalized, but some in the shipping industry are already expressing concern about potential costs and breaches in commercial privacy.

The Secure Freight Initiative, revealed in greater detail in a Nov. 2 speech by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary Michael P. Jackson, would create a single, industry-run �data fusion� center capable of culling cargo information from private sector shippers for use by DHS � a departure from programs currently run by the federal government, such as Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and the Container Security Initiative (CSI).
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By Tim Starks, CQ Staff

Conferees working to extend expiring provisions of the 2001 anti-terrorism law have abandoned a House proposal that would have rewritten the formula for distributing homeland security grants to police, firefighters and other first-responders.

House lawmakers who had been fighting for the formula change � which would lower the minimum funding each state gets and base the distribution more on risk of a terror attack � said conferees informed them it had been left out of a draft agreement on a reauthorization of the 2001 law, known as the Patriot Act (PL 107-56).
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By Tim Starks, CQ Staff

A Senate panel approved a bill Wednesday that would provide $3.5 billion in public transit security grants over the next three years. By voice vote, the Senate Banking Committee approved the measure, sponsored by panel chairman Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., and ranking Democrat Paul S. Sarbanes of Maryland.

Shelby said the need is greater than ever for more transit security funding in light of the July terrorist bombings of the London subway and bus systems. �The urgency of this legislation cannot be overstated,� Shelby said. �Recent events overseas illustrate that.�
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By Eileen Sullivan, CQ Staff

During Hurricane Katrina, officials say, many Gulf Coast residents would not evacuate because they did not want to leave their pets behind. As a result, some legislators decided to change the law to require that communities include pets in their evacuation plans.

�This bill addresses human safety, because, as so many animal lovers know, some people will choose not to leave a dangerous situation in order to stay with their pets,� co-sponsor Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., said of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (HR 3858) in a prepared statement Nov. 3. �This is not just an animal welfare issue, this is a public safety issue.�
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By Liriel Higa, CQ Staff

Insurers would receive a minimum two-year extension of the federal backstop on large claims stemming from terror attacks under a bill to be marked up by the House Financial Services Committee Wednesday.
But the measure (HR 4314), introduced Monday by Rep. Richard H. Baker, R-La., would require insurers to take on more risk and would incorporate versions of recommendations the Treasury Department made in June.
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By Benton Ives-Halperin, CQ Staff

A New Jersey company will begin offering a product that aims to provide �end-to-end� security for water supply infrastructure, according to a recent press release.

Developed by Electronic Control Security (ECS), the system includes video and sensor equipment to detect intrusions, and fiber optic monitoring of pipeline, aqueduct and distribution systems. The product also includes real-time online monitoring.
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By Patrick Yoest, CQ Staff

A new report issued by two prominent national laboratories offers a �how-to� guide for airport security managers on improving security against biological and chemical attacks, according to a press release.

Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory wrote the report, intended for airport security managers and distributed through, among other groups, the Transportation Security Administration.
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By Caitlin Harrington, CQ Staff

Critics say Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs to tighten maritime container security have been plagued by poor supervision and the lack of a broader strategy to keep cargo free of �dirty bombs� and other weapons.

A bill slated to be introduced in the Senate on Tuesday could quell some of this criticism. The legislation � which enjoys bipartisan backing and support from the main lobby group for U.S. seaports � would codify existing programs to inspect and track shipping containers and set minimum standards for container security.

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Patty Murray, D-Wash. � both of whom have talked about the importance of developing a comprehensive strategy for container security to supplant the the patchwork of existing programs � are expected to introduce the legislation during a press conference Tuesday.
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ATTN: Bremerton, Tacoma, Vancouver, Olympia, Bellingham, Spokane, Everett

OLYMPIA - The Department of Social and Health Services will offer disaster outreach counseling and support to some 5,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees who have resettled in Washington State since the storm drove hundreds of thousands of families from their Gulf Coast homes in early September.

About 2,000 families have registered so far in Washington State with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has awarded DSHS a $128,968 grant to cover the cost of providing disaster outreach counseling to assist families in their recovery.
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By Benton Ives-Halperin, CQ Staff

Federal agencies apparently have met the first target date for implementing a governmentwide access card program, but some experts say major steps remain before agencies can roll out universal �smart� identification cards.

�The speed bump is actually getting the cards into everybody�s hands,� said Alan Webber, a senior analyst for government with Forrester Research, in a telephone interview. �People love technology, but they hate change, and this is going to require agencies that don�t like to play together to work very well together.�
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By Zack Phillips, CQ Staff

At 6 a.m. on Aug. 29, Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras, La. One hour and 15 minutes later, the initial pages of the Hurricane Katrina Help �Wiki� were posted on the Internet.

The �Wiki� � a piece of software that facilitates Web-based encyclopedias and databases that allow users to add and modify information � was the idea of a handful of people involved in a similar project after the 2004 tsunami in Asia. It provided news about the storm; information on donations and resources for those affected; discussion areas for questions; and a capability to match victims with families willing to house evacuees, among other components.
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By Anne Plummer, CQ Staff

The timing of a conference on the fiscal 2006 Defense appropriations bill remained uncertain amid growing rancor over an amendment that would prohibit the torture and abuse of prisoners in the war on terror.
Unless House and Senate conferees iron out the bill this week, Congress may have to pass another stopgap funding resolution to prevent the military from running out of money.
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By Benton Ives-Halperin, CQ Staff

A community college in Cleveland will work with transit police and other transportation specialists to better prepare for terrorist attacks, including nuclear or biological events.

The Public Safety Training Institute at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) will train about 100 employees over an eight-week period, according to a release from the college. The training will be paid for by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
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