InfraGard Members Alliance Houston

Man Admits Attempting to Use a Weapon of Mass Destruction to Bomb a Skyscraper in Downtown Dallas

DALLAS—Hosam Maher Husein Smadi pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn to a felony offense related to his attempted bombing of a downtown Dallas skyscraper in September 2009, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.

“Today’s guilty plea underscores the continuing threat we face from lone actors who, although not members of any international terrorist organization, are willing to carry out acts of violence in this country to further the terrorist cause. I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors responsible for this successful investigation and prosecution,” said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

“The facts disclosed today and Smadi’s plea make it clear his intention was to kill American citizens.

Smadi knowingly took possession of a truck that contained a weapon of mass destruction, specifically a destructive device or bomb. The truck with the bomb inside was a vehicle borne improvised explosive device. Smadi believed that this was an active weapon of mass destruction, and while it was inert when Smadi took possession of it, it was a readily-convertible weapon of mass destruction.

http://dallas.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/dl052610.htm

Submitted by: E. Charles Sterling

Boeing, DHS defend work on SBInet

Senior Homeland Security Department and Boeing Co. officials today defended the Secure Border Initiative Network as a program that is providing urgently needed capabilities despite delays, technical glitches and growing costs.

“The feedback we are getting is very positive,” Borkowski said. “It is very encouraging.”

Michael Fisher, acting chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, agreed with that assessment. “With respect to SBInet in Tucson-1, what we are seeing is that we are doing it right,” Fisher said at the hearing.

Full article

Submitted by: E. Charles Sterling

Is CD Piracy a Matter for Homeland Security?

Several influential entertainment industry trade groups, including the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America and the Screen Actors Guild, seem to think that the nation's security is at risk because of DVD and CD piracy.

Not so, says Pat Reilly, spokeswoman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a department within the Department of Homeland Security.

Still, there's a question of whether the MPAA and RIAA are hogging up government resources for their own interests. The RIAA, has filed thousands of lawsuits against John Does, which often amount to woefully tiny settlements, if the lawsuits aren't ignored altogether. Further, some question the legality of the RIAA's legal tactics. In one complaint filed against music labels Sony, Electra, BMG and Motown, Shahanda Noelle Moursy argued that the record companies are "abusing the federal court judicial system for the purpose of waging a public relations and public threat campaign targeting digital file sharing activities."

See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/9g7lxb

Submitted by: E. Charles Sterling

Nuclear blast victims would have to wait!

The White House has warned state and local governments not to expect a "significant federal response" at the scene of a terrorist nuclear attack for 24 to 72 hours after the blast, according to a planning guide.

President Obama told delegates from 47 nations at the Nuclear Security Summit on Tuesday that it would be a "catastrophe for the world" if al-Qaeda or another terrorist group got a nuclear device, because so many lives would be lost and it would be so hard to mitigate damage from the blast.

The chaos that would inevitably follow such a blast would make it difficult for the federal government to react quickly. "Emergency response is principally a local function," the document says, though "federal assistance will be mobilized as rapidly as possible."

http://content.usatoday.com/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=desmoinesregister&sParam=38202990.story

Submitted by: E. Charles Sterling

Militants bomb Moscow metro -- 38 dead

Russia was in shock Monday after militants bombed two subway stations during morning rush hour, killing 38 people and injuring 102.  It was the worst attack in Moscow since the February 2004 suicide bombings that killed at least 39 people on a subway train.  Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered security beefed up on subways, train stations and airports across the country, adding that Moscow would "fight terror without hesitation until the end."  The Moscow metro, built in the 1930s, has in the past been a popular terror target: Armenian separatists first attacked it in 1997.

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Militants_bomb_Moscow_metro_38_dead_999.html

Contributed by: E. Charles Sterling

Nanotechnology Will Soon Take on Pirates

Is it metal, is it a wireless communication device, is it an inventory system, is it a storm tracking device, is it a clothing store purchasing system, is it a Private Investigator - no it is Nanotechnology!

Nanotechnology, the miracle material, is about to take on a new role—fighting pirates who plunder cargo ships in places such as the coast of Somalia and the Strait of Malacca.  A great example of Nanotechnology is the Piranha unmanned surface vessel (USV). It’s a composite boat that’s currently being developed for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. The 5th generation material is stronger and stiffer than conventional carbon fiber. “The materials allow it to be a generation ahead of any other composite, and two generations ahead of an aluminum boat. It has far more range and payload carrying ability, as it has lower structural and propulsion needs.”

http://www.assemblymag.com/Articles/Blog/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000787224

Contributed by: Charles Sterling

100 cars disabled via internet

Great example of things that can go wrong when people continue to have access, or know other users ID's and passwords.  Full article.

DoD issues official policy on New/Social Media

The Department of Defense released its official policy on new/social media today.  The policy (Directive-Type Memorandum 09-026), which is effective immediately, states that the default for the DoD non-classified network (the NIPRNET) is for open access so that all of DoD can use new media. This is DoD’s first official policy on new media.  Prior to today, the Services and other DoD components developed and implemented their own ad hoc policies — some banning it all together.  Under this new policy, there will be open and consistent access across the board, but prohibited content sites (gambling, pornography, hate-crime activities) will still be blocked.  Also, Commanders at all levels and heads of DoD components will continue to keep networks safe from malicious activity and take actions, as required, to safeguard missions. 

 

Full article at: http://socialmedia.defense.gov/index.php/2010/02/26/dod-official-policy-on-newsocial-media/

 

Join us at the Secureworld Expo Feb 11, 2010

for our next InfraGard meeting at the SecureWorld Expo held at Reliant Center for a continental breakfast beginning at 8:15, followed by a presentation by Special Agent Randall Clark of the FBI and a keynote address by Rich Garcia.

Refer to the conference website for details: http://www.secureworldexpo.com/events/index.php?id=278

Intel Chief: U.S. at Risk of Crippling Cyber Attack

FOXNews.com

The United States is at risk of a crippling cyber attack that could "wreak havoc" on the country because the "technological balance" makes it much easier to launch a cyber strike than defend against it, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair said Tuesday. See article for details:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/03/intel-chief-risk-crippling-cyber-attack/