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Schneier on SecurityA blog covering security and security technology. « Friday Squid Blogging: Squid Patents | Main | Interesting Spoofing Attack » May 28, 2007Network Insecurities at the FBIThe FBI has lousy security against insider attacks, according to a GAO report. Insider attacks are hard to defend against. One of the most important defenses is a good audit trail, so that when something happens you can figure out who did it. Posted on May 28, 2007 at 06:19 AM • 12 Comments • View Blog Reactions To receive these entries once a month by e-mail, sign up for the Crypto-Gram Newsletter. In the past the FBI has been scrutinize for lack of infrastructure and networking that would ensure direct and accurate communication for all its field offices and computer networks. I am not surprised that the lack of standardization of its computers and networks has contributed to this security problem. A single disgruntled agent or IT expert could bring the system to its knees. Posted by: merkelcellcancer at May 28, 2007 09:26 AM It is frightening what could "leak out" without proper controls in place. Both confidential data and our national security could be compromised. Craig Herberg Posted by: Craig Herberg at May 28, 2007 09:47 AM I rely on the FBI's continued lack of competence as the best way to protect the US national security. Posted by: Anonymous at May 28, 2007 12:28 PM There's a piece in the latest Wired magazine about an employee at Sandia National Labs cyber stalking the lead singer of Linkin Park. The lab had bad security, auditing, and oversight (the employee spent all day every day just stalking the singer). Of course when outside investigators closed in they had to figure out how to do their job without triggering the lab's bureaucratic self defense mechanisms. You can read about it here: http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/news/2007/05/ff_linkinpark Posted by: Nathan at May 28, 2007 03:18 PM Remeber: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/01/radio_transmitt.html Now it's finally known what it was: Canadian 'poppy coin' culprit behind U.S. spy warning http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/05/07/canadian.coin.ap/ Posted by: aca at May 28, 2007 03:33 PM @aca: Already blogged about, just under three weeks ago. http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/05/poppy_coins_are.html Posted by: Bryan Feir at May 28, 2007 04:55 PM @Bruce The GAO report is quite interesting and depressing. You note the importance of auditing. I cannot help wondering how the staff responsible for IT security would have the capability to effectively audit access to resources if they did not have the skills/tools/resources/mindset to secure the network in the first place. Speaking from personal experience, I also have a few questions about Trilogy: 1. If Trilogy is so Uber sensitive, did the acountants budget accordingly? 2. Are the users ready and willing to buy into the security versus convenience tradeoff? 3. Did the Trilogy network architect highlight the security risks? I am cynical. It's far too easy for upper management to issue instructions of the "make it so" variety without understanding the real implications of their decisions. Complex IT security and human nature rarely mix well. Posted by: Hyper Cynic at May 28, 2007 05:08 PM "Complex IT security and human nature rarely mix well." (cough) Complex ANYTHING and human nature rarely mix well. It's just that few things outside of IT let you create such recursive castles of air. The non-physicality of IT is its weakness and its strength. Posted by: meta cynic at May 28, 2007 06:44 PM generally speaking GAO reports are meant to address toilet paper shortage in washington .. One should NEVER make a story of their pronouncements. This one is no exception Posted by: sooth_sayer at May 28, 2007 09:28 PM >Did the Trilogy network architect highlight the security risks? I doubt it. One of the many was too busy raking in the $$ Trilogy led to this failure: “The FBI's Upgrade That Wasn't,â€? The Washington Post (August 18, 2006). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/17/AR2006081701485.html. Posted by: Ranum Fan at May 29, 2007 04:15 PM Let's just say that the FBI is just like any other organisation, and it will be as long as they employ people like any other organisation... Sjaak Laan Posted by: Sjaak Laan at May 30, 2007 06:55 AM Post a comment
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