Leaked Homeland Security doc warns of data threats

The document, entitled Foreign Travel Threat Assessment: Electronic Communications Vulnerabilities was posted to the whistleblower website WikiLeaks on Friday. It gives advice to corporate and government travellers on how to stop data falling into criminal or foreign-government hands.

A spokesperson for the US Department of Homeland Security (US-DHS) confirmed that a memo with that title had been circulated to US-DHS employees in June. (ZDnet)

Government elaborates, slightly, on cybersecurity plan

Paul Schneider, deputy secretary for DHS, along with other senior federal officials, offered more information at a forum hosted by the Information Technology Association of America. Plans for the initiative include enhancing the current cyberintrusion detection system, working more closely with the private sector (a longstanding federal mantra), and focusing on foreign threats.(CNET)

Homeland Security lacking ‘open source’ intelligence

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has not met requirements to provide “open source” intelligence–that is, publicly available information–for state and local law enforcement, a new report shows.  The House Committee on Homeland Security released a report Friday criticizing the department after interviewing more than 350 state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials about the DHS’s open source intelligence efforts.  While 82 percent of law enforcement officials surveyed said they use open source information, 60 percent said the DHS needed to establish a training program on how to use the department’s open source material. Half of respondents said the DHS’s open source products did not meet their needs. (CNET)

US Homeland Security uses MySpace for alerts – Consumer Tech

US Homeland Security uses MySpace for alerts Consumer Tech, Ireland - 3 hours ago Internet | 08 Sep 2008 : The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has developed a tool for MySpace users to get emergency broadcast warnings for natural …