FBI investigating missing State Department laptop

Ann Harrison   Today’s Top Stories   or  Other Computerworld Stories  

The Secure Web Gateway. Mission Critical For Business Get a Grip on Storage Growth and Reduce Costs What's Next? Real Answers for Tough Times Instant download of E-Book Virtualization for Dummies. Beyond consolidation: five reasons why you should start virtualizing Enterprise Findability Without the Complexity Computerworld Report- Large Enterprises Pay More for IPAM An Apple for Your Enterprise? Six Questions To Ask About Information And Competition Sign up to receive Default Resource Alerts

April 19, 2000 (Computerworld) -- The U.S. State Department said yesterday that the FBI is leading an investigation into the disappearance two months ago of a State Department laptop computer that might have contained classified information. A department spokeswoman could not confirm whether any sensitive data that might have been stored on the missing laptop was encrypted.
According to the spokeswoman, State Department regulations prohibit processing classified information on computers that are not designed to handle sensitive data. But she could not confirm that the policies cover the encryption of specific files.
Last month, a laptop containing sensitive data about Northern Ireland was stolen from an agent of Britain's MI5 internal security bureau while he was buying a train ticket at London's Paddington station. The machine was never recovered, but the information it contained was understood to be heavily encrypted and believed to be secure.
In the U.S. case, the laptop was reported missing from the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. The bureau, which handles highly classified reports, was criticized last year by the department's inspector general for lax handling of "sensitive compartmented information" that the laptop reportedly held.
In response to this and other recent security breaches at the department, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright asked the Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security (DS), David Carpenter, to conduct a thorough review of security at the department. Carpenter has put together a team of senior security experts from various government agencies. The review, which began in March, is expected to be completed shortly.
"The safeguarding of sensitive information is the personal responsibility of every employee in the bureau," said State Department spokesman James Rubin in a statement on Monday. "It is crucially important to U.S. national security that our employees take this responsibility and take the necessary steps to protect the information."
The spokeswoman added that the DS information security staff is currently conducting a training and awareness program throughout the State Department. She noted that each office in the department assigns a staff member to serve as a unit security officer to ensure security policies are observed.
"We are committed to improving our security," said the spokeswoman. "As there is a possibility that classified information may have been compromised, this matter is now the subject of a joint FBI and DS investigation."
"The missing laptop is the latest in a long string of security failures at the State Department," said Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.), who heads the House International Relations Committee, in a statement on Monday. "It is obvious that the department lacks a professional environment that is sensitive to security concerns."
Gilman was referring to a number of recent security breaches. Last

Continued...
1 | 2 | NEXT  

Print this Story

Send Us Feedback

E-mail this Story

Digg this Story

Slashdot this Story

Obama's choice for DHS could flame tech visa battle BlackBerry Storm sales should be strong, Verizon says 10 great Bluetooth gadgets More top stories...

Microsoft to launch IE8 in '09; RC due out in Q1 Review: BlackBerry's Storm is awkward and disappointing Google shutters its Lively virtual world

2008 Salary Survey: IT pay takes tiny leaps If you're like our 7,000 survey respondents, your paycheck this year has been flattened and your bonus obliterated. We offer 12 ways to plump up your paycheck. Windows 7 in-depth review and video: This time Microsoft gets it right Microsoft's next OS might more accurately be called Windows 6.5: It's essentially a better version of Vista. Twitter for business: 5 ways to tap the power of the tweet Twitter can be a valuable business tool -- if you know what you're doing. Here's how to juice it for all it's worth. Microsoft's 'Vista Capable' changes outraged HP, insider e-mails show By helping Intel with loosened 'Vista Capable' requirements, Microsoft 'severely damaged' its credibility, said an HP exec in a newly unsealed Feb. 2006 e-mail. Windows 7 Get the latest news, reviews and more about Microsoft's newest desktop operating system More Continuing Coverage Windows 7 Voting Technology Google's Chrome browser Economy in turmoil: Latest news and tips iPhone 3G Bill Gates moves on Windows Vista A to Z Mac A to Z 2008 Salary Survey Find wage data for 50 IT job titles. More Special Reports 2008 Premier 100 IT Leaders 2007 Premier 100 IT Leaders 2008 Best Places to Work in IT 2007 Best Places to Work in IT 2008 Salary Survey 2007 Salary Survey 2006 Salary Survey 2008 IT Forecast 2007 IT Forecast 40 Years of Computerworld Top 12 Green-IT Users The FAQs About Going Green IT Schools to Watch iPhone: One Year Later Global Mobile Your Next Data Center Management: Reinventing IT Stop Data Leaks Web 2.0 Security Surviving Disasters Managing Storage Virtualization The Lean Storage Machine Storage on Trial Can Web 2.0 Save BI? Bypass These BI Potholes All Zones Business Continuity Zone The File Data Management Zone Security Management Zone The SAS Zone Business Intelligence and Analytics Zone The Enterprise Search Zone Software as a Service Zone The Security Zone See your link here

Turning information into a Competitive Advantage Turning information into a Competitive Advantage View this webcast now! Go to the webcast  Solving Real World Storage Problems Download this whitepaper now. As your storage needs grow, the cost of managing it need not spiral out of control.Our vision - Universal Distributed Storage - is about: mainstreaming high endstorage functionality solutions built on industrystandard hardware a broad partner ecosystem Our next generation of Server and NAS products - Windows Server 2003 R2 and Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 - will help you further reduce your storage costs. Download this executive briefing  Transforming Disaster Recovery - VMware Infrastructure for rapid, reliable and cost-effective Disaster Recovery Download this white paper today! (Source: VMware) VMware Infrastructure transforms disaster recovery by providing you fast, reliable and cost-effective disaster recovery. Why suffer from the slow, expensive and unreliable problems associated with traditional disaster recovery solution? VMware makes disaster recovery affordable through consolidation savings and re-use of existing servers for your disaster recovery site. Experience the speed of virtualization! Download this white paper  White Papers Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services. 2008 Internet Malware Trends Report Security Trends Overview: Targeted Phishing Attack Enterprise Findability Without the Complexity View more whitepapers

• Obama's choice for DHS could flame tech visa battle
• Microsoft to launch IE8 in '09; RC due out in Q1
• BlackBerry Storm sales should be strong, Verizon says
• More top stories 

• Thanks to gamers, the desktop supercomputer arrives

• Microsoft feared Mac vs. Vista comparison in '05, insider e-mails show

• New Firefox app lets users pimp their browsers

Read more news 

• IO issues with novice users

• It's doing something now...

Read more Shark Bait 

Security Directions: Strategies and Tactics for Protecting Your Enterprise in 2009 Attend the Security Directions virtual event, with sessions available live on December 16, 2008 and available on-demand from December 17 though March 17, 2009. Some topics that will be covered include: Best Practices around Data Leak Prevention (DLP). What exactly is security due diligence and why does it matter? Cloud security and privacy. End-point security - rising gas prices have caused an increase in the number of remote workers, which leads to more security issues. Register now for this event that happens on December 16, 2008, but will also available on-demand from December 17 - March 17, 2009. Register Now!

Five Ways ERP Can Help You Implement Lean Getting in operational shape or becoming lean has been a primary goal of many companies over the last few years. Why is Lean so popular? Because it delivers what is truly needed in today's highly competitive world: shorter lead times, improved quality, reduced cost, increased profit, improved productivity, and enhanced customer service. Download this white paper now!