FBI investigating missing State Department laptop

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