OAKLAND COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL Argus Online - More Local NewsBurglars strike high school five times in seven days
Little equipment left;

By Alex Katz, STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND -- Burglars have hit a small high school in East Oakland five times in seven days, methodically taking everything from televisions to art supplies and leaving the school with almost no equipment, school officials said.

The School of Social Justice and Community Development has had several break-ins this year. But there were no major losses until last week, when burglars stole several TVs during a March 29 holiday, school director Kali Akuno said.

Thieves were back almost every night between the first break-in and Monday to steal computers, overhead projectors, DVD players and even cleaning supplies, Akuno said.

"We've been cleaned out," Akuno said. "We have no technology here."

There was apparently no sign of forced entry during the first few break-ins, and some speculate that the thefts were an inside job.

"It appeared at first it was somebody who had a key," Akuno said.

The school district changed the locks Thursday, but burglars forced the lock on one classroom and stole more equipment, he said.

There was still one computer bolted to a table in a classroom Wednesday. Another computer had been torn off the table, and a printer smashed on the floor.

The School of Social Justice, a small, alternative high school known for radical politics, recruits students who have dropped out or are on probation.

The Middle East Children's Alliance donated three computers to the school Wednesday, Akuno said.

Student "Buddha" Centers, 16, said he did not believe the break-ins were an inside job.

"I think it's just some random person who knows when the school is closed," he said, adding, "Whoever took (the equipment) affected this whole school."

Another student accused the school district of stealing the equipment in an attempt to sabotage the school.

The school has had a somewhat rocky relationship with the district. Even before the school opened in 2002, leaders fought with the district over where the campus would be and when it would open.

The school found a temporary home at the Allen Temple Baptist Church in East Oakland, but was evicted after clashes over student behavior and church rules.

Students are now in portable classrooms in back of Castlemont High School. The district is building a permanent campus on the site.

Oakland police Lt. Howard Jordan said investigators do not have any leads.

School break-ins are com-mon in Oakland. A number of break-ins occurred during the last month at campuses such as Fremont High School, Oakland Technical High School and Franklin Elementary School.

Undercover officers have been assigned to stake out some campuses, Jordan said.

"We've caught a few people, but (school burglaries have been) fairly prevalent in the last month or so," he said.

Last year, one stolen computer was returned to the district by a woman who said she bought the machine from someone in San Francisco.

KANSAS COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM BUSINESS Investigators: Arson cause of fire at TatroFriday, April 9, 2004 2:05:37 PMInvestigators: Arson cause of fire at Tatro



Posted on Friday, April 9, 2004 2:05:37 PM
knelson@gctelegram.com

A suspected arson fire at Tatro Plumbing last night did more than $100,000 in damage at the business that has been in Garden City for more than 40 years.

Finney County Sheriff's Office investigators suspect the fire might have been a cover up for a burglary, where computer equipment was stolen out of the company's office, Sheriff Kevin Bascue said.

The building at 3997 Buffalo Jones Ave. was seen burning about 11 p.m., Fire Chief Allen Shelton said. The blaze was reported by a renter who lives in one of the three trailers leased on the property, said Carl Otero, Tatro service manager.

Sheriff's office investigators believe one of the other renters, a 23-year-old man, broke into the building and stole about $3,000 worth of computer equipment and tools, Bascue said. They also suspect the man started several fires inside the building between 10 and 11 p.m.

The man is in the Finney County Jail for an unrelated traffic warrant and hasn't been arrested in connection with the robbery or arson. But, Bascue said, the man could be charged with criminal trespassing, arson and burglary upon completion of the investigation. The stolen property has been recovered.

It was just last week when Tatro Plumbing Co. Inc.'s longtime owners, Jim Johnson and Bob Kreutzer, sold the firm to its 30 employees through an employee stock option program. Most all of those employees came to the fire last night, Otero said, because "everyone has a big stake in this investment here."

In addition to the building damage, three of the business' 12 trucks also were severely burned, Otero said. He said he suspected fires had been started in the trucks' seat upholstery. Some propane tanks that are attached to each of the vehicles ignited, complicating putting out the fire, Otero said. Propane fires can't be put out with water, so the blaze only could be contained, not put out. Sheriff's office reports show that two of the pickups were destroyed; a GMC and a Dodge worth $12,000 and $10,000. The Fire Department's ongoing investigation estimated there was more than $100,000 in damage to the building structure and contents all together, Shelton said.

MICROSOFT COMPUTER SECURITY ISSUES BECOME TOP PRIORITY Microsoft’s Ballmer: Security is top priorityMicrosoft’s Ballmer: Security is top priority

By Brad Grimes
Staff Writer

All technology companies are now “permanently in the security business,” Microsoft Corp.’s chief executive office said today. It’s the one area of technology innovation where companies need to cooperate instead of compete, he said.

Steve Ballmer spoke at a lunch in Washington sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Business Software Alliance.

“In the weeks, months and years ahead, there will be times when the security challenges we collectively face seem actually to be getting worse, not better,” Ballmer said. “As security threats change, our response must also adapt and change.”

Ballmer said Microsoft is devoting a substantial portion of the company’s $7 billion research and development budget to creating products and technologies that help secure networks and computers. The company’s efforts fall into four main areas, he said:

*Developing isolation techniques and technologies that keep malicious code from reaching computer systems. Among the new technologies will be “behavior blocking,” which can intercept suspicious code and prevent it from running on a computer.

*Improving ways that users and IT managers can keep systems up to date, including extending Microsoft’s update management features to its other software products.

*Improving quality of the software it produces by using intelligent development tools that can analyze code to identify potential security risks.

*Creating authentication and access control systems that keep unauthorized or unprotected systems from accessing networks. Microsoft is working on quarantine solution that will inspect a PC before it’s allowed to connect to a network. Other infrastructure management solutions already include such functionality.

Ballmer emphasized that software vulnerabilities are not solely a Microsoft issue, even though the company’s Windows products have been under near-constant attack from hackers and worm authors who seek to exploit holes in the software’s code.

“Our products are often the prime targets for cybercriminals, yet this is not really about any single technology or computing platform,” Ballmer said.

The mention of “our new partners at Sun Microsystems” as one of many technology companies involved in making secure systems elicited laughs from the audience. The long-time enemies recently signed an agreement [http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/1_1/daily_news/23212-1.html ] to collaborate on technology solutions.

Ballmer said Microsoft would look to the government for help with research and development and to promote cybersecurity awareness.

“In today’s security environment, code needs to be written with the assumption that it’s going to come under attack,” Ballmer said. “I don’t care if it’s our products or competitive products; we all need to work to eliminate the vulnerabilities in popular software products.”

NEW YORK COMPUTER STOLEN FROM HOSPITAL Police say man stole computer from hospital(Original publication: April 9, 2004)

A Bronx man learned the hard way that the videotape doesn't lie when police charged him with stealing a computer from the Putnam Hospital Center, a crime that was captured by a security camera.

Steven Tyska, 50, is scheduled to appear May 3 in Carmel Town Court to answer a charge of fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony. Investigator Vincent Martin and Senior Investigator Patrick Castaldo from the county sheriff's office went to the Bronx on Tuesday, arrested Tyska at his apartment and recovered the stolen computer, Sheriff Donald Smith said.

Smith said Tyska went to the hospital on Dec. 21 to visit a relative who was a patient there. While walking past an office on the ground floor, Tyska saw a computer on an unattended reception desk and decided to steal it, police said. He allegedly wrapped the computer in a plastic trash bag, placed it under his arm and carried it off.

But Smith said that Tyska wasn't aware that the theft of the $1,100 device was captured on a hospital security camera. With help from hospital security personnel, Martin was able to identify Tyska as the suspect. Tyska, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, was arraigned before Carmel Town Justice Joseph Spofford.

CONNECTICUT COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL Record-JournalWALLINGFORD — The arrest of a Goshen woman charged with stealing computers from Moses Y .Beach school came from anonymous calls to police by acquaintances of the woman, a court affidavit stated.

On Monday, police arrested Margaret B. Strachan on charges of first-degree larceny, third-degree computer crime and altering manufacturer's serial numbers. Strachan is accused of stealing eight IBM Thinkpad laptop computers from the school during the Christmas holiday break.

According to a court affidavit, the computers were valued at about $13,560. Power supplies and cords were also stolen.

Anonymous callers who tipped police off to Strachan said they had visited her home at 484 Sharon Turnpike and saw about 20 stolen computers in the house. Police believe other computers were stolen from Teikyo Post University in Waterbury.

School officials reported the computers as stolen on Jan. 5, after returning from break. Some of the computers were stolen from a locked laptop cart, said Randall Backus, director of information technology services. Others were taken from an office near the school's entrance.

At the time of the theft, Strachan was employed by the Horizon Services Co. of New Haven and East Hartford. She is no longer employed by the company, Ted Hsu of Horizon Services said.

Hsu stressed that his company performs routine background checks on all employees, and Strachan, who worked with the company for 10 years, had no prior criminal background.

The company "amicably" terminated the contract with the school, he said, adding he believed Strachan is innocent, and was possibly framed.

"She's certainly been in charge of larger jobs than that. And I believe she has nothing to do with it," Hsu said. "We're confident she'll be found not guilty."

Police believe Strachan gave some of the computers to her daughters as Christmas presents. The first of the computers recovered was found at Strachan's 20-year-old daughter's home in Waterbury.



Other computers were turned over or sold to an acquaintance of Strachan's who worked at Teikyo Post University, police believe, who assisted in removing the computer's security chips. Several of those were also eventually turned over to police, where serial numbers stored in the computers were found to match those stolen from Moses Y.

Strachan was released on a $5,000 bond and is due in Meriden Superior Court on April 15.

PCIS www.pcis.org PARTNERSHIP FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY WEBSITE
"Government at the federal, state and local level must actively collaborate and partner with the private sector, which controls 85 percent of America's infrastructure. ... The Nation's infrastructure protection effort must harness the capabilities of the private sector to achieve a prudent level of security without hindering productivity, trade or economic growth."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The President's National Strategy for Homeland Security, page 33


Our Mission

The mission of the Partnership is to coordinate cross-sector initiatives and complement public-private efforts to promote the assurance of reliable provisions of critical infrastructure services in the face of emerging risks to economic and national security.

What's New
CIP Calendar and Awareness Resource Repository
The PCIS maintains a CIP Calendar of events related to Critical Infrastructure Protection as well as an Awareness Resource Repository of CIP related collateral. The sites are available to help users find collateral or events of interest being offered on this important subject. Tools are now available for the public to submit entries for review and posting on these valuable resource pages. We encourage you to provide information about material or an event that you would like listed on these pages.

CONTINUED ON WEBSITE LINK............

MARYLAND LAPTOP STOLEN FROM BUSINESSHoward County Times: "Guilford Road, 10800 block, Computer Maintenance Alternatives, 8:17 p.m. March 31. Laptop computer stolen in commercial break-in."

INDIANA COMPUTER STOLEN FROM UNIVERSITYThe Ball State Daily News - Recent burglaries could lead to increased patrolsApril 08, 2004


The burglary of a Department of Art computer last weekend, along with the rise in data projector burglaries this year, might spark an increase in the patrol of academic buildings around campus, university police said.

According to police reports, a Macintosh computer estimated at $3,500 was stolen between 4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Monday from Art and Journalism Building Room 309. There was no indication of forced entry, the report said.

"That indicates either the door was open or a key was used," Assistant Chief Bob Fey said.

Fey said all university police officers and supervisors are assigned specific campus buildings to check during their day and night shifts. Before last weekend's burglary, the most recent burglaries on campus included those of data projectors stolen from the Cooper Life Science and Teachers College buildings in January, he said.

"When we have this kind of theft, the information is shared with the officers of the different shifts, and depending on time and availability there may be increased patrol in those areas," Fey said. "Certainly we make every effort to respond to these."

Art Department Chairman David Jackson said the department has asked police to step up patrols in the building, and is also making sure faculty and students are responsible for locking classrooms.

"We know that the room was locked Friday evening," Jackson said. "It's still being investigated how (the computer) was taken over the weekend."

The investigative process will include interviewing people in the departmental area, getting a list of people who might have had access to the room and talking to them about any suspicions they have, and checking pawn shops, Fey said.

Jackson said the Department of Art currently does not have the funds to replace the G4-model Macintosh computer and is investigating what can be done to replace it. The absence of the computer in room 309, a student lab, is a major loss, he said.

"It's just another burden and affects tuition in a sense," Jackson said. "Especially when there's a theft, there are resources that have to go to those things that normally would not."

Jackson and Fey said they hope the investigation and police patrols will help prevent future burglary attempts.

"We're hoping that the patrols the officers are conducting through these facilities are making an impact," Fey said.

US MACWORLD ARTICLE ON LAPTOP SECURITY AND ANTI THEFT Macworld: Mobile MacMobile Mac
Laptop Lockdown
By Jason Cook

Laptop owners adore PowerBooks and iBooks for their snazzy looks, light weight, and excellent resale value. Unfortunately, thieves like them for the very same reasons. And the person who steals your laptop not only nabs your hardware but also may gain access to financial records, corporate data, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information. There are ways to protect your computer and your data. Whether you lash down your laptop with steel cables or apply military-grade data encryption across your hard drive, protecting your laptop takes some effort -- but it may be easier than you expect.

Secure It
You spent a lot of money on your iBook or PowerBook, so you don't want to leave it lying around. Although fancy computer cases and bags are great for carrying and protecting your laptop from harm, they're also good at drawing attention to what's inside. When you're on the road, consider dressing down -- swap your flashy computer case for a protective notebook sleeve, which can be tucked into any nondescript bag or backpack. Other commonsense techniques provide security that's stronger than any gadget -- always lock your laptop in the trunk when you must leave it in a car, or stash it in a drawer when you leave it in a hotel room or an office cubicle.

Lock It Down All Apple portables include a Kensington Security Slot. It's usually located near the modem port, marked by a padlock icon. To physically secure your laptop computer, loop a steel security cable around room fixtures or hefty furniture, and then lock the cable into the slot.

Kensington markets its own MicroSaver brand of cables ($57 to $80; http://www.microsaver.com) made from aircraft-grade steel and Kevlar fiber. However, since the Kensington-size slot is a widely used standard in the PC world, too, you can often find third-party cables that cost less. Not all manufacturers boast the fancy materials or custom-key solutions that Kensington does, but let's face it -- to a grab-and-run thief, steel cables all look alike. If you'd like a thicker cable but don't want to fumble around for keys, check out the $36 Universal Combo Notebook Lock, from AppleLocks.com, which features a combination lock.

A security cable's weak link is a lazy user -- tying up a computer is a hassle, and carrying steel cables can be a drag. For some users, Kensington's travel-size $30 Retractable MicroSaver is a sensible compromise between convenience and security, since it uses a thin retractable cable that's more portable. (Note that cable locks are being confiscated from carry-on luggage in some airports, for security reasons.)

Make It Loud Sonic alarms are another way to tie down your laptop. The $50 Targus Defcon 1 Ultra Notebook Computer Security System (http://www.targus .com) greets would-be thieves with a shrieking, 95-decibel wail. Kensington's $45 SonicLock Motion-Detecting Alarm (http://www.kensington.com) offers similar protection. Both devices are motion-triggered alarms that also plug directly into the Security Slot; arming or disarming them requires a key combination.

Some alarms, such as the $60 TrackIt (http://www.trackitcorp.com), consist of a small radio transmitter and a receiver with a sonic alarm. Drop the alarm in your laptop bag, and if the signal between it and the transmitter is lost, the alarm sounds. (These devices punish thieves and absent-minded owners.)

US GOVERNMENT FEDERAL COMPUTER SECURITY REPORT CARD RELEASEDThe federal computer security report card: Lessons from Uncle Sam - ComputerworldAPRIL 07, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - For the fourth year in a row, the federal government released its "Report Card on Computer Security at Federal Departments and Agencies" (download PDF). The average grade for fiscal year 2003 was a D (65). The overall average grade in 2002 was an F (55); in 2001, it was also an F (53). Since 2000 was the first year that any measurements were taken, that year's score was "Incomplete" with a letter grade of D-.
Looking at the situation through the lens of an eternal optimist (and realist), maybe, just maybe, agency heads, the Office of Management and Budget and Congress will start looking for ways to get these agencies where they should be. An empire in the age of technology can and should be able to get passing grades in information security.

As an alternative to looking at the trends and drawing the conclusion that things aren't really that bad since, after all, the overall score is improving, let's examine instead the underlying factors that led to these scores. Then we can see why our dear Uncle Sam needs some help and can offer some suggestions.

Through this analysis, it will become clear that the issues are related to establishing, maintaining and measuring enterprise security management strategy as part of the systems development life cycle so that no government agency or company ever has to settle for a D.

Why the bad grades?

CONTINUED on website link........

TEXAS COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM LOCAL UNIVERSITIES News 8 Austin | 24 Hour Local News | LOCAL NEWS | University offices targets of computer theftUniversity offices targets of computer theft
4/6/2004 4:10 PM
By: Amy Bowlin

Police at a number of local universities are busy trying to solve the same crime -- a string of computer thefts on at least three different campuses.

Some picky thieves have picked clean some university offices.

"All the items stolen from us were Dell. They passed by the white-box computers and went for the black," St. Edward's University Police Chief Ron Willis said.

In the last month there have been break-ins at The University of Texas, Texas State University and St. Edward's University. Someone is stealing computer monitors and towers.

"In my mind, there's a group of individuals [who] have gotten together and targeted universities for computer thefts," Willis said.

Police are using the same items thieves are after to update leads on the cases.

"I got on the computer and I notified all the universities from Georgetown to San Antonio to let them know we'd been hit and to let them know to watch out," Willis said.

St. Edward's police said what surprises them most is the boldness of the break-ins. The thief or thieves broke into the same building the police department is in at TxSt. They broke into the registrar's office at UT, which is right in the middle of campus. And at St. Edward's, they broke into a central building, with a class going on right below.

At least two dozen items were stolen from the three campuses including laptops, monitors and computer towers.

"They're not stealing from students, they're stealing from the universities themselves," Willis said.

Police said someone may have used a crowbar and screwdriver to break in. While students and their things aren't at risk, police want to crack these cases so they don't slow down any more campus offices

UNITED STATES NIST FINAL DRAFT GUIDE FOR THE SECURITY CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION OF FEDERAL INFORMATION SYSTEMSNIST Computer Security DRAFT Publications
The final draft of NIST Special Publication 800-37, Guide for the Security Certification and Accreditation of Federal Information Systems, has been completed and is available for public comment. This document is one of a series of security standards and guidelines being developed by NIST's Computer Security Division in response to the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002. For additional information, please visit the NIST FISMA Implementation Project web site. Comments are requested by April 21st, 2004 and can be submitted to sec-cert@nist.gov.

UNITED STATES NIST FINAL DRAFT GUIDE FOR THE SECURITY CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION OF FEDERAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The final draft of NIST Special Publication 800-37, Guide for the Security Certification and Accreditation of Federal Information Systems, has been completed and is available for public comment. This document is one of a series of security standards and guidelines being developed by NIST's Computer Security Division in response to the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002. For additional information, please visit the NIST FISMA Implementation Project web site. Comments are requested by April 21st, 2004 and can be submitted to sec-cert@nist.gov.

TEXAS COMPUTERS AND HARD DRIVES CONTAINING CREDIT INFORMATION STOLEN FROM BUSINESSESThe CourierCredit information stolen from thousands

By: Sue Thackeray April 05, 2004



Information that could be used to steal the identities of thousands of Montgomery County residents was taken from five Conroe businesses.

The burglaries happened sometime Sunday night or Monday morning at an office building located at 2125 N. Loop 336 W.
"They entered into one of the office suites by breaking a window," Conroe Police Sgt. Bob Berry said of the burglars. "They then gained access to the other suites on the shared hallway by prying open the doors."
Computer equipment, including hard drives, servers, monitors and other items, were taken from First Option Financial, May Realty, Farmers Insurance, LPL Financial and Stewart Title.
The computers for many of the businesses contained Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account numbers and other personal information for people who have dealt with those companies, Berry said.
"This wasn't kids fooling around on the weekend," Berry said. "These people knew what they wanted. They probably already have buyers for this information, or they're part of a ring. They were obviously out on a mission."
Jack Stinson, the president of First Option Financial, said personal information for as many as 3,000 people who have dealt with his company in the past three years, even those who simply filled out a credit application, was taken.
"There are Social Security numbers, bank accounts, addresses, driver's license numbers," Stinson said. "Everything does have passwords, but the police have told me these people will probably be able to get past the passwords."
Stinson said his company will mail letters and send e-mails to clients whose information was stolen. But police said people who suspect their information may have been stored at any of these businesses should immediately request credit reports from the three major credit reporting agencies.
"They need to contact their credit card companies, all three credit reporting agencies, banks if they have an ATM card or their bank account information was listed," Berry said. "They need to get their banks to change their account numbers and at least let them know what's going on."
The most important thing for people who have dealt with these companies to do is to keep a close eye on their bank accounts, credit card statements and credit reports, said Detective Nolan Fannin, who specializes in identity theft cases for the Conroe Police Department.
"If there are any inquiries on the credit reports that they didn't make or any money transfers out of their bank account, they need to immediately file a police report in the jurisdiction where they reside," Fannin said. "If they live in Conroe, they need to call us. If they live in the county, they need to call the Sheriff's Department. If they live in Montgomery, they need to call the Montgomery Police Department."
Fannin said anyone whose information may have been stolen needs to act immediately and remain vigilant from now on.
"They could be using the numbers now, or it could take them several years," Fannin said. "They buy, sell and trade these things like baseball cards."
Anyone who has done business in the past three years with any of the businesses burglarized is urged to call all three credit reporting agencies to get a credit report: Equifax, (800) 525-6285; Experian, (800) 397-3742; and Trans Union, (800) 680-7289.
For more information about identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call (877) ID-THEFT

JAPAN 21 COMPUTERS CONTAINING PERSONAL PATIENT INFORMATION STOLEN FROM HOSPITALDaily Yomiuri On-LineMie Pref. hospital robbed of 4.8 mil. yen, 21 computers

Yomiuri Shimbun

About 4.8 million yen and 21 personal computers were stolen from a hospital in Ueno, Mie Prefecture, on two occasions in October and November, police said Tuesday.

The police suspect the theft was possibly committed by the same suspect who has robbed hospitals of cash and computers that contain personal information in neighboring Nara Prefecture.

However, the computers stolen from the hospital did not contain personal data, according to hospital officials.

According to the investigation, an employee of the hospital found early Oct. 22 that 528,000 yen was missing from a safe in a first-floor office. The safe is believed to have been broken open by a crowbar. Seventeen computers also were stolen from another office on the same floor.

Four computers and 4.28 million yen were stolen Nov. 7 from a second-floor office after the windows were broken and a safe in the office was ransacked

LOS ANGELES LIGATT CORPORATION OFFERS COMPUTER SECURITY SERVICESLIGATT Security Offers a Computer Security Protection Team (CSPT) to Combat Personal Computer CrimeTuesday April 6, 9:30 am ET


LOS ANGELES, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- LIGATT Corporation's slogan, which reads "Protecting the World's Computers, One CPU at a Time!" has launched a new computer security service which is now available to make home and office visits to investigate computer related crimes.
"People can call 866-ON-OUR-WAY 24 hours a day seven days a week and report a computer security problem," said CEO Gregory D. Evans of LIGATT Security which heads the Computer Security Protection Team.

Once the report is made, an agent from the protection team will come out 7 days a week as late as 10 pm to look at your computer to detect any security problems you may have. "The problem with computer crimes is many people do not know they can be reported or who to report them to," said Evans.

For only $199 a member of the CSP Team will come to your home or office to provide the following services:

* Search & Destroy All Pop-Ads Hidden On Your Computer.

* Securely Erase All Unwanted Files

* Check To See If Your Network Is Safe From Hackers.

* Install Firewall Software To Keep Hackers Out (if needed).

* Install & Configure Anti-Computer Theft Software (if needed).

* Install & Configure A Password Manager To Secure & Keeps Track Of All
Your Passwords.

* Check & Secure Your Wireless Network (if needed).

* Install Computer Recovery Software Just In Case Your Computer Is
Ever Stolen.


This includes anti-spy software, anti-virus software, firewall software, computer recovery software, anti-pop-up and password management software. There is no software to purchase and there is no hourly fee to install and configure.

For more information please go to www.ligatt.com or contact:

LIGATT Security
310-846-5039
866 ON-OUR-WAY 24 Hour Emergency Responds Line
PR@LIGATT.com

MAINE HIGH SCHOOL COMPUTERS STOLENCommunity News - Get in the thick of it Rockland Village SoupComputers stolen in RDHS burglary
By Staff
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ROCKLAND (April 5, 2004): Burglars hit Rockland District High School over the weekend and stole four computers valued at $4,000, according to Rockland police.

Deputy Police Chief Wally Tower said a window to a locked room at the high school was forced open, and the computers were the only items taken.

MSAD 5 Superintendent Ann Demers said all were Apple computers, and didn't specify whether they are laptop or desktop units. She said one computer thought stolen was later found inside the classroom.

Tower said the burglars targeted the computers specifically. "They knew what they were after," he said.

The burglary wasn't discovered until 7 a.m. Monday morning, and police are currently investigating.

LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL COMPUTERS STOLENWildcat - University High School - ArticleLate-Night Invasion Devastates School

By José Dubón

Unidentified individuals broke into the Administration Building and stole 37 Apple iBook laptops from room 233 early Tuesday morning.
For the second time this school year, the Administration Building was infiltrated, and computers and computer equipment therein were stolen.

The burglars pried open the rear door of the Administration Building at approximately 3 a.m., when, officials suspect, they proceeded directly to room 233.

Investigators believe that the perpetrators had considerable knowledge about the campus and planned the theft preemptively, because they clearly knew where staff stores much of its computing equipment.

The individuals caused approximately $80,000 worth of damage and theft.

“When I found out at 6:30 in the morning when I came,” said Technology Coordinator Steven Bardfield, “it made the hairs on the back of my head stand up,”

“And it’s not because of the physical loss of the computers,” he added, “but because of all the hard work that went into maintaining and making sure that they work.” Bardfield has invested countless hours in maintaining and improving computer equipment throughout campus.

Apparently, the thieves tripped the school’s silent alarm, but police officers did not respond to the call.

“The police didn’t come because the alarm goes off all the time,” said Assistant Principal Ali Galedary. “The alarm works, but it has some bugs we have to work out.”

All of the laptops shared within the Administration Building were stored in room 233, and now, school faculty will have to double their classes’ use of the Mac Lab to accommodate for the loss of equipment.

Officials hope that the insurance of the laptops, purchased with Prop. AB 2882 funds in 2001, will cover a large number of the stolen computers.

“I feel violated,” said Principal Elois McGehee. “I’m upset that someone came into our school and took a vital part of our instructional program.”

Officials are preparing to escalate the intensity of burglary investigations.

UKRAINE ARTICLE ON COMPUTER CRIME A Latency of Computer CrimesDate: April 05, 2004
Source: Computer Crime Research Center
By: Victor Sabadash


Computer technologies and international computer systems created a new environment. This environment favours crimes of national and transnational levels. Criminal formations and specialists in illegal business use the newest technologies to the full extent for money laundering, distributing of false information, unauthorized access to information systems and other violations. Revenues from these crimes rank third after incomes from drugs and arms trade [1]. A threat of computer crime also represents a significant support of the organized criminality for performing violent crimes, act of terrorism in particular [2].

Besides, computer crimes are often committed quietly, without any fuss. A mechanism and modus operandi of computer crimes are typical and latent. So, according to FBI, between 85% and 97% crimes are not even revealed [3]. Some other experts estimate the latency of computer crimes to reach 80% in the USA, up to 85% in the UK, 75% in Germany, more than 90% in Russia [4]. Less than 1% of crimes reach the court in the West, where the statistics on computer crimes is more reliable and large. At that, according to specialists’ statements the inspection allows to reveal not more than 10% of e-thefts [5].

The article is topical because along with the obvious threat, which is posed by computer crimes for international community and certain success of law enforcement in fighting it, the level of latency of these crimes remains high.

CONTINUED........

INDIA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL Navhind Times on the Web: GoaMargao April 4: Some unknown persons effected entry into the Multi Purpose high school at Borda on Saturday night and decamped with computer sets.

Police said that the said sets were kept in a room which was broken and computers worth Rs 50,000 stolen.

Police said that the principal of the school has lodged a complaint giving details of the case and investigations are in progress. Police have registered an offence under section 380, 457 and 454 of IPC. Multi Purpose high school is a sub-center for SSC examinations.

BRIGADOON SOFTWARE RELEASES ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE PRODUCT eBCVG Network Security - Your source for information securityProtect your Enterprise from Computer Theft
Posted on Saturday, 03 April 2004

Brigadoon Software Announces Low Cost Enterprise Edition of PC PhoneHome™ and MacPhoneHome™ Computer Theft Recovery Software for the Academic Community

Nanuet, New York, April 5, 2004 – Brigadoon Software, a world leader in computer anti-theft and recovery software, is offering its Enterprise versions of PC PhoneHome™ and MacPhoneHome™ tracking software to the Academic Community in the United States at special low cost discount prices.

For $9,995 per year, an academic organization can protect all its computers against theft with the BSI Blanket Enterprise license, including administration, classroom, faculty and student computers. Brigadoon Software will also provide all updates, technical support and theft recovery assistance at no additional cost. Special discount pricing is also available for organizations with less than 1000 computers.

“Our software has been extremely valuable to those in the academic community that already use our products,” said Terrance Kawles, president of Brigadoon Software. “For the price of four mid-priced laptops, large institutions can protect their entire computer inventory.”

For additional information, contact Brigadoon Software at: sales@brigadoonsoftware.com. Additional product information is also available at: http://www.brigadoonsoftware.com/productinfo.php

This price structure is guaranteed to participating academic institutions for three years.

About Brigadoon Software

Brigadoon Software, Inc. is the number one provider of computer tracking and recovery software in the world to both the Windows and Macintosh communities. Our award winning PC PhoneHome™ and MacPhoneHome™ software products are internationally recognized as "Best of Brand."

Public Relations Contact
For more information, please contact:
Public Relations Department
Brigadoon Software, Inc.
Attn: Martin Moran
143 Main Street
Nanuet, New York 10954
Tel: +1.845.624.0909
Fax: +1.845.624.0990
Email: mmoran@brigadoonsoftware.com
Website: www.brigadoonsoftware.com

AUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT COMPUTER THEFT ISSUE CAUSING CONCERNThe Australian: Stolen laptops contained secret Defence material [April 03, 2004]Stolen laptops contained secret Defence material
By John Kerin
April 03, 2004
LAPTOP PCs with top-secret Defence material were among the more than 1000 laptops stolen from government departments over the past four years, an inquiry has found.

Thieves also walked away with more than 250 desktop computers.

The alarming picture has emerged in a report on the security of government electronic information by the federal Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit.

The report says Defence has topped the list of laptop losses, with 537 missing. Industry and Tourism has lost 138 and Family and Community Services is missing 117 -- the latter scoring the highest rate of desktop theft (94).

"For sheer volume, the quantity of equipment lost by Defence stands out," the report says. "A particularly worrying aspect of the (537) Defence losses is that three of the computers lost contained material classified as secret.

"Even though these machines were recovered, these incidents represent significant security breaches."

The report says the theft of Defence information is underscored by an incident in 1990 where a British Defence laptop with plans for the 1991 Gulf War was stolen.

The report reveals that most often laptops are stolen from offices, private homes, vehicles and hotel rooms. Others have been left in taxis and lost at airports.

The report also found that physical security around commonwealth offices, which often shared space with private-sector businesses, was sometimes lax.

"The committee found that a number of commonwealth agencies had inadequate levels of physical security for IT equipment," committee chairman and Liberal MP Bob Charles said.

"This was reflected in successful breaches of the security of facilities, poor record-keeping on lost or stolen IT equipment and a lack of appropriate reporting mechanisms."

The committee said many agencies had followed a policy of reporting only the most serious thefts to the agency responsible for government IT security - the Defence Signals Directorate - and many had not been reported to police.

These actions should be mandatory after a theft.

The committee also recommended that laptops be assigned to an individual rather than an agency.

MARYLAND UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ADDRESSES LAPTOP THEFT ISSUE ON CAMPUS DiamondbackOnline.com: Officials warn commuters of laptop theft, hackingThe great thing about laptop computers is their portability, allowing users to take them anywhere.

The downside, however, is that same portability allows other people to easily take them anywhere.

Thirty laptop computers have been reported stolen in the past year, according to police records, moving the Office of Information Technology and University Police to focus on IT security issues for commuters who bring the computers on the campus.

Although University Police spokeswoman Maj. Cathy Atwell denied a recent surge in laptop thefts, university officials said the computers are particularly alluring to thieves.

"Since laptops are so portable and valuable, they are targeted across campus, from residence halls to classrooms and lounges," said Sgt. Laura Dyer of the University Police's Crime Prevention Unit. "They should never be left unsecured and unattended."

University Police officials suggest using layers of security to protect laptops and all property.

"If a laptop is stored in a room or office, that room should always be locked if it is unoccupied," Dyer said. "Next, start adding additional layers of security. One secondary security device is a portable laptop cable that secures a laptop to a table or desk."

Moreover, laptop users should also be concerned about viruses and worms, unauthorized account access, file sharing, hacking and eavesdropping - the top five threats to computer security for commuters, according to Project NEThics, an organization within OIT.

Eavesdropping is especially prevalent among users of wireless networks, which send the signals into the air and leave them open for the taking. Eavesdropping can be used specifically to intercept passwords, credit card numbers or other personal information, which can lead to identity fraud. By setting higher security levels and encryption software, laptop users can prevent eavesdropping.

To avoid computer hacking, OIT suggests installing a firewall and not leaving network connections open while away from the computer.

Software can also be used to help protect laptops, Dyer said.

"These programs can help track where a stolen computer is being used, and some can even remove sensitive data remotely," she said.

Commuters can also protect their computers through the STOP Tag program, which is a nationwide program that uses security plates that adhere to laptops, Dyer said.

Once adhered, it takes 800 pounds of pressure to remove a security plate. Even if the plate is removed, a tattoo is chemically etched into the casing reading "Stolen Property" and displaying an 800-number used to recover the computers.

Customers report significant theft reduction when using STOP Tag, according to the University Police website. Manufacturers' statistics show nine out of 10 computers lost or stolen that have a security plate are recovered.

The STOP Tag costs about $15, while cables to fasten laptops to desks cost about $40, according to the University Police website.

Commuters concerned about computer safety can attend Commuter Hot Spot, sponsored by Project NEThics, on April 7. The event will coordinate with a national Cyber Security Day on April 4, sponsored by the National Cyber Security Alliance, according to OIT spokeswoman Amy Ginther.

More information about the STOP Tag program can be found at www.stoptheft.com.

ARIZONA HARD DRIVE WITH SENSITIVE DATA STOLEN FROM DEMOCRATIC PARTY OFFICE COMPUTERDemocratic office target of crimesDemocratic office target of crimes
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Hard drive stolen; window smashed

Emily Bittner
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 2, 2004 12:00 AM


SCOTTSDALE - Scottsdale Democratic Party officials feel targeted after a computer hard drive with donors' information and mailing list was stolen last month and the office was vandalized Wednesday.

"The fact that we've had two in the last three weeks is very, very suspicious," said Leon Chusid, District 8 treasurer, headquartered at 8350 E. McDonald Drive. "And it's also very terrifying."

The only thing taken in the first incident was a computer's hard drive with information about precinct committee members, mailing lists and fund-raising.

The computer monitor and keyboard were left behind and there were no signs of forced entry in the burglary, said Detective Sam Bailey, a spokesman for the Scottsdale Police Department.

The information on the computer was protected with a password, but officials are still worried.

"Someone who really knows computers can always break a pass code," Chusid said. "They got what was important to them."

The computer contained no personal information that could be used for identity theft, Bailey said.

Officers collected fingerprints from the office, but none was high quality enough to find a match, he said.

On Thursday morning, volunteers discovered that the office's window at the reception area was broken overnight with a rock.

The rock appeared to be from a statue in the office complex. The vandal would have had to bypass three other offices to hit the Democrats' headquarters, Chusid said.



"The police don't have much to go on," Bailey said, adding that if police believed party volunteers' safety was at risk, they would do more.

The information on the hard drive is already public, said Sam Wercinski, chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party.

"It would've been easier for them to go online to the Secretary of State's Office and get that information," he said.

Wercinski added that when such incidents happen more than once, there is a "sense it is politically motivated, to try and get them to shut their doors."

Tom Liddy, chairman of the Maricopa County Republican Party, condemned the theft.

If it was politically motivated, "it's a crime against our democracy," he said.

He added that a list of Democratic donors wouldn't be valuable to Republicans.

"All it's doing is wasting my postage and my printing money," Liddy said.

Scottsdale's Democratic office is the only headquarters for an individual district in the state and opened four months ago to fanfare.

District 8 covers the northeast Valley and is the most Republican-dominated district in the state.

Chusid said the party has no other reason to feel targeted.

Local party officials aren't intimidated by the incidents, Wercinski said.

"You don't get a group of individuals to staff an office in a Republican area that's just going to lie down and give up," Wercinski said.

COLORADO COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM BUSINESSFort Morgan Times - Today's HeadlinesThousands worth of equipment stolen
Burglars made off with several thousand dollars worth of computers, software, cameras and miscellaneous electronic equipment in a break-in at the offices of the Brush News-Tribune Wednesday night or early this morning.

Police were still gathering fingerprints and other evidence at press time today. Early indications were that the burglar or burglars wore gloves.

"That is not surprising, though, since Dick Schreiner, who operates Brush Country Printing in the back portion of the building, has a good supply of them for use in operating and cleaning his printing presses," said Brush News-Tribune Publisher Rebecca Dudley.

Dudley was the last one to leave the 109 Clayton St. office Tuesday shortly after 5 p.m. She said Schreiner and his grandson, Sean Warner, were still in the back office when she left. She barred the door between the two businesses before locking up the front of the office for the night.

Sgt. Mark Thomas, acting police chief in Brush, was on the scene Thursday morning. He said it appeared access was gained from the rear of the building where Brush Country Printing is located.

A preliminary list of missing items from the burglary include a Cannon digital camera, two 35mm cameras, an Apple monitor, two notebook computers -- one Macintosh and one PC -- a Pitney-Bowes postal scale, zip drives and a wide range of computer software, including disks to activate Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Quark and other software programs used by the newspaper. Destroyed, but not taken, was the office safe and cash register.

Police were contacting area pawnshops Thursday morning, warning them to be on the lookout for the stolen items. A more inclusive list is anticipated once police officers complete their preliminary examination of the building and finish gathering evidence.

AUSTRALIA FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMPUTERS STOLEN Australian IT - Almost 1500 government PCs stolen (Sharon Mathieson, APRIL 02, 2004)ALMOST 1500 federal Government computers - including more than 500 from the Defence Department - were stolen between 1998 and 2002.

A parliamentary inquiry yesterday revealed computer theft was rife within government departments and expressed serious worries about the management and integrity of electronic information.
The committee was concerned personal information could be accessed by unauthorised people or for unauthorised purposes.

The inquiry originally focused on the electronic protection of information held by Commonwealth agencies but soon learned the more fundamental problem was the physical security of computers and the information held on them.

Committee chair Bob Charles said the inquiry was angry when it learned about the theft of information technology (IT) equipment from Customs at Sydney airport and a break-in at a Department of Transport and Regional Services computer facility.

"In its determination to investigate the scale of the security problem the committee wrote to all departments seeking details of their security breaches and thefts of IT equipment," he said.

"The committee discovered that between 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth agencies lost almost 950 laptop computers alone.

"This figure does not include an unknown proportion of the 537 computers of all types lost by the Department of Defence during the period."

The inquiry found a number of Commonwealth agencies had inadequate levels of physical security for IT equipment.

"This was reflected in successful breaches of the security of facilities, in poor record keeping of lost or stolen equipment and in a lack of knowledge of appropriate reporting mechanisms in the event of a security breach," Mr Charles said.

Labor's IT spokeswoman Kate Lundy said the inquiry had exposed the ignorance and neglect perpetrated by the federal government in relation to information systems.

"The Howard government has spent a lot of time and energy purporting to be a government concerned about security," she told the Senate.

"However, when tested, the Howard government has little credibility on the home front.

"If the Howard government were serious about the war on terror and the potential threat facing Australia and Australians, it would have been more focused on genuine homeland security strategies and far less sycophantic in its eagerness to join the US in Iraq.

"It is not lost on anyone that Australia's vulnerability to attack has been heightened as a result of this."

AAP

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE ON CYBERSECURITYFederal Trade Commission - Consumer Information Security: "Our access to information and entertainment; credit and financial services; products from every corner of the world – even to our work – is greater than earlier generations could ever have imagined. Thanks to the Internet, we can order books, clothes, appliances and gifts online; book a hotel room across the ocean; check our credit card and bank balances 24 hours a day; or access our offices from an airport thousands of miles away.
And yet, while the Internet helps make our lives richer and more convenient, it also provides a gateway to our personal information; our homes, families and worksites; our security and safety. Viruses, hackers and worms have become the stuff of headlines, with results that can range from mere headaches to complete havoc.
The good news is that securing your computer is largely a matter of routine maintenance. Using strong passwords, installing personal firewalls, and regularly running updated virus software can go a long way toward protecting your computer, your information, and your peace of mind from computer creeps who try to slow down a network operation, or worse yet, steal personal information to commit a crime.
The Federal Trade Commission has created this website for consumers and businesses as a source of information about computer security and safeguarding personal information. All over the site, you’ll see Dewie the e-Turtle. Dewie’s wired, but carries his security shell no matter what he’s doing on the Internet. Even though turtles take their time, Dewie crosses the finish line first because he takes the appropriate steps to avoid a disaster. From time to time, Dewie will post new materials on this site with useful information for computer users, from kids to businesspeople. Check it often for updates."

CONTINUED.......

NCSA National Cyber Security Alliance Silicon Valley Biz Ink :: The voice of the valley economyNational Cyber Security Alliance Gains Momentum as Home Users, Businesses and Academia 'Spring Forward'

WASHINGTON, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- This Sunday, April 4th, Americans will
move their clocks forward. The National Cyber Security Alliance has
designated this day as a National Cyber Security Day to promote and encourage
all Internet users to "Stay Safe Online."
The Alliance is using this day to announce updated cyber security tips,
through its website, http://www.staysafeonline.info. The site offers you the
information needed to secure your home or small business computer, including
"top ten" tips for home, small business users and elementary and high-school
students; a self-guided cyber security test, and educational materials. The
website also offers a Security Day checklist. The Alliance hopes to educate
home users and businesses on how they can protect themselves by evaluating and
improving the security of their own computers.
"The Alliance is providing critical leadership in efforts to raise
consumer, business and general public awareness of why we must all use safe
computing and Internet practices," stated Orson Swindle, Commissioner of the
Federal Trade Commission and Alliance sponsor. "The Alliance is encouraging
leadership by industry, academia and government to work together on the
important task of greater cyber security. Every user of the Internet has to
be involved in making the Internet a safer place, and we have much to
accomplish together."
A new feature of the StaySafeOnline.info site has been made possible by
the Alliance's partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Visitors to the site can sign up to receive National Cyber Alerts and Cyber
Security Tips from the Department of Homeland Security.
"The Department of Homeland Security is a very strong supporter of the
National Cyber Security Alliance and commends the Alliance's effort and good
work in supporting our nation," said Amit Yoran, director, National Cyber
Security Division, Department of Homeland Security. "National Cyber Security
Day is an excellent reminder of the importance of computer security -- we need
to think of computer security every day."

CONTINUED....

UNITED STATES AGENCY WEBSITE ON CYBERSECURITY Stay Safe Online | HomeA CALL TO ACTION: BE A CYBER SECURE CITIZEN!
Securing your personal computer plays a crucial role in protecting our nation's Internet infrastructure. This web site is designed to give you the information needed to secure your home or small business computer. You'll find tips on how to safeguard your system, a self-guided cyber security test, educational materials, and other Internet resources, as well as valuable information from our sponsor organizations.

Cyber Security Day
Sunday, April 4, 2004, is the next Cyber Security Day. Set some time aside this week to update your anti-virus software and scan your computer for viruses. Also, check out the Top Ten Security Tips for more information on keeping your computer safe from hackers.




U.S. Department of Homeland Security Improves America's Cyber Security Preparedness--Unveils National Cyber Alert System

Department of Homeland Security Press Release

Sign-up for National Cyber Alerts and Cyber Security Tips from the Department of Homeland Security

FLORIDA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM BUSINESS The Miami Herald | 04/01/2004 | Illegal dumping alleged: "Three IBM ThinkPad T-40 notebook computers were stolen from Cordis, 19540 NW 60th Ave., No. 7H, between 4 p.m. March 19 and 8 a.m. March 22. The computers were valued at $4,194."