Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Complete DHS Daily Report for February 27,
2013
Daily Report
Top Stories
• High winds and several inches of snow from a second
snowstorm impacted transportation, government buildings, and caused nearly
40,000 people in Missouri and Kansas to be without power. – Associated Press
1.
February 26, Associated Press – (Missouri; Kansas) Thousands
without power as second major storm wallops Missouri, Kansas. A second
snowstorm knocked out power to nearly 40,000 people in Missouri and Kansas as
well as shut down businesses, schools, and government buildings across the two States.
Flights were delayed and later on cancelled as high winds and several inches of
snow grounded almost all modes of transportation. Source: http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2013/02/26/thousands-without-power-as-second-major-snow-storm-wallops-missouri-kansas/
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) launched multiple safety-related investigations involving several
leading manufacturers affecting 1.3 million vehicles. – Detroit Bureau
8.
February 25, Detroit Bureau –
(National) 1.3 million Fords, Toyotas, Hondas under investigation. The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched multiple
automotive safety-related investigations involving about 1.3 million Ford,
Toyota, and Honda vehicles. In the past decade, there have been a number of
reports citing safety deficiencies involving specific models, prompting the
NHTSA investigations. Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/1-3-million-fords-toyotas-hondas-under-investigation-1C8536130
• An overturned chemical truck carrying 7,000 gallons of
methanol caused major detours and shut down 10 miles of Interstate 49 in
Louisiana. – Opelousas Daily World
15.
February 25, Opelousas Daily World –
(Louisiana) Hazardous waste spill closes I-49. Over 10 miles of
Interstate 49 near Lebeau, Louisiana were closed for most of February 25, due
to an overturned chemical truck containing 7,000 gallons of highly-flammable
methanol, forcing thousands of drivers to find lengthy detours. Investigators
are examining why the tanker truck slid off the side of the road in heavy fog
conditions. Source: http://www.dailyworld.com/article/20130226/NEWS01/302260311?nclick_check=1
• Two U.S. honey processors illegally imported honey that
originated in China, evaded millions in anti-dumping duties. – Food Safety
News
18. February
26, Food Safety News – (International) “Honeygate” sting leads to charges for
illegal Chinese honey importation. Two of the largest U.S. honey processors
and five people have been charged by the government for illegally importing
honey that originated in China, evading over $180 million in anti-dumping
duties. Groeb Farms, of Onstead, Michigan, has agreed to pay $2 million in
fines and Honey Solutions of Baytown, Texas has agreed to $1 million in fines.
Source: http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/02/honeygate-sting-leads-to-charges-for-illegal-chinese-honey-importation/
• An Army Corps of Engineers report estimated the damage
done by a 2011 flood of the Mississippi River to be around $2.8 billion. – Associated
Press
23.
February 25, Associated Press –
(National) $2.8B damages in 2011 Mississippi River flood. A report from
the Army Corps of Engineers detailed the damage done by a 2011 flood of the
Mississippi River as well as deficiencies throughout the system. More than 119
counties, 21,000 homes and businesses, 43,000 people, and 1.2 million acres of
agricultural land were affected by the flood. Source: http://azdailysun.com/news/national/b-damages-in-mississippi-river-flood/article_63ca6c6d-d181-5e4f-a796-13b22ae70965.html
Details
Banking and Finance Sector
9. February 26, News Tribune – (Washington) Ex-loan
officer sentenced for defrauding Tacoma Rescue Mission. A former loan
officer was sentenced to four years in prison for making under-the-table loans
to friends and associates from nearly $1 million he siphoned from Tacoma Rescue
Mission bank accounts. Source: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/26/2489719/ex-loan-officer-sentenced-in-1.html
10. February 25, Southwest Riverside News Network –
(California) Newport coast woman sentenced for bilking banks out of $4.7
million. A woman pleaded guilty to fraud involving a $130 million revolving
line of credit from multiple banks for a home decor business. For her role in
defrauding the banks, the woman was sentenced to three years and $4.7 million
in restitution payments to the banks. Source: http://www.swrnn.com/2013/02/25/newport-coast-woman-sentenced-for-bilking-banks-out-of-4-7-million/
11. February 25, Associated Press – (Indiana) Vectren
warns of debit card utility payment scam. Scammers claiming to be utility
representatives are threatening customers with disconnected services if an
immediate payment is not made. Customers are told to return the call with a
pre-paid debit card to process the payment. Source: http://www.fox19.com/story/21321972/vectren-warns-of-debit-card-utility-payment-scam
12. February 25, Ames Patch – (Iowa) Scam Alert:
Ames police warn of a hotel credit card theft. Ames Police have learned of
a new scam targeting hotel guests’ credit card information. A call is made to
hotel guests as if they were a hotel employee looking to fix a crashed computer
system by inputting the guests’ credit card information, at times including a
partial refund for inconvenience. Source: http://ames.patch.com/articles/scam-alert-ames-police-warn-of-a-hotel-credit-card-theft
13. February 25, WBNS 10 Columbus – (Ohio) Ohio
Inspector General: Employee stole nearly $500,000 from Ohio Department of
Developmental Disabilities. A business administrator forged multiple checks
over a three-year period stealing $440,000 in tax dollars. The Ohio Inspector
General made 26 recommendations to address the weak policies which had
insufficient oversight. Source: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2013/02/25/dayton-ohio-inspector-genearl-employee-stole-nearly-half-million-from-ohio-department-of-developmental-disabilities.html
Information Technology Sector
33. February
26, Computerworld – (Natiomal) Six-strikes piracy alert system rolling out in the
US. After a strain of delays a new anti-piracy system will be implemented
in the U.S. that holds Internet service providers accountable for warning and
educating users on the dangers of obtaining copyrighted material. Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9237146/Six_strikes_piracy_alert_system_rolling_out_in_the_US
34. February
26, Softpedia – (International) Bit9 says its systems had been compromised
since July 2012. Bit9 reported their systems were breached in July 2012 but
the company did not discover the SQL Injection vulnerability that was
implemented on their public Web site until January 2013. The company stated the
attackers were able to gain access to 32 files with the goal of installing a
malicious Java applet to send additional malicious files. Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bit9-Says-Its-Systems-Were-Compromised-Since-July-2012-332593.shtml
35. February
26, Softpedia – (International) Cyber fighters to resume attacks against US
banks on March 5. A hacktivist group threatened to resume their attack on a
number of U.S. banks unless the all remaining digital copies of a Muslim-based
movie are removed from the Internet. Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/al-Qassam-Cyber-Fighters-to-Resume-Attacks-Against-US-Banks-on-March-5-332647.shtml
36. February
25, Associated Press – (New Jersey) Sentencing for man convicted in iPad email
thefts. A man was convicted of taking over 120,000 email addresses from
Apple iPad users through an online ring that led AT&T’s Web site into
divulging the personal email addresses and selling them to a different site.
Source: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/02/25/2516927/sentencing-for-man-convicted-in.html
Communications Sector
37.
February 26, KSLA 12 Shreveport –
(Louisiana) Sunday's cable outage sparks heat between Comcast, city
officials. City officials contemplate cutting ties with Comcast after a
power surge disrupted the February 24, cable showing of the Oscar’s in the city
of Shreveport as well as cut phone, Internet for nearly two hours. Source: http://www.ksla.com/story/21321116/comcast-sunday-outage-caused-by-power-surge
Department of Homeland Security
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