Thursday, May 22, 2014




Complete DHS Report for May 22, 2014

Daily Report

Top Stories

 • A bus overturned on Interstate 10 in Blythe, California May 21, killing 4 people, injuring at least 7 others, and causing the highway to be closed in both directions for several hours. – Associated Press

7. May 21, Associated Press – (California) Spilled cargo causes bus crash that kills 4. An El Paso-Los Angeles Limousine Express Inc. bus overturned, sliding across the shoulder and down an embankment on Interstate 10 in Blythe, killing 4 people and seriously injuring at least 7 others after the bus either swerved or struck a load of steel pipes left on the highway from a previous semi-truck that had jackknifed. All interstate lanes were closed for several hours after two other vehicles in the eastbound lanes also crashed. Source: http://www.fox19.com/story/25574861/4-dead-several-injured-in-california-bus-crash

 • Thirty-seven people from 18 States were infected between January and May with a strain of Salmonella Typhimurium after coming in contact with contaminated frozen feeder mice packaged by Reptile Industries Inc. – Food Safety News

13. May 20, Food Safety News – (National) 37 Salmonella cases in 18 States linked to frozen feeder rodents. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced May 20 that 37 people from 18 States were infected between January 11 and May 13 with an outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium after coming in contact with frozen feeder rodents packaged by Reptile Industries Inc., that were distributed to PetSmart stores nationwide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning May 20 advising against the use of frozen mice packaged by the company since January 11 due to possible Salmonella contamination. Source: http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2014/05/cdc-reports-37-salmonella-cases-in-18-states-linked-to-frozen-feeder-rodents

 • Crews worked May 21 to contain a wildfire that began May 20 in Coconino National Forest near Sedona, Arizona and burned at least 1,000 acres, triggering the evacuation of Coconino County residents and prompting part of State Route 89A to close indefinitely. – KTAR 92.3 FM Glendale; Associated Press

21. May 21, KTAR 92.3 FM Glendale; Associated Press – (Arizona) Wildfire roaring in canyon near Sedona. Crews worked May 21 to contain a wildfire that began May 20 in Coconino National Forest near Sedona and burned at least 1,000 acres, prompting the evacuation of Coconino County residents as officials reported that over 100 businesses and homes were threatened by the blaze. State Route 89A was closed indefinitely between Fort Tuthill in Flagstaff and Sedona. Source: http://ktar.com/22/1733955/Fire-near-Slide-Rock-State-Park-spreads-to-450-acres

 • eBay advised all users to change their passwords after it detected an intrusion that compromised a database containing encrypted passwords and other non-financial data. – Softpedia See item 27 below in the Information Technology Sector


Financial Services Sector

6. May 21, KXAN 36 Austin – (Texas) Round Rock cashier linked to credit card skimming scam, police say. Police in Round Rock arrested a cashier at an undisclosed restaurant for allegedly using a skimming device to collect customers’ payment card data, and believe that the cashier was recruited and promised payment for the data. Police stated that three others have also been arrested and more arrests are expected. Source: http://kxan.com/2014/05/20/restaurant-cashier-linked-to-credit-card-skimming-scam-police-say/

Information Technology Sector

27. May 21, Softpedia – (International) Security breach at eBay – change your passwords now. eBay advised all users to change their passwords after it detected an intrusion that compromised a database containing encrypted passwords and other non-financial data. eBay stated that attackers were able to compromise a small number of employee login credentials between February and March, giving them access to eBay’s corporate network. Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Security-Breach-at-eBay-Change-Your-Passwords-Now-443257.shtml

28. May 21, IDG News Service – (International) Public utility compromised after brute-force attack, DHS says. The Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) stated in a report that an undisclosed public utility was compromised via a brute-force attack on an Internet-facing host that used a simple password system. ICS-CERT determined that the utility’s systems were likely exposed to numerous threats prior to the identified intrusion. Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9248473/Public_utility_compromised_after_brute_force_attack_DHS_says

29. May 20, Threatpost – (International) Chrome 35 fixes 23 security flaws. Google released version 35 of its Chrome browser, closing 23 security issues, 3 of which were rated as high-risk. Source: http://threatpost.com/chrome-35-fixes-23-security-flaws

30. May 20, SC Magazine – (International) Infections increasing with ransomware, Kovter. Researchers at Damballa reported that infections of the Kovter ransomware doubled during April. The Kovter ransomware attempts to blackmail users into paying a ransom and can generate false browser history content to support its scam. Source: http://www.scmagazineuk.com/infections-increasing-with-ransomware-kovter/article/347801/

Communications Sector

See item 34 below:

34. May 20, KAKE 10 Wichita – (Kansas; California) California company fined almost $700,000 for violating Kansas No-Call Act. Los Angeles-based Variable Marketing LLC was ordered by a Shawnee County, Kansas district court to pay $691,500 in fees and penalties for violating the Kansas No-Call Act. The company contacted Kansas residents registered on the Do-Not-Call list, and attempted to sell auto insurance while fraudulently claiming to be with the Kansas Division of Motor Vehicles. Source: http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/California-company-fined-almost-700000-for-violating-Kansas-No-Call-Act-259965331.html