Complete DHS Report for February 18, 2015
Daily Report
Top Stories
· Researchers
discovered that cyber criminals robbed over 100 financial institutions
worldwide of up to $1 billion by using spear-phishing attacks to install
malware and infiltrate institutions’ networks. – Softpedia See item 6 below in the Financial Services Sector
· Twelve
to 13 tanker cars of a CSX train hauling oil derailed near Boomer, West
Virginia, February 16 igniting a fire and series of explosions that continued
to burn February 17 and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of residents. – New
York Times
9. February
17, New York Times – (West Virginia) West Virginia train
derailment dumps oil into river. Twelve or 13 tanker cars of a CSX train
hauling millions of pounds of oil derailed near the village of Boomer February
16 and at least 7 tanker cars ignited a fire and series of explosions that
continued to burn February 17, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of
residents from nearby towns. Authorities are investigating the cause of the
derailment, and a state of emergency was declared in Kanawha and Fayette
counties where crude oil spilled into the Kanawha River and prompted West
Virginia American Water to close at least one intake to a water treatment
plant. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/18/us/west-virginia-train-derailment-dumps-oil-into-river.html?_r=0
· A severe
winter storm prompted officials in 5 States and Washington, D.C., to declare
states of emergency, while schools in several States were forced to cancel
classes, Arkansas State government offices were closed, and more than 1,800
U.S. flights were canceled February 16. – Reuters
20. February
16, Reuters – (National) Ice storm paralyzes central U.S.,
pummels nation’s capital. A severe winter storm prompted officials in 5
States and Washington, D.C., to declare states of emergency, while schools in
several States were forced to cancel classes, Arkansas State government offices
were closed, and more than 1,800 U.S. flights were canceled February 16.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/16/us-usa-weather-idUSKBN0LK1I020150216
· Heavy
snow caused 2 partial roof collapses at the Patriots Park Apartments complex in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, February 15 and prompted officials to evacuate
500-700 residents until authorities make all necessary repairs. – Associated
Press
31. February
17, Associated Press – (New Hampshire) New Hampshire officials
aiding hundreds displaced by roof collapses. Partial roof collapses caused
by heavy snow at two buildings of the Patriots Park Apartments complex in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, February 15 prompted officials to evacuate 500-700
residents from all 8 buildings of the complex until authorities are able to
make necessary repairs. A strip mall and a tennis club in Seabrook also
suffered roof collapses February 15, while Epping Elementary School and Sanborn
Regional Middle School in Newton were evacuated February 16 due to concerns
about the amount of snow on the structures’ roofs. Source: http://www.pressherald.com/2015/02/17/officials-aiding-hundreds-displaced-by-roof-collapses/
Financial Services Sector
6. February
17, Softpedia – (International) Ongoing cyber attack on banks worldwide
creates billion dollar loss. Kaspersky security researchers discovered that
cyber criminals robbed over 100 financial institutions worldwide of up to $1
billion by using spear-phishing attacks exploiting 2 vulnerabilities in
Microsoft Office and 1 vulnerability in Microsoft Word to install malware and
infiltrate institutions’ networks. The attackers cashed in by instructing ATMs
to dispense money at specific times without payment cards, opening accounts
with fake balances, and artificially inflating account balances of bank customers
and then transferring the surplus to their accounts in China and the U.S.
Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ongoing-Cyber-Attack-on-Banks-Worldwide-Creates-Billion-Dollar-Loss-473391.shtml
7. February
16, Atlanta Business Chronicle – (Georgia) Feds: Up to 900
potential victims of insurance scam preying on trucking companies. Federal
investigators seized approximately $732,000 from Appeal Insurance Agency bank
accounts February 12 alleging that the owner scammed up to 900 victims,
primarily in commercial trucking, by collecting insurance premiums without
securing legitimate policies and using the money to fund his lifestyle and pay
off insurance claims filed with his office. Authorities found that $3.7 million
was deposited into one of the owner’s accounts between January 2013 and July
2014. Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2015/02/16/feds-up-to-900-potential-victims-of-insurance-scam.html-
For another story, see item 29 below
in the Information Technology Sector
Information Technology Sector
29. February
17, Softpedia – (International) Firmware of over a dozen hard drive brands
altered to lodge malware. Kaspersky researchers discovered that a cyber-espionage
group calling itself Equation modified hard drive firmware in over 12 brands to
potentially infect tens of thousands of computers worldwide, including those in
sectors such as government and military institutions, nuclear research, oil and
gas, telecommunications, transportation, and the financial sector, among
others. Reprogramming the firmware allowed attackers to create persistent
hidden storage spaces accessible only through specific methods known to them.
Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Firmware-Of-Over-a-Dozen-Hard-Drive-Brands-Altered-to-Lodge-Malware-473365.shtml
For another
story, see item 6 above in the Financial Services Sector
Communications Sector
30. February 15, Big Island
Video News – (Hawaii) Hawaiian Telcom service restored after
second fiber cable cut. All service was restored February 14 to Hawaiian
Telecom costumers after strong winds snapped a 36-pair fiber cable near
Hualalai Ranch and knocked out service for several hours to about 20,000
landline phone and 5,000 Internet customers between Waikoloa and Pahala. Crews
laid and spliced about 350 feet of replacement cable to restore service.
Source: http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2015/02/15/hawaiian-telcom-service-restored-after-second-fiber-cable-cut/
For another story, see item 29 above in the Information Technology
Sector