Tuesday, June 23, 2015




Complete DHS Report for June 23, 2015

Daily Report

Top Stories

 · The DHS Science and Technology Directorate released a report June 20 stating that an emergency spare transformer program can be a key enabler in mitigating the effects of a high-impact, low-frequency event. – Homeland Security Today

1. June 20, Homeland Security Today – (National) Power grid resiliency: final recover transformer report issued by DHS S&T. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate released a report June 20 stating that an emergency spare transformer program can be a key enabler to mitigating the effects of a high-impact, low-frequency event (such as an electromagnetic pulse weapon), which would damage the U.S. power grid. This report will enable the U.S. to achieve greater resiliency from both man-made and natural threats to the U.S. power grid. Source: http://www.hstoday.us/briefings/daily-news-analysis/single-article/power-gridresiliency-final-recovery-transformer-report-issued-by-dhs-s-t/dc527a03baf8ce748616667ac56f8f48.html

 · General Motors expanded recalls June 19 for 243,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada due to ongoing issues with Takata Corporation airbag inflators. – Associated Press

6. June 19, Associated Press – (National) General Motors adds more than 243,000 Pontiac Vibe hatchbacks to growing Takata air bag recall. General Motors announced an expanded recall for over 243,000 model year 2003 – 2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles in the U.S. and Canada due to ongoing issues with airbag inflators manufactured by the Takata Corporation that could cause airbags to prematurely inflate or detonate. Source: http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/06/19/general-motors-adds-more-than-243000-pontiac-vibe-hatchbacks-to-growing-takata/

 · The Montefiore Health System announced June 19 that a former employee allegedly stole up to 12,517 confidential patient records in order to sell financial information. – Crain’s New York Business

18. June 19, Crain’s New York Business – (New York) Montefiore data breach exposes information for more than 10K patients. The Montefiore Health System announced June 19 that a former employee allegedly stole up to 12,517 confidential patient records in order to sell financial information from January 2013 – June 2013. The breach was originally discovered in May, and affected patients are being offered identity recovery services and a $1 million insurance policy. Source: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20150619/HEALTH_CARE/150619832/montefiore-data-breach-exposes-information-for-more-than-10k-patients


 · Security researchers from Symantec discovered a new password recovery scam in which attackers utilize targets’ email addresses, mobile phone numbers, along with Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail’s password recovery feature to trick victims into compromising their accounts. – Help Net Security See item 23 below in the Information Technology Sector

Financial Services Sector

8. June 19, Reuters – (International) Two more Swiss banks settle with U.S. over tax evasion. The U.S. Department of Justice reported June 19 that Swiss banks, Bank Linth LLB AG and Bank Sparhafen Zurch AG will pay a combined $5.96 million in penalties to avoid criminal charges for assisting American citizens in tax evasion. Eleven other Swiss banks made similar deals with the U.S. government under a voluntary program set up in 2013. Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/19/usa-swiss-banks-idUSL1N0Z51L420150619

Information Technology Sector

22. June 22, Softpedia – (International) Hackers disrupt Polish airline LOT, ground 10 flights. Officials from LOT Polish Airlines reported that their ground operation systems at Warsaw’s Frederic Chopin Airport suffered a 5-hour cyber-attack that grounded 10 national and international flights and affected about 1,400 passengers June 21. An investigation into the attack is ongoing. Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/hackers-disrupt-polish-airline-lot-ground-10-flights-484905.shtml

23. June 22, Help Net Security – (International) New password recovery scam hitting
Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo Mail users. Security researchers from Symantec discovered a new password recovery scam in which attackers are utilizing targets’ email addresses and mobile phone numbers along with Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail’s password recovery feature to trick victims into compromising their accounts, at which point the scammers create alternate email addresses that receive forwarded copies of all messages on affected accounts. Source: http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=18537

Communications Sector

24. June 21, Yakima Herald-Republic – (Washington) Internet, phone service restored for 18,000 customers after CenturyLink outage. Internet and phone service was restored June 21 to approximately 18,000 CenturyLink customers in Washington after lines were down for majority of the day due to equipment issues. 9-1-1 services were also affected. Source: http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/massive-internet-phone-outage-in-the-lower-valley-today/article_539744f2-1852-11e5-8e4a-538ec74e9bf6.html