Wednesday, February 18, 2015



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