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