Security Debrief

When Cupcakes Kill

January 11, 2012

For the past few years, the country has endured a cupcake craze of sorts. Recently, a traveler in Las Vegas had her red velvet cupcake, which was baked into a glass jar for delivery/presentation purposes, confiscated out of concern about the contents of its frosting. Whereas cupcakes in similar jars and boxes had passed through other airport screening without concern, this time the cupcake was a “no go.” The facts are what may appear harmless may not be, and what TSA was doing was its job.

CBP's Bersin hopes legacy is one of balancing security without hindering trade

Media Watch |

January 11, 2012

CQ Homeland Security When former Customs and Border Protection chief Alan Bersin took office in March 2010, he said he wanted to transform the agency and make it a promoter of commerce instead of a hindrance. His departure late last year has shipping groups hoping the agency’s next head feels the same way.

Professional TSA Critica Bruce Schneier Continues Assault in Vanity Fair

Media Watch |

January 11, 2012

Does Airport Security Really Make Us Safer? | Culture | Vanity Fair Bruce Schneier’s exasperation is informed by his job-related need to spend a lot of time in Airportland. He has 10 million frequent-flier miles and takes about 170 flights a year; his average speed, he has calculated, is 32 miles and hour. “The only […]

#TSA extends Pre-check program to reduce security frustrations at airports

Media Watch |

January 10, 2012

The TSA Blog: TSA Pre✓™ Pilot Expanding To Two More Airports Early 2012 United Airlines and US Airways will begin offering the program to their eligible frequent flyers; Minneapolis and SLC will offer the program to pilot participants traveling on Delta; Los Angeles and JFK will also come on board for participants traveling on American.

DHS officially welcomed to SpyWorld

Media Watch |

January 9, 2012

Intelligence bill makes DHS I&A officially part of spook group – FierceHomelandSecurity The fiscal 2012 intelligence community authorization bill signed into law Jan. 3 by President Obama officially codifies the Homeland Security Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis as part of that community.

Looking Back at Cyber in 2011, With Some Forward Looking Too

Steven Bucci |

January 9, 2012

It was a busy year in cyber, and there were a lot of interesting developments. From Stuxnet to social media revolution in the Middle East to smart grid security, 2011 was a challenging year. Looking ahead, we need to continue securing our networks and developing awareness and education programs.

Cyber Attack on Israel – The Private Sector and Citizens as the "Soft Underbelly"

Security Debrief |

January 9, 2012

The Israeli media has been awash in reports of an alleged Saudi hacker that goes by the online name of OxOmar and has posted the credit card information, national ID numbers and addresses of thousands of Israelis. According to recent reports, that person may turn out to be nineteen-year-old Omar Habib, who resides in Mexico. Some others, though less convincingly, have alleged that the origin of the attack lies in Iran. Ultimately, the origin and motivations of the cyber attack are less interesting than the nature of the vulnerability that it exposes.

Security Debrief Bloggers on Homeland Challenges in 2012

Security Debrief |

January 6, 2012

CQ Homeland Security conducted its annual survey of security challenges last year and the road ahead in 2012. The three-part series included comments from security experts throughout government and the private sector, many of whom are contributors to Security Debrief. Below is a rundown of some of their responses. Check out each of the story links to read more about important security efforts in 2012.

US-VISIT Advances in Biometrics Tighten Border Security

admin |

January 5, 2012

US-VISIT gave its 8th annual briefing on Thursday, and the progress there continues to be impressive. While the advances in biometrics raise some delicate privacy questions, the United States is getting ever closer to creating a system in which it will be more or less impossible to lie one’s way into this country through the legal ports of entry. And more and more countries – sixty-one at last count – are going down the same road of using biometrics for border control.

Court has ruled Iran, Hezbollah also responsible for 9/11

Janice Kephart |

January 4, 2012

A federal judge has issued a final judgment in a plaintiff’s case on behalf of 9/11 victim families ruling that Iran and Hezbollah together materially supported al Qaeda in committing 9/11. The case, Havlish v. Iran, provides overwhelming evidence in hundreds of pages of information, showing step by step Iran’s direct involvement in 9/11, including holding operational meetings inside Iran with al Qaeda and Hezbollah leadership to develop the 9/11 plan.