Gawker: valleywag, homeland security

FEMA phone system hacked to make free calls

Alaska Miller — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EDT

Although not as hardcore as the British hacker that did his work over 56k, another hacker should be commended for his ability to hijack FEMA phone systems and make $12,000 worth of free phone calls this weekend. The Department of Homeland Security was apparently upgrading FEMA's voicemail system with outdated Private Branch Exchange (PBX) technology but failed to configure the security settings properly. The phreak was able to exploit a vulnerability and use Homeland Security's own phones to ring up countries like Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. Which all proves that Michael Chertoff was right to fear the power hackers have over inept government bureaucracies. [AP] (Photo by gthills)

Airport Feds can now take your laptop

Paul Boutin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:20:00 EDT

No suspicious activity required! Federal agents under the Department of Homeland Security may now seize the laptops of travelers coming into the United States from abroad. They're authorized to copy and decrypt the notebook's contents. The new DHS policies state that officers may "detain" laptops "for a reasonable period of time" to "review and analyze information." This may take place "absent individualized suspicion." Our nonindividualized suspicion: Sales of encrypted flash drives will soar. (Photo by AP/Mike Derer) [Washington Post]

Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff suggests hackers, not Wall Street, are biggest threat to U.S. financial stability

Jackson West — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Speaking to computer security experts attending the RSA Conference in San Francisco today, Department of Homeland Security head Michael Chertoff announced a "Manhattan Project"-level cybersecurity initiative by the feds, citing the 2007 attack on tiny Estonia.

"Imagine, if you will, a sophisticated attack on our financial systems that caused them to be paralyzed," Chertoff said. "It would shake the foundation of trust on which our financial system works."

Actually, I think the subprime mortgage crisis has done more to "shake the foundation of trust" in the markets than any hacker ever could, but maybe that's just me. (Photo by AP/Paul Sakuma)