• Detecting insider threats early

    Insiders pose serious threats to organizations ranging from multinational companies to military installations; one way to spot insider threats is to use data mining techniques to scour e-mail and build up a picture of social network interactions; the technology could prevent serious security breaches, sabotage, and even terrorist activity

  • New search tools help separate the wheat from the (data) chaff

    If there is a problem which is worse than having too little information, it is having too much of it; three new tools developed by researchers at a German institute help cope with this wheat-from-the-chaff problem

  • Analysis // by Ben Frankel: U.S. still fighting for sanctions on Iran, but with a weaker hand

    The Bush administration shot itself in the foot by releasing a confusing and partially misleading intelligence assessment of Iran’s nuclear weapon activities; the administration dealt a near-fatal blow to the effort to intensify economic sanctions on Iran, instead creating a situation in which the world will either have to accept a nuclear-armed Iran or go to war to stop it

  • FBI worried about surge in sales of book detailing airport security gaps

    A book detailing gaps in airport security enjoys a surprising surge in sales; the FBI, which keeps track of sales of books which may benefit terrorists — and also of similar library books being checked out — wants to know more

  • Chinese espionage ring discovered

    Chinese spy ring based in New Orleans broken up; two individuals of Chinese origin bribe Pentagon official d=to deliver sensitive information concerning Taiwan

  • Role of U.S. companies in building China's internal security system reviewed

    The Chinese government decided last year to invest heavily in security technology — especially intelligent CCTVs equipped with facial recognition capabilities; the Chinese say it has to do with security for the Summer Olympics; the sheer scope and breadth of the project, though, means that the new security system aims to strengthen the government’s ability to repress basic freedoms; role of U.S. companies questioned