-
Experts say utilities need to do much more
Electricity and gas plants may be the first to suffer the consequences of disrupted service; alongside barriers and surveillance systems, companies should make sure to work with local authorities to develop emergency response plans
-
-
NICE Systems to protect Eiffel Tower
NiceVision video analytics software will help authorities sort through the monument’s six million annual visitors; globetrotting company is also working in Philadelphia and Beijing
-
-
Experts recommend vigilence in IT security pricing
Vendors do well in part because clients are afraid to switch due to cost concerns; savvy IT professionals should price out the market and not be afraid of playing one vendor against another; software packages can be a good deal, but be wary of pricing methods
-
-
Keeping messages over the Internet secure by making them faint
Wireless and Internet communication is vulnerable to eavesdropping and theft; traditional methods of keeping messages secure — encryption and scrambling — may be expensive to implement; two Princeton researchers suggest a new technique to keep transmissions safe, a technique which relies on the properties optical-fiber networks
-
-
Congress proposes new regulations on the sale of fertilizer
Bill would force buyers to provide identification and require sellers to register with DHS or an appropriate state agency; a number of states already have similar laws intended to stymie another Timothy McVeigh; Farm Bureau continues to resist federal intrusion
-
-
Rising energy costs threaten IT expansion
Power-hungry security solutions may face dark days; energy costs projected to eat up 50 percent of future IT budgets; Internet and software-based approaches gain an edge
-
-
Federal IT security spending to drop 50 percent in 2007
Government to spend only $118 billion in the face of congressional belt-tightening; major contracts still to come include: GSA’s Alliant, Treasury’s Project Support Solutions, and Agriculture’s Multiple Award Information Technology Support Services
-
-
DHS IT auditing office criticizes its own security procedures
Failure by the inspector general’s office to implement a standard laptop configuration that meets required DHS and federal guidelines; the failure Inspector general’s office cited for having failed to implement procedure to identify relevent software patches and update; lost and stolen laptops a major issue
-
-
University of Texas wins $3.1 million DHS training grant
Award follows the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security’s participation in Cyberstorm and Dark Screen cyberterrorism exercises; grant to support state and municipal cybersecurity training efforts
-
-
Social networking sites create security risks
Viruses and spyware as much a threat as identity theft; 46 percent of using adults access sites from work, and many more download unknown files; log-in credentials at risk, experts say
-
-
Two companies' products protect security by self-destructing
VaporStream offers a Web-based e-mail service that leaves no trace once the message is read; copying, archiving, and forwarding are impossible; Philips applies for a patent on a tamperproof MRAM chip that wipes itself out if opened
-
-
Homeland Security Corporation signs surveillance deal with Camp Pendleton
The Internet-based supplier will provide cameras, transmitters, and related devices; protecting military bases a big business these days as planners worry about terrorist intrusions and attacks
-
-
Critical infrastructure companies form consortium for further work
Abeo Corporation, CT Solutions, and Vidient among firms looking to build on earlier successes with TSA; team previously completed airport infrastructure projects at Helena and Tallahassee airports
-
-
Researchers find America's Internet resilient to terror attacks
Rich web of nodes and regional service providers make it hard to knock out Internet; even a succesful strike against multiple nodes not likely to succeed due to peering agreements; research at Georgia Tech looks into VoIP security with grants from BellSouth and Internet Security Systems
-
-
Lockeed Martin names ObjectVideo as subcontractor for MTA project
Video analytic firm will help network 277 NYC subway stations with cameras programmed to detect suspicious behavior
-
The long view
Nuclear Has Changed. Will the U.S. Change with It?
Fueled by artificial intelligence, cloud service providers, and ambitious new climate regulations, U.S. demand for carbon-free electricity is on the rise. In response, analysts and lawmakers are taking a fresh look at a controversial energy source: nuclear power.
Water Is the Other U.S.-Mexico Border Crisis, and the Supply Crunch Is Getting Worse
The United States and Mexico are aware of the political and economic importance of the border region. But if water scarcity worsens, it could supplant other border priorities. The two countries should recognize that conditions are deteriorating and update the existing cross-border governance regime so that it reflects today’s new water realities.
Exploring the New Nuclear Energy Landscape
In the last few years, the U.S. has seen a resurgence of interest in nuclear energy and its potential for helping meet the nation’s growing demands for clean electricity and energy security. Meanwhile, nuclear energy technologies themselves have advanced, opening up new possibilities for their use.