Obama motorcade and safe house details leak on P2P network
By Dave Jeyes
Information about the security of presidential motorcades and the location of the first family’s safe house were leaked via a peer-to-peer network Limewire in recent days. Who knew Limewire was still around?
Among the lost information were potential routes for the Presidential motorcade, the location of a U.S. Secret Service safehouse for the Obama’s to use in case of a national emergency and details of every single nuclear facility in the country. Each in separate incidents.
It’s slightly disturbing that specific details around security measures which could be used to plan an attack on the president. What’s even more disturbing is the ineptitude that led to the hat trick of breaches in such a short time.
Representative Edolphus Towns (D-NY) has called for a ban on use of P2P client software on all government and contractor computers. Towns goes on to say that, “For our sensitive government information, the risk is simply too great to ignore.”
You think?
Towns was the chairman of a committee looking at the potential risks of accidental sharing sensitive files on P2P networks. His remarks came after the committee’s hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
Let’s be realistic here. These documents aren’t misplaced expense reports or other low-grade mildly interesting views into government life. These aren’t the kind of documents that generally leak by accident.
It’s a forgone conclusion that government employees with access to state secrets shouldn’t be using Limewire, especially not on government computers. Most corporations don’t allow the software to be installed so why would the government?
Most companies also monitor their network traffic to track file sharing that happens on their corporate network. Then government might actually find the culprit using techniques that are commonplace in the corporate world.
It’s scary that the U.S. government doesn’t already have these safeguards in place and even more terrifying that it’s theoretically one of the most technologically-advanced governments in the world.
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July 30th, 2009
Wtf “theoretically one of the most technologically-advanced governments in the world.”
says who ?
Americans ?
Im pretty sure every government in the world save for some of the african nations, have more networks running through there governing systems than you yanks, Do you guys seriously do live off your own propaganda feeds don’t you.
Seriously stop and think about that comment, what exactly are you basing this on ?
are you basing this on the whitehouse ? the last president ? the new president ? the police force ?
cyber crime units ? internal affairs ? networks between organisations ?
IF you guys have the worst tech networks there are, you guys just brought out 3g right, hspa was like upgraded to 7.2 for like 4 people right ?
What are you talking about ?
July 30th, 2009
@Darian
Dude, I said theoretically didn’t I? Take a deep breathe there- you’re starting to sound like a hot-headed Yank!
July 30th, 2009
You’re right. We need to force Microsoft to include a menu for other browsers so we can catch up to the EU.
Euro-envy of us has been around since we decided to toss the Brits at a tea party we had.
It’s always easier to tag along after someone else does the hard work of inventing and troubleshooting.
I’ve been using 3G for years. You must be thinking of the iPhone
July 30th, 2009
@aquaadverse
Aren’t you usually reaming me out for some minor grammatical flaw? I guess at least we’re on the same side on this one- of the pond. Too bad that’s about it.
July 30th, 2009
Absolutely unbelievable. Nice one Dave!
August 1st, 2009
If you care to find some examples of how I “usually” do it, fine. I believe you are mistaken and have me confused with Hugh, who is a grammar hard ass. Either way I don’t expect you to reply.
However, even if it was true, you have the ability to edit your articles and also receive payment for writing them.
Perhaps you’re overpaid.
August 2nd, 2009
lol, poor dave, maybe just leave out the “theoretically” comment, which isnt even theoretically true, and you have yourself a nice article. my problem is thta some redneck from texas reads this are goes “F@*k yeah !” to that comment and then repeats it in a conversation to his buddies round the camp fire then 20 years later you have some wanker in charge of the only developed country with a population over 200 million, hence power. would be nicer id their just wasnt any more propaganda, i swear americans out-propagate (is that a word ?) nazi’s, north koreans and the old commies by 2 fold. lol.
August 2nd, 2009
damn ! i should really check my spelling or listen to chrome’s suggestions before i submit, congrats if you can understand me.
August 20th, 2009
@aquaadverse
I didn’t mean to say that you’re a grammar hard-ass, just a general one.