Security Management articles from September 2003

Security Management archives from September 2003

Conventional wisdom.(Editor's Note)(Editorial)
September 1, 2003... Phrenology, which posited that one could tell a person's character by the shape of his head, was part of the conventional wisdom of the 19th century. Today we know that the theory was specious. Phrenology is just one example of how the widely...

Civic solutions.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... I was pleased to see the letter to the editor on civil defense by Lawrence Martines ("Citizen Participation," May), and I wanted to share the story of our similar efforts in Las Vegas to support homeland security. For months after 9-11,...

Eyeing public CCTV.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... To continue the debate about the use of CCTV in public places, I would submit that CCTV should only be used in locations of high crime or public relevance. Furthermore, if CCTV is not used as a publicized deterrent, but as a part of...

CSO concept overdue.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... I would like to compliment Security Management for the article, "It Is What You Know," by Mary Alice Davidson (June). The article addresses the most prominent issue facing security practitioners and providers. I did want to correct two...

Guarded optimism greets officer guidelines.(News and Trends)
September 1, 2003... It's well known that standards for security officer training and screening vary wildly by jurisdiction. Florida, for example, mandates 24 hours of pre-hire training, 16 hours of post-hire training, and a federal background check; Missouri...

Did you know that?(News and Trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... * Have the lessons of 9-11 been learned? In a review of 240 visa revocations by the General Accounting Office (GA0), auditors found that the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the FBI were still not always receiving notice of State...

Future perfect, or shock?(News and Trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Venerated science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke predicted, in 1966, that houses would he able to fly by the year 2000. History is replete with expert predictions that have been laughably off target. But that doesn't step the demand. R&D...

Museums, libraries get updated resources.(News and Trends)(security guidelines)
September 1, 2003... Cultural institutions on both sides of the Atlantic will soon find it easier to decide what security measures are appropriate, thanks to new guidance coming out from two oversight bodies. In the United States, the ASIS Museum, Library, and...

TSA under further scrutiny.(News and Trends)(Transportation Security Administration)
September 1, 2003... In a hearing last June, Harold Rogers (R-KY), chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, skewered the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for cursory background checks of applicants for...

Pondering laundering.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... With its strict standards of customer secrecy, Swiss banks are feared to be major conduits for terrorist funds. But the Swiss government has been making remarkable strides in crocking down on money laundering, according to a U.S. Treasury...

Home on the page.(News and Trends)
September 1, 2003... @ www.securitymanagement.com When you walk the exhibit floor and attend educational sessions at this month's ASIS seminar and exhibits, consider the volume of information that you must sift through to keep current. Let Security Management...

Hospital adopts a hands-on approach.(Working Wise)
September 1, 2003... Rex Healthcare--a private, not-for-profit organization--has met the healthcare needs of Wake County, North Carolina, and surrounding areas since 1894, when John Rex made a bequest to establish a hospital that would care for the sick regardless...

Mum's the word on these passwords.(Working Wise)
September 1, 2003... Password management is a challenge for any IT administrator, and the greater the number of access points to data, the greater the potential for a vulnerability created by a password left in default mode. The problem is even bigger for...

Wardriving the nation's capital.(Tech Talk)(wireless networks security)
September 1, 2003... Have you ever come home to discover that you left the door unlocked? A heart-stopping moment, indeed. Usually, however, you'll open the door to find everything untouched because burglars had no way of knowing that the house was an easy target...

Enforcement, not more laws, needed to fight spam.
September 1, 2003... No fewer than 33 states have laws on the books prohibiting or restricting spam, and in Congress legislators continue to press for federal legislation that would outlaw this online pariah. Implicit in legislation is the assumption that...

More spam than mail.(Quick Bytes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... More than 55 percent of the e-mail sent around the world is spam, according to new data from U.K.-based MessageLabs, which analyzes millions of e-mails sent each day around the world. The data shows that those in the accounting business in the...

Software piracy drop.(Quick Bytes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The piracy rate for commercial software has decreased by 10 percent around the world over the past eight years. However, the dollar losses associated with software piracy continue to rise (from $10.97 billion in 2001 to $13.08 billion in 2002),...

Phone hacks.(Quick Bytes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have jointly issued a bulletin warning companies of the potential for compromises to private branch exchange (PBX) and telephone voicemail systems. While not a new method of attack, the bulletin...

Computer attack losses drop.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The financial loss caused by significant computer attacks in 2002 declined by 56 percent from 2001, even though the number of attacks was roughly the same in both years, according to the latest Computer Crime and Security Survey. The...

Patch as patch can.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Malicious code, such as the Nimda virus and the Slammer worm, continues to pound computer networks, looking for security vulnerabilities in operating systems or applications and using these holes to breach security. But much of the risk could...

Taxing security problems.(Tech Talk)(Internal Revenue Service)
September 1, 2003... Despite some progress in improving information security controls in the past several years, ongoing computer control weaknesses at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) "threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive...

Information security perception gap.(Tech Talk)(National Cyber Security Alliance surveys home computer security)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Home computer users feel that they are adequately protected from online threats, and as a result they seem to take few precautions to protect their systems, according to a new study. But they're not safe. And vulnerabilities in home computers...

There are 13,000 private security firms. But there's only one Guardsmark[R].(Company Profile)
September 1, 2003... Guardsmark is not like any other security services firm. TIME magazine says we are the company that "many security experts consider the best national firm in the business." In Liberation Management (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.), Tom Peters describes...

Hard work in the big easy: New Orleans' motto is "let the good times roll," but its homeland security efforts since 9-11 are anything but laissez faire.(Homeland Security)
September 1, 2003... New Orleans, famed for its Mardi Gras festival--which draws 1.5 million revelers--is also home to five major universities, nuclear power plants, petroleum facilities and refineries, chemical plants, and seaports, all of which require heightened...

Louisiana's homeland security strategy.
September 1, 2003... Ten days after the terrorist attacks, Louisiana Governor Mike Foster signed an executive order establishing the Louisiana Domestic Terrorism Advisory Committee. Its 15 members (later increased to 24) ranged from the deputy secretary of the...

Protecting cityspace: the terrorist threat across the United States is challenging cities to find ways to balance security and openness.(Homeland Security)
September 1, 2003... In about fifteen months, the United States will once again celebrate its democratic heritage, with the swearing in of the nations 44th president. As always, the event will include an inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. Today, that route...

Unawed by fraud: new techniques and technologies have been enlisted in the fight against online fraud.(Electronic Commerce)
September 1, 2003... On December 19, 2002, as a result of a lengthy investigation that spanned five countries and involved myriad law enforcement authorities, from U.S. postal inspectors to Customs agents, Pakistani police arrested 25-year-old Khurram Iftikhar....

Documentation makes the difference: consistent policies on employee discipline and meticulous recordkeeping can help keep a company out of the courtroom.(Personnel Management)
September 1, 2003... Several years ago, a long-term employee of a large company sued his employer. The plaintiff argued that his termination in a work force reduction was due to his age, in violation of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act. He testified...

FCRA's meaning unveiled: recent court cases have interpreted the Fair Credit Reporting Act in a light favorable to employers, leading to hope for a more reasonable approach on the horizon.(Legal Update)(Fair Credit Reporting Act)
September 1, 2003... In ancient times, the mysteries of the universe were said to be hidden behind seven veils. Penetrating the true meaning of government regulations can seem as daunting at times. That is especially true of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. First...

Many happy returns: the most significant factor managers should demonstrate when attempting to obtain funding for security projects is return on investment.(Management)
September 1, 2003... Much has been written since 9-11 about how security has been given a higher priority in the boardroom, but business is still driven by the bottom line. Security managers who want to obtain funding for projects have to know how to explain their...

A guide to the 2003 ASIS exhibits September 15-18, 2003 New Orleans, Louisiana.
September 1, 2003... SECURITY PROFESSIONALS FROM around the globe agree that the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits provides the best opportunity to see the latest technologies and services available. The ASIS 49th Annual Seminar and Exhibits in New Orleans is no...

Negligent hiring.(U.S. Judicial Decisions)
September 1, 2003... Maine's high court has ruled that a transport company could not be held liable when one of its truck drivers menaced a family while en route to deliver goods. On December 5, 1998, Frederick Linfield was driving east on Route 9 toward New...

Free speech.(Elsewhere in the Courts ...)(Supreme Court rules that federally funded public libraries must use Internet filters)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public libraries that receive federal funds must install Internet filters to protect underage users from pornographic Web sites. In the case, the American Library Association (ALA) sued the government,...

Premises liability.(Elsewhere in the Courts ...)(North Dakota Supreme Court rules on landlord liability case)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled that a landlord has a duty to protect tenants from harmful animals only if the landlord has prior knowledge that the animal is dangerous and presents an unreasonable risk of harm. In the case, a young...

Noncompete agreements.(Elsewhere in the Courts ...)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The Iowa Appeals Court has ruled that an employee, Mark Meyer, violated a noncompete agreement with his former employer, AMPC, Inc., when he set up a company selling a similar product. Meyer argued that he did not violate the agreement because...

HIPAA.(U.S. Judicial Decisions)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... In a recent decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is constitutional and provides fair notice and minimal guidelines to covered entities. In the...

School security.(U.S. Judicial Decisions)
September 1, 2003... The Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled that a jury may hear a case in which a student was assaulted by a classmate during class while a teacher was present. The sovereign immunity that applies to public schools can be waived, ruled the court,...

Transportation.(U.S. Regulatory Issues)(Research and Special Programs Administration's rules on hazardous waste transportation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A final rule implemented by the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), part of the Department of Transportation, would require that shippers of hazardous materials develop security plans and security awareness training programs...

Terrorism.(U.S. Regulatory Issues)(Justice Department's rules on surveillance powers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... In response to a congressional request, the Justice Department has released a report detailing its use of the surveillance powers granted in the USA Patriot Act of 2001. The report answers specific questions posed by lawmakers, including the...

Food safety.(U.S. Regulatory Issues)(Food and Drug Administration rules)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the publication of two proposed rules regarding food safety. The two rules, required under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, deal with...

Bioterrorism.(U.S. Congressional Legislation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A bill (H.R. 2122) introduced by Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) has been approved by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Armed Services Committee. It is now pending in the House Select Committee on Homeland Security. The...

Cargo security.(U.S. Congressional Legislation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Two cargo security bills are currently pending in Congress. One bill (S. 165) has been approved by the Senate and has been taken up by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill would require that cargo shipped via aircraft...

Infrastructure protection.(U.S. Congressional Legislation)(funding for water treatment plant security )
September 1, 2003... Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT) has introduced a bill (S. 779) that sets aside grant money to help offset the costs of conducting vulnerability assessments and devising emergency response plans at water treatment plants. A law passed by...

Rail security.(U.S. Congressional Legislation)(chemical and biological weapons detection)
September 1, 2003... A bill (H.R. 2301) introduced by Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) would require that the government install detection devices for chemical and biological weapons in the passenger boarding stations of each heavy rail transit system in the country....

Discrimination.(U.S. Congressional Legislation)(proposal to ban discrimination based on genetics)
September 1, 2003... Two bills (S. 1053 and H.R. 1910), introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-NY), respectively, would make it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of genetic information. S. 1053 would...

Nuclear facilities security.(U.S. Congressional Legislation)
September 1, 2003... A bill (S. 1043) introduced by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) would require that the Homeland Security Department conduct threat assessments on all nuclear power plants and facilities. The facilities would be required to revise security procedures and...

Bus security.(U.S. Congressional Legislation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A bill (S. 929) introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) that would provide federal grants to improve security at over-the-road bus operations has been approved by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. The bill would...

Aviation security.(U.S. Congressional Legislation)(training of cabin crews in security and safety procedures proposed)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Two bills (S. 957 and H.R. 1889), introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), respectively, would require that aircraft cabin crew members be certified and trained on security and safety procedures. S. 957 would...

Privilege.(U.S. Congressional Legislation)(attorneys requirement of disclosure exemption)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A bill (H.R. 781) introduced by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) would exempt attorneys from the privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The bill would exclude attorneys from the law's requirement related to the disclosure of nonpublic...

Ohio.(U.S. State Legislation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Cyberstalking. Ohio Governor Bob Taft has signed legislation making it illegal to stalk or harass someone through electronic means. The crime of cyberstalking is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $1,000 fine and up to 180 days in prison....

Virginia.(U.S. State Legislation)(spam outlawed in Virginia)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Spam. Virginia Governor Mark Warner has signed a law making it a felony to send unsolicited bulk e-mail. The law makes it illegal to alter e-mail headers or routing information when sending e-mail. Also prohibited under the law is any attempt...

Practical Cryptography.(Book Review)
September 1, 2003... By Nick Ferguson and Bruce Schneier; published by John Wiley and Sons, 877/76)-2974 (phone), 800/597-3299 (fax), www.wiley.com (Web); 432 pages; $50. As Mark Twain acidulously remarked, "A classic is something that everybody wants to have...

Practical Bomb Defense.(Book Review)
September 1, 2003... By, Ronald J. Massa; produced by Protection Knowledge Concepts, Inc., 888/831-4RJA (phone), www.rjagroup. com/pkc/bomb_audio.htm (Web); one two-sided audiotape; $69. With the profusion of' security books, videotapes, and CD-ROMs, it's rare...

Extremism in America: a Guide.(Book Review)
September 1, 2003... By the staff of die Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brith (ADL); published by, the ADL, 212/885-7951 (phone), www.adl.org (Web): 465-page loose-leaf binder or CD-ROM: $29.95 (binder), $9.95 (CD-ROM). With the threat of al Qaeda and other...

Blindsided: a Manager's Guide to Catastrophic Incidents in the Workplace.(Book Review)
September 1, 2003... By Bruce T. Blythe; published by Portfolio; available twin ASIS International, Item #1508, 703/519-6200 (phone), www.asisonline.org (Web); 240 pages; $25 (ASIS members), $28 (nonmembers). Many security professionals find themselves taking...

Defending the Digital Frontier: a Security Agenda.(Book Review)
September 1, 2003... By Mark W. Doll, Sajay Rai, and Jose Granado; published by John Wiley and Sons, 877/762-2974 (phone), www.wiley.com (Web); 238 pages; $29,95. In today's publishing world, the list seems to be the ultimate selling point. Be it in management...

Palestinian Religious Terrorism: Hamas and Islamic Jihad.(Book Review)
September 1, 2003... By Yonah Alexander, published by Transnational Publishers, 914/639-5100, www.transnationalpubs.com (Web); 341 pages; $40. Americans have long had the luxury of ignoring or at least not closely observing--the Palestinian terrorist problem....

Child and Youth Security Sourcebook.(Book Review)
September 1, 2003... Edited by Chad T. Kimball; published by Omnigraphics, 800/234-1340 (phone), www.omnigraphics.com (Web); 646 pages; $68. Some books focus on school crime. Others home in on youth peer conflict. Still others are dedicated to either threats to...

Security Provisioning: Managing Access in Extended Enterprises.(Book Review)
September 1, 2003... By Yuri Pikover and Jeff Drake; published by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, 847/253-1545 ext. 401 (phone), www.isaca.org (Web); 93 pages; $30. Security provisioning is the automation of the process of granting,...

Smart access control.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Ultra Electronics of Dorset, United Kingdom, and Honeywell's ADEMCO Access Systems of Morris Township, New Jersey, have introduced secure access control solutions based on Omni-Smart contactless smart-card technology from ADEMCO's OmniTek...

Access control.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... New features and options on the ReadykeyPRO version 5.9 upgrade supply a higher level of cardholder control to the intelligent access control system. Released by Bosch Security Systems of Fairport, New York, the system is compatible with...

Sliding doors.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... The activation standard for the 96K Series sliding doors from Dor-O-Matic Inc. of Harwood Heights, Illinois, is the OA-202C, a combination motion control and presence sensor in one housing. The new sensor uses infrared (IR) technology that...

Programmable lockset.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... The PAL 1200 is a 16-position keypad coupled with a cylindrical lockset. Made by DynaLock Corporation of Bristol, Connecticut, the lockset provides a programmable access control system with the simplicity of standard door hardware. The...

Hand reader interface.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... HandKey II access control readers and HandPunch time and attendance terminals from IR Recognition Systems of Campbell, California, now support BioAPI, the application program interface that is standard for biometric technologies. The hand...

Building security software.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... I/NET Seven is a new software version of the high-performance building security system from TAC of Malmo, Sweden. A Windows 2000-based system, it is designed with a peer-to-peer architecture, so any device can interact with any other device in...

Biometric ID system.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) is a new Web-based, enterprise-level, facial-recognition matching platform from Identix Incorporated of Minnetonka, Minnesota. Using Facelt technology, it facilitates the delivery of large-scale...

Electric strikes.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Updated 9600 Genesis electric strikes feature added reinforcements allowing them to be installed on any surface. Made by Hanchett Entry Systems of Phoenix, Arizona, an ASSA ABLOY Group company, the strikes include stainless steel keeper pins,...

Credit fraud protection.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Datacard Group of Minnetonka, Minnesota, is introducing a new module for its Datacard 9000 and 7000 Series card issuance systems that will help financial institutions and merchants fight credit-card fraud. The Magneprint module records and...

Emergency call system.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Designed for use in the senior care and home care markets, the CareGard Home Emergency Call System from GE Interlogix of North St. Paul, Minnesota, includes a control panel and a panic sensor worn as a pendant or watch. The panel calls an...

Visitor registration.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... K&A Industries, Inc., of Plainfield, New Jersey, has introduced the Onsight Guest Management System. Consisting of the Desk Top Badging Module and a browser-based Pre-Registration Module, the system can prepare guest badges, keep track of...

Space-saving turnstiles.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Alvarado Manufacturing Company of Chino, California, has introduced the Supervisor 3000-Small/Medium turnstiles. These space-saving optical turnstiles feature motorized retracting barrier arms with optical technology for secure bidirectional...

Audio/video entry system.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Aiphone Corporation of Bellevue, Washington, has added a new concierge/security guard station to its GF audio/video entry security system. The station can communicate with all tenants and entrance stations, in addition to replying to panic...

Retail furniture.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... New products designed for small retail establishments (convenience stores and gas stations, for example) have been introduced by Minneapolis-based Winsted Corporation. Low cost, space-efficient wall shelves for electronics, tapes, manuals, and...

Destruction equipment catalog.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... A free miniature compact disk from Security Engineered Machinery of Westboro, Massachusetts, holds its catalog of shredders, disintegrators, degaussers, tamper-resistant receptacles, and other destruction equipment. Loaded in the CD tray of a...

Personnel administration.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Software House of Lexington, Massachusetts, has introduced the C-CURE Central 2.0 Web-based personnel administration system. It enables the user to centrally manage card enrollment in an enterprise access control system. Cardholder updates are...

Computer security.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Tampa-based NetWolves Corporation offers a comprehensive solution for Internet security using the WolfPac 2020 and WolfPac 3020 Security Platforms. Equipped with three Ethernet 10/100 interface cards for WAN, LAN, and DMZ connections, they...

Power supplies.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Dortronics Systems, Inc., of Sag Harbor, New York, has introduced power supplies for advanced door control applications with switched and continuous twin DC outputs. The new 4200 Series Power Supplies feature two DC outputs, 12 and 24 volts....

Fiber-optic networking.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... American Fibertek, Inc., of Somerset, New Jersey, is introducing the 45 Series Ethernet Data System, which is designed to transmit and receive 10 Base-T/ 100Base-TX autosensing Ethernet signals over optical fiber. It provides an important link...

Spam prevention.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... The NetIQ Mail Marshal 5.5 SMP is an e-mail scanning solution designed to help companies stop spam. Developed by NetIQ Corporation of San Jose, California, the system reinforces network continuity and uncompromised levels of e-mail security...

Security products catalog.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Digital Security Controls Ltd. of Toronto has released its new product catalog for security professionals. The Security Source Book includes product photos, feature descriptions, and installation tips. The catalog is organized by category, such...

Security consoles.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Middle Atlantic Products, Inc., of Riverdale, New Jersey, has added two new vertical enclosures that connect to its security surveillance and monitoring consoles. The UL-listed SCRK Convective Series and SCQRK Quiet-Cool Series are fully welded...

Battery-powered recorder.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... Micro Technology Services, Inc., of Richardson, Texas, has introduced a portable, rugged video recorder that operates on a battery. The SR 71R express settings were developed for error-free setup and can be pre-programmed. To save bakery life,...

Access control/security management.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... GE Interlogix, CASI Division, of Boca Raton, Florida, has released a new enterprise access control and security management system. Picture Perfect 2.0 offers advanced access control technology, alarm monitoring capabilities, scalability, and...

Video/data transmitter.(Marketplace)
September 1, 2003... International Fiber Systems Incorporated of Newtown, Connecticut, has introduced a video transmitter and data receiver for use in Ultrak dome cameras. The VT1500WDM Ultrak mounts directly into the power supply enclosure of a dome camera,...