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CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

1. World
2. Africa
3. Americas
4. Asia Pacific
5. Europe
6. Middle East
7. South Asia
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
9. Finance
10 Human Rights
11. Law and Legal Issues
12. Transportation
13. Weapons of Mass Destruction
14. Recently Published

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Cybersecurity '05

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

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1. World

The Report on the Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer 2004 is a public opinion survey carried out in 64 countries regarding perceptions and experiences of corruption. They report that concerns about corruption in political life, including political parties, parliament/legislatures, law enforcement and the judicial systems, presents the greatest concern to people around the world. http://www.transparency.org The report was released on December 9, International Anti-Corruption Day. http://www.unodc.org/unodc/event_2004-12-09_1.html

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) released the latest assessment test results among OECD member nations and partners. Overall, they found improvements among the best performing and a widening gap between the high- and low-performers. Finland was again the top performer. In math proficiency, Korea, Canada, China (both Hong Kong and Macao), and the Netherlands also led, while Turkey, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil and Tunisia performed worst. Although wealthier countries tend to perform better than poorer, there are exceptions. Korea's national income is 30 percent below OECD average, but its students are among the best. There is also not a direct connection among spending on education.
http://www.pisa.oecd.org/

In The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2004, the Food and Agriculture Organization reports that a child still dies of hunger every five seconds, killing more than five million children each year. http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2004/51809/index.html Oxfam adds the information that in real terms, rich countries have provided half the aid budgets compared to 1960 and could do much more to provide the resources necessary to overcome poverty.
http://www.oxfam.org/eng/pr041206_MDG.htm

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2. Africa

Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC's) ongoing crisis is the deadliest in the world, according to a national mortality survey released by the International Rescue Committee. As the country continues to recover from the six-year conflict that ended with a peace agreement 18 months ago, the war has been replaced by "extreme violence, mass population displacements, widespread rape and a collapse of public health services" that is killing more than 31,000 people each month.
http://www.theirc.org/DRCongo/index.cfm

DRC, Rwanda and Uganda have massed troops in border regions where there have been a number of incursions and clashes. Militia violence directed against villagers now includes kidnapping for ransom. It is believed that Rwanda is maintaining military control in some portions of the country, apparently using proxy Congolese forces. The Security Council has ordered all Rwandan troops to withdraw, but Rwanda denies any are there. Meanwhile, hopes for progress to resolve the impasse fell when DRC boycotted a US-brokered meeting with Uganda and Rwanda.

Eritrea has responded coolly to an Ethiopian proposal to end the long-running border dispute. Eritrea says there is already a signed agreement that should stand and that a move towards partial demarcation could lead to renewed war.

Ghana's President John Kufour has been re-elected with nearly 53 percent of the vote and promises to dedicate his second term to eradicating poverty.

In Ivory Coast, South African President Mbeki's mediation led to an agreement that all sides would return to the peace process and thereby stop the slide towards renewed civil war. There is now a new timetable for disarmament, security reforms, and other issues.

Kenyan authorities have started repossessing millions of hectares of land that had been seized by former President Daniel arap Moi and his cronies during his 24-year rule.

Liberia and Sierra require sustained international commitment, according to a new International Crisis Group assessment. They report that the current interventions "are failing to produce states that will be stable and capable of exercising the full range of sovereign responsibilities on behalf of their long-suffering populations. This is essentially because they treat peacebuilding as implementing an operational checklist, involving fixes to various institutions and processes, without tackling underlying political dynamics".
http://www.crisisweb.org

In Mozambique, international observers praised the conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections but were concerned at a markedly lower turnout (only 30-40 percent) compared to previous elections. Further concern has now been raised by a delay in the results. Officials said computer problems and heavy rain caused the delay, but the opposition suggests there has been massive fraud to alter computer databases and called for fresh elections.

Niger President Mamadou Tandja has been elected to a second term with 65.5 percent of the run-off votes.

In Nigeria's Delta region, community representatives took over three oil installations in protest at lack of employment, ending the peaceful protest after three days and an agreement by ChevronTexaco and Shell to discuss greater regional investment. In northern Nigeria, a debate between Christians and Muslims led to clashes among students and two universities have been closed.

Somalia's new transitional government has faced its first challenges with the resignation of a minister and four deputies followed by a parliamentary vote against the newly appointed government, a call that the president is likely to reject.

In Sudan, violence has spread across the entire Darfur region and is escalating despite ongoing peace talks. In addition to fighting between rebel groups, government forces, and government-backed militias, local militias are rising to protect their villages. The African Union observer mission says a stronger mandate and more troops are necessary to enforce peace agreements rather than reporting them.

Uganda has extended its unilateral ceasefire with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to December 15.

Zimbabwe's parliament passed a bill banning international human rights groups from the country and cutting foreign funding to local groups working with "governance issues". The International Bar Association accused President Mugabe of a reign of terror and that he should face justice for well-documented cases of murder, raps, abduction, and enslavement. http://www.ibanet.org/iba/article.cfm?article=34

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3. Americas

An Argentine branch of Citibank was the latest victim in a series of attacks, when a bomb exploded near an ARM machine and a second device was removed.

Colombian authorities arrested 56 members of the right-wing paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces (AUC) for alleged drug trade connections just days before the largest yet demobilization in which more than 1400 AUC fighters and their leader, Salvatore Mancuso, laid down their arms. The ceremony marked an important symbolic milestone, but there are no verification mechanisms and concerns have been expressed over what will happen with AUC-controlled narcotics plantation.

Ecuador's congress voted to dismiss the entire Supreme Court because of its alleged politicization, using police force to end an anti-government rally and encourage the judges to leave. A new court, appointed by the President, has been sworn in.

Haiti's security problems may be mitigated when an additional force arrives by the end of the month, giving 8,000 police and troops.

The US congress has passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. Based on recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, it establishes a director of national intelligence, creates a national counterterrorism center, sets up a board to oversee civil liberties, tightens immigration controls, and allows further investigations of terrorist suspects.

The US and Britain signed an agreement to share counterterrorism information and technology. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4198

President Bush's nominee as the new director of homeland security, Bernard Kerik, withdrew his nomination because of immigration problems related to childcare.

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4. Asia Pacific

Australia is investing A$590 million to improve security at Australian embassies, including perimeter security and access control. Australia will also increase counterterrorism aid to Indonesia, doubling it during 2005.

Burma's military junta has released more than 5,000 prisoners, bringing to more than 14,000 those freed under the November 18 amnesty for people arrested by the disbanded National Intelligence Bureau. The commander of the Karen National Union (KNU) rebel group, General Bo Mya, has retired due to ill health and has been replaced by Tamia Baw.

Japan has issued new military guidelines, restating the 1945 pacifist constitution, but easing restrictions to allow participation in US missile defense projects and other purported self-defense measures.

Malaysian human rights group Suaram published its annual report, citing few improvements in restrictions against basic rights, including an independent judiciary and movements towards greater democracy. http://www.suaram.net/ A security investigation is underway following a prison riot in whose aftermath prison guards found weapons cached in the cells of Jemaah Islamiah prisoners.

The Malaysia-Thai gas pipeline project is also the subject of human rights questions following the finding of Thailand's National Human Rights Commission that the planned path of the pipeline passed through public land and must stop. The claim will be investigated over the next three months.

In the southern Philippines an explosion in a market at General Santos city on Mindanao has killed at least 14. Responsibility is as yet unknown.

Southern Thailand was hit with further violence just a few hours after army planes dropped paper birds of peace. A bomb exploded near a market, injuring one soldier, and there were several incidents of arson and shootings, as well as a series of simultaneous bombings in three provinces that stopped rail service; there were no casualties.

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5. Europe

In Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, a series of four explosions (no casualties) followed the decision that the two rival presidential candidates would run together in new elections, set for December 26. After this agreement, Russia ended its border restrictions. Tensions at the Georgia's border with Azerbaijan have increased following ethnic clashes connected with alleged smuggling.

German police raided 34 sites believed connected to al-Aqsa, a banned Islamic organization that raises funds for Hamas.

Irish and British leaders remained optimistic despite the last minute foundering of a comprehensive peace deal to restore devolution because the Irish Republican Army (IRA) would not accede to Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) demands for photographic proof of decommissioning (and the explicit humiliation of the IRA). The government proposals were published, demonstrating how much had been resolved, and efforts to resolve the remaining issues will continue.
http://www.nio.gov.uk

In the Russian republic Dagestan a massive explosion along a gas pipeline injured 21 people and disrupted regional supplies for some time. Police suspect sabotage, possibly connected to terrorism.

Seven Spanish cities were targeted with seven small bombs on Spain's Constitution Day holiday, December 6. Advance warnings from Basque separatist group ETA meant there were only minor casualties to around 18 people.

Spain and the UK have for the first time included representatives from Gibraltar in talks to resolve the future of the disputed island.

Ukraine is preparing for a new run-off election on December 26, following parliamentary agreement on new election laws. Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko, who is leading in the polls, has been diagnosed with dioxin poisoning and an investigation into the poisoning, that left Yushchenko seriously ill and badly disfigured, has been reopened.

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6. Middle East

Egypt and Israel undertook a prisoner swap in which six Egyptian students were freed in exchange of the release of Israeli Arab Azzam Azzam who had been convicted of espionage.

At the Egypt-Gaza border two explosions at a checkpoint placed in a tunnel, followed by an attack by gunmen injured ten Israelis. Hamas with a group called the Fatah Hawks claimed responsibility. Unconfirmed reports suggest two suicide bombers.

In Gaza during the week, Hamas militants killed one Israeli soldier and wounded four using a boob-trapped chicken coop. In subsequent fighting four Palestinians were killed. An Israeli assassination attempt against Popular Resistance Committees commander Jamal Abu Samhadana failed but troops did kill four Palestinians believed to be smuggling weapons. Another assassination attempt, this time against al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades local leader Mahmud al-Madhun. During Israeli army operations near Khan Younis refugee camp several people were injured and a 7-year-old girl was killed by Israeli file as she ate dinner in her home.

In Iraq, three days of insurgent attacks last weekend killed more than 80 and incidents continued throughout the week. Despite this, preparations for elections continue and Iraq's parties representing Iraq's Shia majority has announced an electoral coalition. More than 5,000 candidates have registered. Amid escalating violence, demands for an accurate accounting to the death toll in Iraq have grown, but have had no effect in practice. Current estimates range from 10,000 to more than 100,000 civilian deaths. The International Committee of the Red Cross was allowed in to Fallujah on Friday, where they have expressed their worries over civilians including the risks presented by sewage flowing in the streets and hundreds of bodies in a warehouse.

In the US, attention was drawn to a meeting in Kuwait where Defense Secretary Rumsfeld was speaking to troops. The Secretary was confronted with complaints of poor equipment, including soldiers hunting for scrap metal they could apply to unprotected vehicles for improvised protection, as well as complaints regarding prolonged engagements and problems receiving back pay. Rumsfeld said armored vehicles were produced as quickly as possible but, following denials by the company responsible for them, the army has increased its monthly production orders for armored vehicles. In the New England Journal of Medicine, there is a report on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although the ten percent death rate for those injured in Iraq is the lowest ever, the technological advances that made this possible have led to the largest number severe casualties and a shortage of surgeons. More than 1,000 US troops have been killed in Iraq and more than 10,300 injured.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/351/24/2471

In Saudi Arabia the US Consulate in Jeddah was attacked by a group of militants, possibly connected with al Qaeda, armed with explosives and machine guns. They engaged in a 3-hour battle with security guards at the heavily secured building. At the end three gunmen, five Saudi embassy employees were killed.

Syrian authorities released 112 political prisoners under a presidential amnesty but two days later security forces prevented a demonstration by human rights activists protesting the continued imprisonment of about 600 political detainees.

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7. South Asia

Afghanistan's newly elected president Hamid Karzai has been sworn in, calling it the opening of a new chapter in Afghan history.

Following the inauguration, the troops deployed during the presidential election left, although US forces have launched a new operation against al Qaeda and Taliban militants. The more difficult general elections planned for next year require significantly better security measures. Other challenges to address before the elections include disarmament, demobilization and integration; narcotics; security; political reforms; reconstruction and international aid.

Indian separatist leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) met for peace talks with the federal government. Rebels with the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) have rejected an offer of talks with the government.

In Indian-administered Kashmir last Sunday eleven people were killed, including nine soldiers and an Indian army major, when a land mine exploded. During the week militants attacked police patrols over two days, killing six police and wounding several more. The separatist rebel Hizbul Mujahedin claimed responsibility for these attacks.

Nepal's Maoist rebels detonated bombs in Kathmandu on Thursday and Friday, causing property damage and several casualties.

In Quetta, Pakistan, a large bomb attached to a bicycle by the Balochistan Liberation Army exploded at a market, killing 11 and injured 30. Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with the attack.

In Colombo, Sri Lanka, a grenade was set off at a crowded concert, killing at least two and injuring 18.

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

Note today's Feature Article on "Cybersecurity '05", below.

IMLogic and security partners have launched the IMLogic Threat Center to address instant messaging (IM) and peer-to-peer (P2) threats. The site currently lists three high risk alerts, from W32.funner, W32.HLLW.Heycheck, and W32.Bizex.Worm.
http://www.imlogic.com/news/press_94.htm
http://www.imlogic.com/im_threat_center/index.asp

Lycos Europe discontinued its "Make Love, Not Spam" campaign that had used a screensaver to flood spammer sites with data.

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9. Finance

The Islamic charities Quaranic Literacy Institute, Islamic Association for Palestine, and the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, were found liable for aiding Hamas fundraising that in turn led to the killing by Hamas of David Boim, a US teenager shot dead in the West Bank. The three organizations were ordered to pay $156 million (the judge tripled the amount suggested by the jury) to Boim's parents. Hamas assets have previously been subject to government actions and it is uncertain that any such compensation would ever be paid.
http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/RACER2/load_page.cfm?dn=659&cn=1:00-cv-2905&sid=b699f7&sfid=71f661d79214

Antonio Giuffre, a senior member of the Italian Mafia turned informer, claims that the Mafia provided advice to the Medellin drug cartel in Colombia.

Colombian investigators report that drug cartels have developed genetically modified plants that produce eight times the usual crop and can withstand herbicides.

December 9, the first anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention against Corruption, was marked with a promise that the UN will help Nigeria and Kenya recover nearly $11 billion looted from them in the 1990s.
http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2004/unisnar872.html
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/crime_convention_corruption.html

One of the provisions in the US intelligence reform bill was a response to the Riggs Bank affair in which the lead Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) examiner responsible for Riggs took up an executive position there after leaving OCC. In the new legislation, examiners are required to wait a year before accepting a position with a previously regulated organization.

The US Treasury press identified the travel agency Tour and Marketing International Ltd. as a National of Cuba subject to US sanctions.
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js2134.htm
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/reports/document1.pdf
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/reports/document2pdf.pdf

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued guidance for Money Services Businesses on anti-money laundering programs dealing with foreign agencies and foreign counterparts.
http://www.fincen.gov

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10. Human Rights

The State of the World's Children 2005: Childhood under Threat report by UNICEF finds that more than half of the world's 2.2 billion children are adversely affected by poverty, war, and HIV/AIDS, often attributable to government policy.
http://www.unicef.org/sowc05/english/fullreport.html

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 2004 was the deadliest year for journalists in a decade, with 54 killed in the line of duty so far this year, with Iraq the most dangerous destination.
http://www.cpj.org

Human Rights Day was marked on December 10, emphasizing use of education.
http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/2004/

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11. Law and Legal Issues

Syed Akbar Agha, head of the Army of Muslims, has been arrested in Pakistan in connection with the kidnapping of three UN workers in October.

Arin Ahmed, who changed her mind about carrying out a suicide bombing in 2002, was sentenced to three years prison for her role in helping plan the attack that was carried out alone by her partner.

Azzam Azzam, an Israeli Druze businessman jailed in Egypt for spying, was released after seven years as part of the Israeli-Egyptian prison exchange.

Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's Prime Minister, was acquitted of one corruption charge and in a second the court ruled the offense happened to long ago to press charges. The case had gone on for ten years, five of which were in trial.

Mazime Brunerie's trial in France for the attempted assassination of President Chirac two years ago has begun.

Joshua Dariye, governor of Nigeria's Plateau state, and six others have been charged with money laundering offenses connected with diverting some $9 million in public funds.

Mamour Fall, a Senegalese imam in a northern Italian town, was deported last year following warnings against Iraq and praise for bin Laden. A regional court has now ruled these were personal opinions and his deportation was illegal. It was reported that Mamour has no plans to return.

Ciro Di Lauro, son of a Mafia boss, is one of 52 arrested in Italy during a massive anti-Mafia operation.

Shahar Dvir-Zelinger was sentenced in Israeli court to eight years prison for membership of the Jewish extremist Bat Ayin cell responsible for the deaths of eight Palestinians.

Mario Manriquez, a retired Chilean army colonel, has been indicted for ordering the execution of singer/playwright/Communist Party member Victor Jara in 1973.

Abdullah Puteh, governor of Indonesia's Aceh province, has been arrested on corruption charges connected with siphoning funds during an equipment purchase.

Jose Ramirez, a senior commander of National Liberation Army (ELN) believed responsible for the notorious kidnapping of an entire church congregation, has been arrested by Colombian security forces.

Larry Silverstein, leaseholder of the World Trade Center site, has won a court decision that the 9/11 attack constituted to separate events, one against each tower. Insurers had argued it was one incident and this ruling can potentially double the amount available for reconstruction.

Wee Heong Teoh appeared in Australian court in connection with a conspiracy to steal credit card numbers using a modem and recorder to capture information over the phone.

Frans van Anraat, a chemicals dealer, was arrested in the Netherlands charged with selling chemicals to Saddam Hussein that were allegedly used in the 1988 Halabja bombing.

Adman Waki of Syria and Ahmed Ibrahim Kassem of Egypt were arrested by Spanish police in connection with the March 11 Madrid rail bombings.

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12. Transportation

US homeland security officials warned of the use of lasers aimed at pilots during landings to cause crashes, but there is no credible evidence of plans or incidents using this technique.

French police continue to investigate the whereabouts of a bar of plastics explosives that had been planted in a passenger's suitcase during a training exercise and has since been lost.

Ottawa International Airport is installing radiological detection equipment.

Intelligence director Dominic Armstrong of Aegis Defense Systems suggests that al Qaeda could stage a maritime attack in the next year, to get attention and drive up maritime costs.

The International Maritime Organization's Safety Committee met December 1-10, reviewing goals-based standards.
http://www.imo.org/

The International Maritime Bureau warns of two piracy attacks in Lagos and unabated violent attacks in the Malacca Straits. http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php Lloyds List reports that salvage and towage firm Smits will use armed guards to combat pirate attacks.
http://www.smit-international.com

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed El Baradei stated his belief that North Korea has built 4-6 nuclear bombs, based on experience not new information. The US believes they have built only 1-2. The Task Force on US/Korea Policy has called for the US Bush administration to change its position on North Korea by stopping their misrepresentations and distortions and instead focus on the real threat.
http://www.cfr.org/publication.php?id=7556

World Health Organization and influenza experts warn of the probability of an avian influenza sparked pandemic and urges countries to enhance preparedness.
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/preparedness2004_12_08/en/

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued final regulations on the establishment and maintenance of records to track the production and distribution chain of the food supply. The regulations were established in connection with the Bioterrorism Act.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01143.html

Biological Weapons Convention members met in Geneva December 6-10 to discuss strengthening the 1972 treaty.

The Security Council committee established to help implement a resolution designed to prevent WMD falling into the hands of black markets and terrorists. Only 86 countries have submitted the required report to set out how they are meeting the requirements of the resolution.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sc8265.doc.htm

The World Health Organization released CAP Compendium: Health 2005 summarizing the health needs and projects required and calling for adequate responses from the donor community.
http://www.who.int/hac/donorinfo/cap2005/en/

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14. Recently Published

Ronald Florence, "Blood Libel: The Damascus Affair of 1840", University of Wisconsin Press

David Harris, "The Crisis: The President, the Prophet, and the Shah - 1979 and the Coming of Militant Islam", Little Brown

Larry J. Kolb, "Overworld: The Life and Times of a Reluctant Spy", Riverhead

Sebastian Mallaby, "The World's Banker: A Story of Failed States, Financial Crises, and the Wealth and Poverty of Nations", Council on Foreign Relations/Penguin Press

James C. Mohr, "Plague and Fire: Battling Black Death and the 1900 Burning of Honolulu's Chinatown" Oxford University Press

Matt Rees, "Cain's Field" Faith, Fratricide and Fear in the Middle East" Free Press

Corey Robin, "Fear: The History of a Political Idea" Oxford University Press

Jorges Semprun, "Viente Anos Y Un Dia" (Twenty Years and a Day), Tusquets Editores

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FEATURE ARTICLE: Cybersecurity '05

Escalating cyber security threats was the topic of a number of new reports, including two that recommend immediate action by federal authorities in the US.

Most serious of the emerging threats is the combination of spam and virus techniques in phishing accounts that trick people into handing over confidential data. MessageLabs 2004 Email Security Trends and 2005 Predictions Report states "At the end of 2003 few people had even heard of phishing. Yet within a relatively short period of time, the phishing phenomenon had gathered enough momentum to establish its position as one of the most prevalent threats of the day. In September 2003 the number of phishing emails encountered by MessageLabs was 279, by September 2004 that figure had jumped to over two million. Currently, MessageLabs intercepts between two and five million phishing emails every month. The impact of phishing is also evident in the Email Security Survey carried out by MessageLabs in May 2004, when the majority of respondents (22 percent) claimed that online fraud would be the greatest threat over the next decade".

Sophos shares this concern. They report on "a new wave of online bank robbery": "Numerous UK financial institutions continued to be the targets of phishing scams - NatWest even suspended some of its online banking services to deflect an attack - and there was a worrying trend of phishers recruiting 'mules' to help send stolen money overseas. Interestingly, Sophos identified a new type of phishing attack in 2004. Rather than emails that direct innocent users to fake banking websites in order to capture personal details, the new wave of phishers use Trojans that wait for users to visit real banking websites before surreptitiously monitoring and secretly recording the login process".

In their annual report of the year's worst virus outbreaks Sophos also reports that 2004 "saw a 51.8% increase in the number of new viruses", led by Netsky-P that accounted for nearly a quarter. Indeed, "2004 was the year of the Netsky - the first of more than 30 versions of this worm arrived on the scene in February and an astonishing five variants have made it into the annual top ten".

Since malicious software is often delivered with spam, the Business Software Alliance's finding that computer users are commonly lured into purchasing goods via spam. Their survey of consumer attitudes towards spam found high percentages of online purchases through unsolicited email:

Concerned with the rising costs of online financial fraud and other computer security risks as well as the possibility of catastrophic failures and deliberate attacks against computers - risks that span all critical infrastructure sectors - the Cyber Security Industry Alliance published "Agenda for the Next Administration".

This group of computer security executives called for the US federal government to elevate the profile of computer vulnerabilities by adopting the following recommendations:

A US Congressional subcommittee reached similar conclusions in their report "Cybersecurity for the Homeland". They summarize the problem as follows:
"A growing yet underestimated threat is that of a cyber attack on U.S. Critical information infrastructures. Criminals, terrorists, and foreign governments are exploiting the anonymity and global reach of the Internet to attack the U.S. information infrastructure' perform reconnaissance for physical attack; conduct hostile information operations; steal money, identities and secrets; and potentially undermine the U.S. economy. In many respects, this threat is escalating due to the increased availability of automated tools for malicious actions, the complexity of the technical environment, and the increased dependence of our society on interconnected systems".

The report gives six recommendations they would like the Department of Homeland Security to consider implementing:

As yet these proposals are still being reviewed, but watch this space for more news on emerging threats and efforts to combat them.

Further Reading:

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