IP: fbi, fyi

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>From: "Bridis, Ted" <Ted.Bridis@dowjones.com>
>To: "'farber@cis.upenn.edu'" <farber@cis.upenn.edu>
>Subject: fbi, fyi
>Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 08:53:41 -0400
>X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19)
>
>http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB99601609210000000.htm
>
>FBI Cyber Researcher Unleashes Virus
>That E-Mails Private Agency Documents
>
>By TED BRIDIS
>Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
>
>WASHINGTON -- A researcher in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's
>cyber-protection unit unleashed a fast-spreading Internet virus that
>e-mailed private FBI documents to outsiders -- all on the eve of a Senate
>hearing into troubles at the unit.
>
>Although the Sircam virus didn't spread to other computers at the FBI's
>National Infrastructure Protection Center, it did send at least eight
>documents to a number of outsiders. One, about the investigation into an
>unrelated virus, was marked "official use only." The Sircam virus has
>infected thousands of computers since its discovery last week.
>
>FBI spokeswoman Deb Weierman said that no sensitive or classified
>information about continuing investigations was disclosed Tuesday. The
>"official use" designation protects documents from disclosure under the U.S.
>Freedom of Information Act.
>
>It isn't uncommon for virus researchers to accidentally infect their own
>computers, but the mistake was particularly embarrassing because it occurred
>ahead of a Senate Judiciary panel's oversight hearing about the FBI cyber
>unit's effectiveness. Lawmakers were expected to focus on other agencies'
>failure to cooperate fully with the FBI center, and on a perceived lack of
>trust between the FBI and private-sector groups.
>
>The unit generally gets high remarks for its criminal investigations, and
>even critics say the unit is more effective than it was a year ago. "The
>effort here is not to embarrass anybody but to stress that a lot of work has
>to be done," said Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona.
>
>Meanwhile, the White House has begun organizing a new early-warning network
>for Internet threats. But unlike the current system, it will be coordinated
>by the Pentagon, not the FBI. The mechanism for warning all U.S. military
>and civilian agencies -- and ultimately corporations -- will be dubbed the
>Cyber-Warning and Information Network, or "c-win." Organizers envision
>dozens of computer centers that could sound an alert when a threat is
>identified.
>
>The network is expected to begin operating in October. The FBI unit, which
>currently relays these warnings, came under sharp criticism from
>congressional auditors for issuing tardy alerts. Ms. Weierman, the FBI
>spokeswoman, called the new network a "useful mechanism" to offer the
>government a "technical capability that doesn't currently exist." The FBI,
>she said, wasn't concerned it would lose its warning responsibilities.
>
>Tuesday, at least three people said they received some of the FBI documents,
>including a 23-year-old Internet-security expert in Belgium, Niels Heinen.
>He operates a Web site that reports on Internet break-ins and speculated
>that the analyst, Vince Rowe, visited the site on the infected computer. Mr.
>Rowe didn't respond to a request for comment.
>
>Write to Ted Bridis at ted.bridis@wsj.com



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