07 April 2010 Morning Report
By Matt | April 7, 2010
CT Fire Danger: Very High
RED FLAG
URGENT – FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
411 AM EDT WED APR 7 2010CTZ002>004-MAZ002>019-026-RIZ001-002-071615-
/O.UPG.KBOX.FW.A.0001.100407T1500Z-100407T2200Z/
/O.NEW.KBOX.FW.W.0001.100407T1500Z-100407T2200Z/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-
411 AM EDT WED APR 7 2010…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM EDT
THIS EVENING…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM EDT
THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.THIS WARNING IS FOR MUCH OF MASSACHUSETTS…NORTHERN CONNECTICUT…AND
NORTHWEST RHODE ISLAND.THERE WILL BE AN ENHANCED RISK OF FIRE SPREAD ACROSS THE WARNING
AREA LATE THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON. SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED
TO INCREASE WITH FREQUENT GUSTS AROUND 25 MPH. IN ADDITION…MINIMUM
AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO DROP TO BETWEEN 25 AND
30 PERCENT AS TEMPERATURES RISE INTO THE MID 80S.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.
FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
404 AM EDT WED APR 7 2010…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM EDT
THIS EVENING….DISCUSSION…
WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL
RESULT IN RED FLAG CONDITIONS WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES OF 25
TO 30 PERCENT. A BACKDOOR FRONT WILL BRING EASTERLY WINDS AND COOLER
CONDITIONS THURSDAY WITH HIGHER RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BETWEEN 40 TO 60
PERCENT.OUTLOOK…FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY…
A PERIOD OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED FRIDAY
AS A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. COOL AND DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED FOR
THE WEEKEND WITH GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS AND MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
OF 25 T0 35 PERCENT.CTZ004-080815-
WINDHAM CT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…ASHFORD…PLAINFIELD…PUTNAM…
WILLIMANTIC
404 AM EDT WED APR 7 2010…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM EDT
THIS EVENING…TODAY TONIGHT THU
CLOUD COVER MCLEAR MCLEAR PCLDY
PRECIP TYPE NONE NONE NONE
CHANCE PRECIP (%) 0 0 10
TEMP /24H TREND/ 84 (+14) 53 (+5) 80
RH % /24H TREND/ 28 (-7) 96 (-4) 42
20FT WND AM /MPH/ SW 5 G20 LGT/VAR
20FT WND PM /MPH/ SW 11 G21 SW 5 G17 SE 7
PRECIP AMOUNT 0.00 0.00 0.00
PRECIP DURATION
PRECIP BEGIN
PRECIP END
MIXING HGT /FT-AGL/ 3720 70 4900
TRANSPORT WND /KTS/ W 25 SW 9 SW 15
VENT RATE /KT-FT/ 93000 630 73500
CWR 0 0 0
LAL NO TSTMS NO TSTMS NO TSTMS
HAINES INDEX 5 5 4REMARKS…NONE.
.FORECAST FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7…
.THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. LOWS IN
THE UPPER 40S. SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.FRIDAY…SHOWERS WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE LOWER
60S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. LOWS IN
THE MID 30S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.SATURDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S. WEST WINDS 15 TO
20 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 30S.
HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S. WEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 30S. HIGHS
IN THE UPPER 50S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.
.TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 60. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO
10 MPH.
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Links…
By Matt | February 22, 2010
Legal stuff on Electronic Communications Privacy and Wiretap Acts:
http://www.internetlibrary.com/topics/electronic_cpa.cfm
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Cell Phone Location
By Matt | February 13, 2010
Fascinating — I didn’t know the difference between CDMA & GMS in how they locate phones, or the more sophisticated time based triangulation by T-Mobile:
The Federal Communications Commission’s “Enhanced 911″ (E911) requirements allowed rough estimates to be transformed into precise coordinates. Wireless carriers using CDMA networks, such as Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel, tend to use embedded GPS technology to fulfill E911 requirements. AT&T and T-Mobile comply with E911 regulations using network-based technology that computes a phone’s location using signal analysis and triangulation between towers.
T-Mobile, for instance, uses a GSM technology called Uplink Time Difference of Arrival, or U-TDOA, which calculates a position based on precisely how long it takes signals to reach towers. A company called TruePosition, which provides U-TDOA services to T-Mobile, boasts of “accuracy to under 50 meters” that’s available “for start-of-call, midcall, or when idle.”
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Seven Principles for Security Systems
By Matt | February 11, 2010
This is a very good report:
Archived here.
While reading the example scams in the article, it becomes clear much like corporate fraud they depend on collusion. A team pulling off a social hack is far stronger then a single person trying to do so.
1) While you are distracted by what retains your interest, hustlers can do anything to you and you won’t notice.
2) Society trains people not to question authority. Hustlers exploit this “suspension of suspiciousness” to make you do what they want.
3) Even suspicious marks will let their guard down when everyone next to them appears to share the same risks. Safety in numbers? Not if they’re all conspiring against you.
4) Anything illegal you do will be used against you by the fraudster, making it harder for you to seek help once you realize you’ve been had.
5) Things and people are not what they seem. Hustlers know how to manipulate you to make you believe that they are.
6) Your needs and desires make you vulnerable. Once hustlers know what you really want, they can easily manipulate you.
7) When you are under time pressure to make an important choice, you use a different decision strategy. Hustlers steer you towards a strategy involving less reasoning.
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Atlantic article on Cyber Attacks
By Matt | February 11, 2010
It is well-funded and pursued by mature individuals and groups of professionals with deep financial and technical resources, often with local government (or other countries’) toleration if not support. It is already responsible for billions of dollars a year in losses, and it is growing and becoming more capable. We have largely ignored it, and building our military capabilities is not responding to that threat.
James Fallow, Atlantic Magazine, February 2010
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Rootkit Hunters
By Matt | February 10, 2010
A few resources for finding rootkits:
Linux:
Rootkit Hunter
Chkrootkit
Windows:
RootkitRevealer
Topics: General Security, Linux, Sysadmin Tools, Windows | No Comments »
Some Sun Tzu quotes…
By Matt | February 5, 2010
Good for Information Security:
All warfare is based on deception.
He who occupies the field of battle first and awaits his enemy is at ease, he who rushes into the fight is weary.
A speedy victory is the main object in war. If this is long in coming, weapons are blunted and
morale depressed.Generally, management of a large force is the same as management of a few men. It is a matter
of organization.
(The above taken from here.)
Measure, assess, calculate, compare:
The ground gives rise to measurements, measurements give rise to assessments, assessments give rise to calculations, calculations give rise to comparisons, comparisons give rise to victories.
Way: your corporate culture
Weather: periodic changes in outside forces and moods
Terrain: cooperative, competitive, and antagonistic landscapes
Leadership: organizational leadership
Discipline: organization’s willingness to follow direction
(Above paraphrased from this source.)
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Nice explanation of Solid State Drives:
By Matt | February 3, 2010
Everything you ever wanted to know about how SSD works
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PacSafe Security enhanced computer backpack
By Matt | January 30, 2010
My next backpack:
Schweet.
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Card Skimmers
By Matt | January 30, 2010
Photos from Mikko Hypponen, originally linked from Kreb’s On Security:
Note how close the arrows are to the slot, that’s because there’s a skimmer inserted:
Battery pack, pinhole camera to watch what PIN is typed in, and cell phone which would send the information from the card swipe + PIN as a text message live time to the thieves:
Eastern Europeans pulled off an attack like this in the Boston area in December, 2009:
Two more arrested in alleged ATM scheme
Pair is accused of stealing PIN, credit card dataTwo more suspects, including one who was in possession of nearly $100,000 when he was arrested, are facing charges in an alleged scheme to steal ATM card data from unwitting customers in Eastern Massachusetts, authorities said yesterday.
One of the two, Anton Venkov, 40, of Toronto, was arrested Thursday by the US Secret Service in Boston and charged with using counterfeit bank account access codes and aiding and abetting the plot. He has not yet entered a plea and has a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday in federal court. Authorities say he had $99,100 in $20 bills in his car when he was arrested at Best Western Roundhouse Suites on Massachusetts Avenue.Another alleged member of the plot, Vladislav Vladev, 36, of Quincy, was also arrested Thursday while sitting on a plane that was headed for Germany, at Logan International Airport, Norfolk County prosecutors said. He was arraigned in Quincy District Court yesterday on larceny and identity fraud charges relating to a theft from a Milton ATM on Granite Avenue. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered held on $1 million cash bail. He has a hearing scheduled for Monday.
State Police said Vladev is from Bulgaria.
Prosecutors say Venkov and Vladev teamed up with Ivaylo Hristov, 28, of Ontario, who was arrested Wednesday, and stole debit and credit card data and PIN numbers by placing scanner devices and hidden cameras in ATM machines at several locations. Authorities believe they have stolen at least $100,000 from customers at Citizens Bank and other institutions.
Hristov was also charged yesterday in the Milton ATM theft and ordered held on $500,000 cash bail. He was charged Thursday for an alleged similar scheme in Quincy and was ordered held on $1 million cash bail. He is due back in Quincy District Court on Monday.
The Secret Service learned in December that a Bank of America ATM in Saugus had been rigged with the scanner device, called a skimmer, and a pinhole camera, according to a court affidavit from a Secret Service agent. A surveillance photo showed Vladev attaching the skimmer, the affidavit said. Another photo allegedly showed Hristov removing the camera.
Authorities were informed on Jan. 22 of ATM tampering at Citizens Bank locations in Quincy, Milton, Braintree, and Somerville, the affidavit said. Surveillance photos showed the same men at the Citizens locations, according to the affidavit.
Three days later, photos showed the men rigging Bank of America ATM machines in Saugus, Milton, Weymouth, Cambridge, Dorchester, and Roslindale, the affidavit said.
Hristov was arrested on Wednesday near a Citizens ATM in Quincy, with local police acting on a tip from the bank’s security team. He had $1,380 in $20 bills at the time of his arrest, according to the affidavit, as well as Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards and American Express cards with post-it notes that had “PIN’’ and various numbers written on them.
Quincy police said Hristov told them that he received 10 percent from the thieves’ withdrawals and gave the rest to Vladislav to deposit into an account in Chicago. He also had a card for a storage unit in Weymouth that he said contained equipment used in the scam, police said. They are seeking a search warrant for the unit.
The Secret Service learned yesterday that Venkov had checked into the Best Western and rented a black Infiniti, the affidavit said. He was arrested soon afterward and allegedly told investigators that Vladev urged him to come to the United States to make some easy money. Hristov and Venkov told authorities that they were born in Bulgaria but had Canadian citizenship.
David Traub, a spokesman for Norfolk District Attorney William R. Keating, said authorities believe this group of suspects is responsible for most of the ATM thefts in Eastern Massachusetts. He declined to say whether investigators believed there were others working in other parts of the state or region.
Keating told reporters yesterday that bank customers should check their balances and contact their banks and local police if they notice any suspicious withdrawals
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