TSA Laptop Stolen in Philadelphia (Contains Sensitive Info. on Nation's 429 Airports)

WPVI Action News - Philadelphia ^ | 10/14/03 | WPVI Action News - Philadelphia

[all4one]

Stolen Computer Search

October 14, 2003 — The search goes on for a stolen laptop computer, a computer that contains sensitive information about security at all the commercial airports in the U.S. It happened during an airport security training seminar at the Embassy Suites near Philadelphia International.

Police and the FBI have not located that computer nor have they made any arrests. I am told it contains sensitive information about security at the nation's 429 airports. A source tells Action News they do not believe this was the job of a professional who knew what was on the computer, but someone who thought they might be able to get some good cash for it at a pawnshop.

Police and FBI agents swarmed into the Embassy Suites hotel on Bartram Avenue near the airport shortly after the theft. Lockheed Martin under contract to the Transportation Security Administration was conducting a training seminar for 25 new screeners hired at Philadelphia International. The instructor was using a laptop computer to project security procedures onto a large projection screen. Around noon the group broke for lunch leaving the computer behind.

FBI agents and police rounded up about 50 hotel employees, locked them up in a conference room as they tried to pin down the person who stole the Transportation Security Administration computer. The employees contacted their union.

Kevin Smith/H.E.R.E. LOCAL 274:

"I got a call at 6:30 from the members." "And what did they say?" Kevin Smith/H.E.R.E. LOCAL 274:

"That they were being restrained, held prisoner." Union business agent Kevin Smith was hopping mad that his members were being held for such a long period of time, especially those who had kids they were not able to pickup from daycare. If there's a piece of equipment missing, that's one piece of equipment, however they are restraining 50 people, that means they have 49 innocent people."

Meantime questions were raised as to why a computer with sensitive information about security at the nation's airport would be left behind at a conference during a lunch break. A TSA spokesman says the instructor had locked the door but didn't realize there was a back door that had been left unlocked. Authorities seem to think whoever took it works in the hotel.

[all4one]

Once again, those in charge of protecting our security are proven to be the least capable of doing so. I hope that this laptop is found soon. I also hope that the FBI did a thorough search on those people who were in training, as well as the hotel employees.

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[randog]

Find Madelyn Albright and you'll find the laptop.

[areafiftyone]

A source tells Action News they do not believe this was the job of a professional who knew what was on the computer, but someone who thought they might be able to get some good cash for it at a pawnshop.

Oh sure and those people who stole pilots uniforms and id's a while back just wanted to play dressup!

[sarasota]

Well, if it was destined to go cheap at a pawn shop, that's not going to happen now. The thief will be looking for bigger money from bigger fish.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

A source tells Action News they do not believe this was the job of a professional who knew what was on the computer, but someone who thought they might be able to get some good cash for it at a pawnshop.

God help us if we run into a professional.

[showme_the_Glory]

Probably left it in a plastic tote at the airport while putting their shoes back on. Someone else grabbed it by mistake. HaHaHa

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

There should be tracking built into all government
computers. This would be very cheap and would allow
the perpertrators to be tracked and found.

[Constitution Day]

Well, isn't that special.

[b4its2late]

The Chinaman, that is orbiting the earth now thanks to the Clinton Administration, probably has it......

[all4one]

I was thinking the same thing this morning. It would be a good idea for laptops to have an integrated GPS chip that would enable the owner to find their computer. I wonder if such technology exists and if not an enterprising techie could create a niche company that installs GPS tracking for security.

[aristeides]

Around noon the group broke for lunch leaving the computer behind.

Without either detailing somebody to guard the computer, or locking it up some place?

[Sir Gawain]

What do you expect when you go from flipping burgers and working at Wal-Mart to working security at an airport?

[blackdog]

Actually it would be better to let them take the laptops. You do realize these are seminars attended by former burger flippers now working for the TSA. Do you really think they feed important info to that bunch? With all the secured federal office space in Philadelphia, do you really think booking seminars in Hotels is wise? Of course not! The Federal Royalty does not even want these people smelling up their hallways.

They should plant millions of false and inacurate data files in federal employees laptops. When stolen (or abandoned in a hotel or cab) the data stolen will serve national security just fine. TSA employees don't even know a laptop from an ATM. I'm sure a laptop giving a power point presentation on how to search granny and other high risk passengers to a room full of people who work for the TSA holds very little in the way of much more than porn files, chat room trails, and endless solitare games.

[Triple]

Looks like a clear case of inproper handling of classified information. That's gonna smart.

[Andy from Chapel Hill]

They should use laptops with a fingerprint chip that will prevent anyone else accessing data.
See: www.authentec.com
Disclosure: I am one of the VC's that started this company and was Chairman for 4 1/2 years.

[DannyTN]

Why on earth is sensitive information on every airport residing on a laptop in the first place.

[blackdog]

And does anyone really think that TSA strategies and methods are being lunked around by GS-10's? That info is encrypted and on the secured server at the home offices.

It will be the end of this federal employee's job when as part of the investigation, the computer is analyzed by experts as evidence in part of the "investigation".

Ebay searches, porn, and of course.....A log-on password for those faithful DU members.

Some GS-10 handled this goof poorly. I would guess the only reason it got reported was that they couldn't finish their Power Point presentation and had a room full of morons needing to take the test on the presentation. Lot's of half filled out paperwork ya know.......

[savedbygrace]

"That they were being restrained, held prisoner." Union business agent Kevin Smith was hopping mad that his members were being held for such a long period of time, especially those who had kids they were not able to pickup from daycare. If there's a piece of equipment missing, that's one piece of equipment, however they are restraining 50 people, that means they have 49 innocent people."

Non sequitur. There could be more than one person involved in the theft, and maybe others who knew about it. If there is security information on that laptop that endangers the lives of many, then it's reasonable to detain a group of people who might be involved in the theft.

[all4one]

Obviously to those all important union employees their rights come before our security....real morons!

[Mo1]

Other info that's gone missing

Water System Security Plans, Maps Stolen (Tampa)

[all4one]

Great site. I particulary like the auto application. For cars, is the installation done by the car owner or are there authorized installers. Also, is there a valet application?

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

There is an interesting point here- I attend a fair number of conferences, held in large hotels, and "security" is pretty much nonexistent. Also, attendees tend to let down their guard and go around in "Condition White" most of the time (that is, pretty much unaware of any possible threats). Terry Riley has a very good column on this subject ( at ), as well as a book which should be of interest to frequent travelers - especially , but not only, women. ("TRAVEL CAN BE MURDER").

A couple of points-

1. Do not wear your conference nametag outside the actual venue of the meeting- too easy for the "bad guys" to ID you.

2. Do not leave anything you don't want to lose in a meeting room, even during breaks (self-explanatory, I think).

3. Do not use the hotel fire stairs as a "short cut"- ever.

4. Do not use those little menus that you hang on the doorknob of your room at night to order breakfast from Room Service. They tell a potential robber/ rapist how many people are in the room, what time you will be getting up, and that you will open the door for "Room Service" at a particular time the next morning. Think about the possibilities here.

Read the book- if you are a frequent traveler, it may well save you a lot of money- or more.

(No, I'm not Terry Riley- but I HAVE had to chase off a hotel burglar at gunpoint.)

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

There are 3 ways to track. The cheapest would be a built in GPS.
The other 2 are type of smart card, this would not require
power.
The next is a small transmitter that puts out would transmit a unique serial number once a minute. This could be done for less then $20. a pop. The power would have an internal battery which could last the shelf life.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I tried to post a lonk to Terry Riley's columns, but failed. It is at "ticked.com"

[1234]

ya think this'll qualify as a ground for IMMEDIATE TERMINATION for this slob-trainer?!

[weegee]

2 solutions for this recurring problem.

(1) Handcuff these laptops to the persons with security clearance to carry them. Theft eliminated.

(2) Have password encryption for all data on the harddrive. Include software to destroy the data on the drive if the password is incorrectly stated 5, 10, or 20 times. We may lose the latest updates of some data (consider all of the data lost unless this laptop can be recovered) and this would prevent the data from falling into the wrong hands.

[weegee]

Do not use the hotel fire stairs as a "short cut"- ever.

Interesting point (I understand it). I was at a hotel recently and some of the guests ridiculed other guests for getting off/on the elevator at the second (really third) floor. All guests pay the same for those elevators and quite often they even have security cameras in them.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Yes- the fire stairs are there for emergency evacuation only- at other times they tend to be deserted- and in some countries the fire door LOCKS BEHIND YOU when you enter the fire stairwell. What a great set-up to be robbed, mugged, or raped! (I expect some grr-woofery from REAL tough guys who would just fight their way down the stairs through the armed robbers, etc- please spare me. I'm as tough as you are, and usually armed besides- and I stay away from these stairs).

[pageonetoo]

the GPS technology certainly already exists... but if they did that, they might find all of those g'umt employees who have decided to convert them to "personal use"! And that probably includes most of the laptops issued to g'umt employees...
Of course they would be investigated by "g'umt" employees, who have "borrowed ' one themselves!

[all4one]

Once again our tax dollars at work...

[dljordan]

Round up the usual suspects.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

WTF??????!!!

What are thesee people doing carrying sensitive info around in a laptop computer for goodness sake? Even if not tarketed by the enemy, they atre prone to theft by criminal opportunists. When is GW going to CAN Mineta?

[Andy from Chapel Hill]

So far, the auto apps have been for new cars. The primary reason is to incorporate the biometric into the opsys of the car so it cannot be hacked/defeated.

I have no knowledge about any aftermarket applications. Sorry,
Andy

[lilylangtree]

The carelessly stupid leading the dummies.

[CyberAnt]

I was thinking .. maybe they said there was info on the computer just so they could find a link to some "bigger fish" who want that info.

[Conservative4Ever]

The instructor was using a laptop computer to project security procedures onto a large projection screen. Around noon the group broke for lunch leaving the computer behind.

Ha Geez....it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know to take the laptop with ya. [head shaking in disbelief]

Red

[LayoutGuru2]

You can grab one of these for about $45 bucks. Of course you do need to make sure it is armed/installed when you are going to be away from your laptop 'for just a few seconds.'

click to enlarge

SonicLock™ Motion-detecting alarm stops theft of your laptop computer before it starts. Lightweight lock attaches to carrying case or to notebook computer with security slot (adapter included). Three-digit, user-programmable numeric key pad. Quickly disarms with selectable code. Three motion sensitivity settings. Extended warranty packages and multiple user variables available. Call 1-800-235-6708 for more information.

[BillF]

Sept 2003 story about a laptop with sensitive maritime info stolen from the Aussies.

The article also refers to theft of other laptops with sensitive info about Australian Customs. They were stolen from Sydney airport.

Australian authorities believe that it may be terrorists trying to get info to help with operations and/or smuggling materials for operations. In one of the thefts an electronic swipe card was used.

[henderson field]

Another stellar achievement for Yoshio "Norman" Mineta, a Friend Of Bill's. He has a background to be proud of: his parents were suspected saboteurs during WWII.

[henderson field]

"The end of this Federal Employees' job?" I don't think so. They can't be fired. Not by anyone. Not by Bush himself.

[4Freedom]

"Obviously to those all important union employees their rights come before our security...real morons."

I'll bet they were more than just mere union employees. They were probably illegal alien, union employees.

You must know by now that illegal aliens are above all U.S. laws in their efforts to commit the crime that Americans are too lazy to commit.

[archy]

Oh sure and those people who stole pilots uniforms and id's a while back just wanted to play dressup!

Never mind the darned pilot's uniforms, anybody got a cute kinky sister who looks good in a stewardess' outfit?

Ooops! I meant flight attendant!

[archy]

ya think this'll qualify as a ground for IMMEDIATE TERMINATION for this slob-trainer?!

Maybe a bad precedent. A past FBI director once lost his own laptop with sensitive data under similar circumstances. To be fair, he'd have to be let go as well....

Or maybe that would be an EXCELLENT precedent and example!

-archy-/-