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.

[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