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.......