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FBI Dealing With its Lost Laptop Problem
BetaNews ^ | February 13, 2007 | BetaNews Staff

Posted on 02/14/2007 1:18:49 PM PST by Cicero

FBI Dealing With its Lost Laptop Problem

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

February 13, 2007, 2:54 PM

Although the FBI still seems to suffer from a problem of losing laptops, a new report indicates that the agency is getting better in keeping track of its equipment. During a 44-month period, the company either reported as lost or stolen 160 laptops. This is a marked decrease from the initial study in 2002, which found the agency lost some 317 units in a 28-month period from October 1999 through January 2002.

However, even with the improvement come concerns of data loss. As many as 51 of them possibly contained classified or sensitive information, with 8 of those confirmed to have held such data. In one case, a laptop contained personal data on FBI employees. In any case, the new report said "the FBI has taken steps to address weaknesses in physical inventories," although it recommended continued vigilance.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: clintonoids; klutz; security
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Well, that's a relief.
1 posted on 02/14/2007 1:18:51 PM PST by Cicero
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To: Cicero

I wonder how much they sold for ??? eBay ??


2 posted on 02/14/2007 1:20:05 PM PST by EagleUSA
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To: Cicero

Maybe the FBI laptops should have a LoJack type transmitter embedded on the motherboard, or on the disk drive so we could recover the stolen merchandise


3 posted on 02/14/2007 1:25:17 PM PST by aShepard (Oh little Mohammad, kouchy, kouchy, koo, Your momma is so proud,you'll be the cutest suicide bomber!)
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To: Cicero

The info has already been copied and sold on the open market with the laptops trashed. No wonder our country doesn't have any secrets.


4 posted on 02/14/2007 1:25:46 PM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: Cicero

Can't they put GPS tracking devices on those damn things!?!?!?!?!?!


5 posted on 02/14/2007 1:26:06 PM PST by Red Badger (Rachel Carson is responsible for more deaths than Adolf Hitler...............)
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To: Cicero

How many of these had GPS in them?


6 posted on 02/14/2007 1:28:15 PM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: lilylangtree

Use encryption with a password security set to delete the drive after 5 consecutive invalid login attempts.


7 posted on 02/14/2007 1:29:23 PM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: weegee

No idea. But historically, although the FBI is in charge of national internet security, they have shown themselves to be idiots when it comes to computers. They were way behind hooking up their own computer systems.

I suspect the technology is beyond them. And I doubt whether anyone who habitually loses laptops is capable of remembering secure passwords, either, without writing them down and probably pasting them on the bottom of the laptop.

(Confession: I can't remember a whole lot of constantly changing passwords either.)


8 posted on 02/14/2007 1:38:47 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Cicero

Klintonista's having a harder time skimming sensitive info since Sandy's been ordered to wear shorts only?


9 posted on 02/14/2007 1:39:30 PM PST by RSmithOpt (Liberalism: Highway to Hell)
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To: Cicero

Did anyone think to install hard drive encryption on these laptops?


10 posted on 02/14/2007 1:40:07 PM PST by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: Red Badger

Yes they can with built-in 'anywhere Wy-Fi' to accept commands to destroy all info on the system once it is discovered missing.


11 posted on 02/14/2007 1:41:23 PM PST by RSmithOpt (Liberalism: Highway to Hell)
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To: Cicero

Use a biometrics login. No password to remember, use a thumbprint. And yes the devices can detect things like heat, pulse, etc.


12 posted on 02/14/2007 1:43:09 PM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: RSmithOpt

If we know it, why don't they (FBI) know it?........


13 posted on 02/14/2007 1:44:00 PM PST by Red Badger (Rachel Carson is responsible for more deaths than Adolf Hitler...............)
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To: Red Badger

Cause they need an excuse of 'a leak' when the politicians 'f' up and make the wrong call. It's called hedging your bets. Sometimes, counterintelligence can be used in such a manner. Of course, the public will never know the seriousness of any security breech if those stolen and lost laptops had real sensitive data. IMHO, no government employee should have any type of sensitive data stored on a mobile laptop. But then again, I reckon government and sense will never mix unless shaken very hard.


14 posted on 02/14/2007 1:52:43 PM PST by RSmithOpt (Liberalism: Highway to Hell)
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To: weegee

The FBI should have separate thumbprint activated usb keys that unlock an encrypted file system on the laptop. eCryptfs would allow for a PKI where the private key is in a tamper-proof usb key. The key could be easily so long that it is uncrackable. If they want more security, they could also include a password. The password wouldn't even need to change more than once a year with the other measures in place.

Then if a thief wants the data, he has to steal the laptop, the usb key, a thumbprint, and a password. Seems pretty secure.


15 posted on 02/14/2007 2:09:25 PM PST by dan1123
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To: Cicero

Another example of the tragedy of the commons.

Make these FBI genuises buy computers with their own money. It's a fact that people take better care of their own private property than they do public property.


16 posted on 02/14/2007 2:15:09 PM PST by sergeantdave (Consider that nearly half the people you pass on the street meet Lenin's definition of useful idiot)
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To: EagleUSA
I wonder how much they sold for ??? eBay ??

leahyBay: It's the cool new website for selling national secrets. Do you have an FBI computer or even just a juicy tidbit you heard at a top secret Senate Intelligence Committee meeting? Put it up on leahyBay for sale to the highest bidder whether it is a network morning show, a failing leftist newspaper or an Islamic regime bent on our destruction.

17 posted on 02/14/2007 2:20:25 PM PST by KarlInOhio (Samoans: The (low) wage slaves in the Pelosi-Starkist complex.)
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To: aShepard

Fair enough. But I have to wonder what would happen if a Trooper lost their weapon?
Bad Day at Black Rock Is What!


18 posted on 02/14/2007 5:55:54 PM PST by Gunny P (Gunny P)
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To: RSmithOpt

In today's world, I can understand the "need" for laptops in the field. But they can be made secure so that the data is safe. Encryption, passwords, keylocks, etc.


19 posted on 02/15/2007 5:17:33 AM PST by Red Badger (Rachel Carson is responsible for more deaths than Adolf Hitler...............)
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To: Cicero

They can't put some type of tracking device on a laptop?


20 posted on 02/15/2007 5:19:16 AM PST by ryan71 (You can hear it on the coconut telegraph...)
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