Thread: Border Control Computers Open to Attacks

Report: Border Control Computers Open to Attacks
Phil Brennan, NewsMax.com
Friday, Aug. 3, 2007


The computer system the government relies upon to prevent terrorist from entering the U.S. and to stop illegal immigrants from crossing the border is wide open to attack, a new government report charges.


According to the watchdog Government Accountability Office (GAO), America's main border control system is vulnerable to computer attacks, theft of sensitive data -- and the manipulation of millions of personal identity records, including passport, visa and Social Security numbers, and the world's largest fingerprint database, the Washington Post reports.


At risk is the so-called US-VISIT system, described by the Post as "a cornerstone of the nation's efforts to stop terrorists at the borders and stanch the flow of illegal immigrants."

The Post got a copy of the GAO report, which says that officials of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warn the entire network is vulnerable, and that includes computers used at about 400 airports, seaports and border crossings.


This could also mean further risk to sensitive government databases.


"Weaknesses existed in all control areas and computing device types reviewed," the GAO noted in calling for the DHS to "immediately address" problems such as potentially crippling disruptions, or the misidentification of drug smugglers, terrorists and felons trying to enter the country.

"These weaknesses collectively increase the risk that unauthorized individuals could read, copy, delete, add, and modify sensitive information," the GAO investigators said.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/article ... shtml?s=tn

Sorry, another version of this by another news agency is posted further down in News. Here's another one.