Site Map - Government Reports (GAO etc.)

12/11/2007 - The level of preparedness for an attack against the U.S. nuclear infrastructure continues to be hotly debated among congressmen.

12/11/2007 - A recent government-sponsored workshop explored storage and processor cards, focusing on standards and capabilities. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) pulled together findings from the workshop and related interviews and questionnaires and has released them in report form.

12/10/2007 - Data mining--the process of poring through various databases looking for hidden patterns and relationships--is alive and well, despite controversy raised by projects such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA's) Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) program. In fact, 52 government agencies are using or are planning to use data mining for projects ranging from detecting criminal activities to improving service, according to a study by the General Accounting Office (GAO).

12/10/2007 - Data mining--the process of poring through various databases looking for hidden patterns and relationships--is alive and well, despite controversy raised by projects such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA's) Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) program. fact, 52 government agencies are using or are planning to use data mining for projects ranging from detecting criminal activities to improving service, according to a study by the General Accounting Office (GAO). Read "Safeguarding Privacy in the Fight Against Terrorism"

12/05/2007 - A recent report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) on the use of biometrics in aviation security found that while the technology is available to meet the needs of airports, decision-makers should focus on the best equipment for the job regardless of whether it incorporates biometrics.

12/05/2007 - In January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented phase one of the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology, or US-VISIT, a program to collect, maintain, and share information on foreign nationals.

12/05/2007 - A student is 50 times more likely to be murdered away from school, says the Department of Justice.

12/05/2007 - Department of Defense policies are not addressing the risk of foreign software developers inserting malicious code or backdoors that could jeopardize weapons systems, concludes a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. GAO investigators found that "11 of the 16 software intensive weapon systems we reviewed did not make foreign involvement in software development a specific element of their risk management efforts." Pentagon officials agreed with many of the GAO's findings, and pointed out that "risk attributable to software vulnerabilities are not limited to foreign suppliers." @ Knowledge of Software Suppliers Needed to Manage Risks " is at SM Online.

12/04/2007 - The GAO report notes that the TSA still does not require criminal record checks or security awareness training for all airport employees as required by law. Similarly, the TSA has not required airport vendors to develop security programs. And while programs have been launched to investigate perimeter security and biometrics technology, implementation and funding plans remain nebulous.

12/04/2007 - A new GAO report has studied the Federal Aviation Administration's enforcement efforts related to safety violations.

12/03/2007 - The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which was criticized when it was started by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in July 2002, is now showing signs of improvement, according to the GAO.

12/03/2007 - The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which was criticized when it was started by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in July 2002, is now showing signs of improvement, according to the GAO.

12/03/2007 - A leaked budget memo, obtained by the Associated Press, calls for deep cuts to local homeland security programs.