[Infowarrior] - FBI: Terrorists Monitoring Public Webcams

[Richard Forno]

Guess we should just shut down the Intertube and make the world safer for
all......-rf


FBI: Terrorists Monitoring Public Webcams
Jim Bronskill
The Canadian Press
http://www.groundsupportmagazine.com/article/article.jsp?id=2441&siteSection
=1

OTTAWA (CP) -- Key U.S. security agencies warn that terrorists might exploit
pictures of sensitive facilities such as airports that can be routinely
viewed by the public through Internet feeds.

A confidential assessment jointly prepared by the FBI and the U.S. Homeland
Security Department says online webcams could be a valuable tool for
extremists determined to attack critical targets.

The agencies urge government organizations and private-sector partners to
''review the information available on their websites, and balance the public
need for information with security concerns.''

The Jan. 10 assessment, obtained by The Canadian Press, was prompted by a
recent Internet posting that provided a link to a live webcam at an Alaska
airport.

The assessment says the webcam site allowed the viewer to control the
camera, providing the ability to zoom in on the airport terminal and cargo
areas. Airport authorities disabled the camera after being notified of the
posting.

Security officials have focused on bolstering air security since the 9-11
jetliner attacks on New York and Washington.

''The extremist website posting indicates continued terrorist interest in
the aviation sector, and suggests that webcams may be a useful planning tool
against critical infrastructure targets,'' says the joint assessment.

The Edmonton International Airport took security into account when designing
its web camera feature, said Jim Rudolph, a spokesman for the air facility.

Airport cameras offers three views, including two distant shots of runways,
but with no ability to zoom in on people or vehicles.

''From a security point of view, we do regard them as being fairly benign,''
said Rudolph.

Webcams have become a widespread and inexpensive means of allowing curious
Internet surfers to view real-time feeds of everything from baby eagles to
the traffic at busy intersections.

The assessment notes many cameras run by individuals, businesses and
government agencies transmit images of weather conditions, famous city
squares or geographic highlights, and have little or no surveillance value.

''Webcams at U.S. critical infrastructure locations, however, may allow the
open observation of security measures, guard shift changes, and pedestrian
and vehicular traffic patterns.''

FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko said that given the countless cameras now on
the Internet, there's a need to educate law-enforcement officers as to how
they might be misused.

''Sometimes something that's sitting in front of you that's obvious might
not be recognizable as something you need to be more alert to,'' he said
Thursday from Washington. ''This bulletin helps provide that educational
service to them.''

Former CSIS officer David Harris said webcam feeds raise the possibility
that facilities are unwittingly equipping their adversaries with tactical
information.

He suggested Internet cameras are now luxuries, meaning an end to the
virtual eyes trained on airports and other public installations.

''That kind of openness was fun while it lasted, but I'm wondering how
workable it is today - whether the convenience, or the aesthetic enjoyment,
of having these webcam pictures really is justifiable in light of the
threats we face,'' said Harris, a security consultant with Insignis
Strategic Research.

''I find myself more and more amazed at how relaxed as a society we can be
in North America.''

Harris also wonders whether there is adequate scrutiny of the personnel who
operate such devices.

''What kind of screening and clearing arrangements are there for those
people who are monitoring these systems, installing them and otherwise
responsible for them?'' he said.

''Who exactly is watching the watchers on that level?''