Active RFID Solutions To Be Used By Miners
VUANCE Ltd., a provider of innovative Radio Frequency Verification Solutions, including active RFID, electronic access control, credentialing and incident response management, has announced that its AAID Active RFID solutions are being implemented by Anglo America's Chilean copper mines to increase safety and productivity.
Recently, a four-month pilot program was launched at Anglo America's El Soldado site in central Chile to provide real-time location information concerning miners inside tunnels. It focused on identifying miners both after normal shift changes and when blasting or emergencies make evacuation necessary to ensure workers safety. ...
Behavior Detection Program Hitting Stride With TSA
Travelers at major airports across the country are being scrutinized by teams of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) behavior-detection officers specially trained to discern the subtlest suspicious behaviors.
TSA officials will not reveal specific behaviors identified by the program -- called SPOT (Screening Passengers by Observation Technique) -- that are considered indicators of possible terrorist intent.
But a central task is to recognize microfacial expressions -- a flash of feelings that in a fraction of a second reflects emotions such as fear, anger, surprise or contempt, says Carl Maccario, who helped start the program for TSA....
ASIS 2008 Brings Tom Brokaw As Keynote Speaker
ASIS International, an organization for security professionals worldwide, has announced that Tom Brokaw, a trusted and respected figure in broadcast journalism, and political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin, will be keynote speakers at the ASIS International 54th Annual Seminar and Exhibits (ASIS 2008), held in Atlanta, Sept. 15-18, 2008.
In December 2004, Tom Brokaw stepped down after 21 years as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News. He continues to work with NBC, reporting and producing documentaries and providing expertise during breaking news events. Brokaw will give the keynote address on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 8 to 9 a.m. ...
Mall Shooting Suggests Second Look At 2006 Survey
The shootings last month at Westroads Mall in Omaha, Neb., when a disturbed teen killed eight people and wounded five others before turning the gun on himself, once again raised calls for mall security standards to be reevaluated....
Guide Offered For Obtaining Security Staff Fair Compensation
In partnership with its strategic alliance partner Foushée Group Inc., a compensation consulting and research firm, the Security Executive Council has posted "The Security Leader's Guide to Obtaining Fair Compensation for Staff" at www.securityexecutivecouncil.com/sec/comp.
Knowing what the market is paying for a particular position helps security leaders set their own compensation plans to attract the best talent and keep current staff satisfied. A compensation survey is the best source for this valuable compensation data. ...
Atlanta Airport Streamlining Security With Fast Lanes
More security lanes -- including some that fliers would pay to use -- could be in store for the sometimes clogged security checkpoints at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport over the next few months, reports The Atlanta Journal Consistitution.
Airport officials are reviewing two proposals to provide so-called Lexus fast lanes, which customers -- primarily business fliers -- could use for a fee. Hartsfield-Jackson General Manager Ben DeCosta, meanwhile, in a separate move has ordered his staff to study the feasibility of adding three more security lanes to the 28 that now exist, possibly by summer.
The world's busiest airport sought proposals for the paid security lanes earlier this year, and two companies submitted plans by the deadline this month....
Stadium Security Threat Worries Experts
After more than a decade in counterterrorism, Jim McGee can no longer relax and enjoy watching a sports event.
The fans look like potential victims of terrorism to the former FBI agent turned college instructor. The players are possible targets and the security gaps are easy to detect.
"It's always in the back of my mind, even when I'm watching them on TV," McGee told the Associated Press. "You're kind of looking at things. The thing is if I can sit there or any spectator can sit there, and think, 'Hmmm, that doesn't look right,' that's probably a little bit of a risk there."...
2007 A Record Year In Data Breaches
The loss or theft of personal data such as credit card and Social Security numbers soared to unprecedented levels in 2007, and the trend isn't expected to turn around anytime soon as hackers stay a step ahead of security and laptops disappear with sensitive information, reports the Associated Press.
And while companies, government agencies, schools and other institutions are spending more to protect ever-increasing volumes of data with more sophisticated firewalls and encryption, the investment often is too little too late....
Cisco Issues Inaugural Year-Ending Report on Global Security
In an effort to shed greater light on growing trends involving security threats around the world, Cisco announced the release of its first annual report on the global state of security. The report spotlights the risks and challenges that businesses, government organizations and consumers increasingly face and offers suggestions on guarding against them.
The 2007 Cisco Annual Security Report, released in conjunction with the launch of the company's updated Cisco Security Center site, provides a concise summary of the past year's major issues. It offers predictions for security threats in 2008 and recommendations from Cisco security practitioners, such as Chief Security Officer John Stewart and Vice President of Customer Assurance and Security Programs Dave Goddard. ...
IP Solutions Company Warns of IP Video Delivery Security Threats
As video and streaming video make greater inroads into network computing environments, serious security threats have emerged that require organizations to be extra vigilant, says Joe Gaucher, CTO of Video Furnace, a provider of enterprise-class IP video solutions. He outlined the chief areas of weak security in the majority of IP video solutions recently at the Motion Imagery Standards Board Conference 2007 in Herndon, Va.
"There are many reasons to utilize streaming video in the enterprise, including training, live event broadcasts, real-time news distribution, digital signage and security monitoring, but today's mainstream video and streaming video applications may leave the network wide open to attack," Gaucher said. ...
Holiday Gadgets Raise Endpoint Security Concerns
Centennial Software, a developer of endpoint security and IT asset management solutions, has warned organizations to prepare for an influx of personal IT gadgets on the corporate network when employees return to work after the holiday season. These devices -- such as MP3 players, digital cameras and other mobile devices -- can bring unwanted software onto the network and serve (intentionally or unintentionally) as a tool for the illegal acquisition of corporate data and information.
Centennial recommends IT security professionals implement four simple New Year resolutions that will help mitigate security issues associated with portable storage devices in 2008:...
Companies Moving Toward Smart Card Based Access Control
The access control market provides endless opportunities for smart card applications, although it is still considered an expensive option and less user-friendly compared to some of the available authentication methods. In the next few years, a fall in prices and increased interoperability of smart card-based access control system expect to make access control more attractive in the corporate security sector.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, World Corporate Security (Physical and Logical Access) Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $120.4 million in 2006 and estimates this to reach $235.0 million in 2012....
Report Says Cyber Security Should Be Top Priority For CEOs
CEOs must make cyber security a top priority or their businesses could fall victim to industrial espionage similar to recent cyber attacks on such large companies as Rolls-Royce and Royal Dutch Shell. That's the conclusion the report Cyber Attack: A Risk Management Primer for CEOs and Directors from the British-North American Committee (BNAC) and the Atlantic Council of the United States, a U.S. sponsor of the Committee.
The Internet, for which the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) coordinates addresses, makes possible about $2.8 trillion in global e-commerce annually....
The Security Industry Association Releases 2008 Legislative Agenda
Advocating full federal funding to secure the nation's ports, rails and public transit systems is a top priority on The Security Industry Association's (SIA) 2008 Legislative Agenda. The 12-point plan includes advocacy in a range of new areas including agriculture, trade, education and healthcare.
"Ensuring the safety of our nation's critical infrastructure is the prevailing theme throughout our legislative agenda," says Richard Chace, executive director and CEO, SIA. "SIA will work to secure funds for our ports, hospitals, schools, public transit systems and rails to buy the smartest, most effective security solutions possible."...
Law Enforcement IDs Criminals And Missing With Iris Scans
A growing number of sheriff's departments are using iris scans to identify sex offenders, runaways, abducted children and wandering Alzheimer's patients, reports USA Today.
More than 2,100 departments in 27 states are taking digital pictures of eyes and storing the information in databases that can be searched later to identify a missing person or someone who uses a fake name, says Sean Mullin, president of BI2 Technologies, which sells the devices.
"It's evolving quickly," he says. Most of the sheriffs are doing voluntary iris scans of senior citizens and children....
Survey Says Everyday Behavior Puts Sensitive Information At Risk
RSA, the security division of EMC, has announced the findings of its recent insider threat survey. Conducted by RSA in early November, the person-on-the-street survey polled government and corporate office workers in Boston and Washington, D.C. on their work-related security behaviors and attitudes. The results provide a snapshot of the everyday actions of trusted insiders who have access to sensitive data such as customer information, Social Security numbers, credit card data, company financials and intellectual property.
The results of the survey underscore that the risk posed to data by well- meaning insiders - employees, contractors, suppliers, partners, visitors and consultants who have physical and/or logical access to organizational assets - must be as closely managed as that posed by malicious insiders who deliberately leak sensitive data for personal financial gain or other criminal purposes. ...
Churches See Need For Security After Attacks
When a black-clad gunman walked into New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colo., and started shooting, he was met with the church's first line of defense: a congregant with a concealed weapons permit and a law enforcement background. The woman, an armed volunteer, shot the gunman taking him down, though it was later reported he was killed by his own bullet. New Life's pastor credited her with saving 100 lives, The Associated Press reports.
Churches want to present an open and welcoming image, but in an era of mass-casualty shootings and terrorism threats, the violence at New Life highlights a new emphasis on security. AP reports that some of the nation's estimated 1,200 megachurches -- places where more than 2,000 worshippers gather each week -- have been quietly beefing up security in recent years, even using armed guards to protect the faithful....
Global Accreditation For Certification Programs Available From ASIS
ASIS International, a society for security management professionals, has been awarded accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the U.S. member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This endorsement confirms that ASIS's international certification programs adhere to the highest professional standards.
ASIS offers three international certifications: the Certified Protection Professional (CPP), the Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) and the Physical Security Professional (PSP)....
Mall Shooting Sparks Security Debate
Following last week's shooting rampage at an Omaha, Neb., mall in which nine people were killed including the 19-year-old gunman, new questions about security measures are being raised at shopping centers....
Security Guards To Be New Safeguard For California City Transit
Undercover security guards will now ride San Francisco's famed cable cars in a plan to revive a program from the San Francisco Municipal Railway to make sure the crews aren't pocketing cash fares, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.
The transit agency ended a similar covert operation more than a year ago, but officials want to give it another try.
The Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees Muni, has included the "cable car observers" program in a proposed contract for agency-wide private security guard services. It calls for six to eight unarmed security guards in plainclothes to work part time on the cable car detail....
Industry Input Wanted On Proposed OSIPS Framework-ANSI Standard
The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced the opening of the third formal Public Review of BSR/SIA OSIPS-01-200x, Open, Systems Integration and Performance Standard (OSIPS) -- Framework as an American National Standard. SIA is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited Standards Developing Organization. The public comment period is open until Jan. 7, 2008.
The OSIPS Framework is the foundational standard for the OSIPS family of standards. Since OSIPS is directed at enabling the open integration of so many various types of components, it is essential to establish precise definitions of shared system elements and common means to communicate....
Threat Advisory System Response Guideline Eligible For Suggestions
The ASIS Commission on Standards and Guidelines is soliciting comments on suggested revisions to the Threat Advisory System Response Guideline. The TASR Guideline, up for a 60-day public review-and-comment period, was first published in 2004. All ASIS Guidelines are re-evaluated every three years, with the possibility of revision, if warranted.
To provide input, go to the Guidelines section of the ASIS Web site here. Comments must be submitted by Feb. 1, 2008. The TASR Guideline can be downloaded, free of charge, on the site. ...
Survey Estimates Shoplifting Costs Retailers Billions
As the holidays approach and more people are out shopping, they may notice some of the new high-tech security that retailers are using to battle theft and shoplifting. According to an annual survey conducted by the University of Florida with a funding grant from ADT Security Services, U.S. retailers lost $40.5 billion to theft last year. The survey measures retail shrinkage defined as a combination of employee theft, shoplifting, vendor fraud and administrative error and found that employee and internal theft account for the largest portions of retail theft followed by losses from shoplifting.
"The dollar loss to retailers from theft is staggering," says Jeffrey Bean, vice president ADT retail sales and operations. "Retailers are looking for more sophisticated and integrated security technology solutions to help limit losses, lower costs and keep prices down."...
Announcing the 2007 New Product of the Year
The plusID device from Privaris Inc., Charlottesville, Va., has been selected as Access Control & Security Systems' 2007 New Product of the Year. The plusID is a universal security token that combines physical and logical access by using a fingerprint to verify the identity of individuals seeking access to facilities and IT resources. The product was chosen as winner by a panel of judges and a tally of reader votes from 20 finalists in the sixth annual contest.
The plusID features a built-in fingerprint reader, secure onboard storage and compatibility with existing access control systems. It eliminates the need to install biometric readers at every door and computer and replaces passwords and access cards. The device has multiple communication interfaces to make it out-of-the-box compatible with most installed door readers for physical access and with Microsoft operating systems for logical access. ...
Cyberspace Security Opinion Varies Across Board
How the military and how business and industry view cyberspace is different than how everyday people view it, an expert in security for Microsoft told The Shreveport Times.
The military sees cyberspace as "the electromagnetic spectrum," from copper wires to microwaves, where communications, control, intelligence and energy can be delivered to defend, destroy or shape the world, just like land, air, sea and space.
"But some 85-90 percent of what is critical infrastructure in cyberspace is not in government hands," says David Aucsmith, who in more than 20 years in telecommunications security work has dealt with the military, business and government agencies....
