FBI Probes Hack at Citibank
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing a computer-security breach targeting Citigroup Inc. that resulted in a theft of tens of millions of dollars by computer hackers who appear linked to a Russian cyber gang, according to government officials. The attack took aim at Citigroup’s Citibank subsidiary, which includes its North American retail bank and other businesses. It couldn’t be learned whether the thieves gained access to Citibank’s systems directly or through third parties. Read the full Wall Street Journal article here.

Cyber Attack Simulation Planned Next Month
A financial services industry group is planning to simulate a series of cyber attacks to test how well banks, payment processors and retailers deal with online threats. The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC), a group formed in response to a 1998 Presidential security directive, on Tuesday invited financial institutions, retailers, card processors, and businesses of all sizes to participate in its Cyber Attack against Payment Processes (CAPP) Exercise. Read the full InformationWeek article here.

TSA Employees Fall Victim to Identity Theft
With all the concerns about airport security, it’s troubling to learn that some of those who work to protect it may also have to worry about the security of their own identities. Two Lynn, Mass., residents have been charged with stealing the identities of Transportation Security Administration employees at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Tina White and Michael Washington, who reportedly had the cooperation of a contract employee in the TSA’s human resources office at the airport, pleaded not guilty to identity fraud charges. Read the full “Federal Diary” column by Joe Davidson from the Washington Post here.

Cybersecurity Expert to Head FBI’s D.C. Office
The FBI has tapped a cybersecurity expert as the new head of its Washington Field Office, one of the largest and most prestigious posts in the crime-fighting bureau, a spokeswoman confirmed Friday. As assistant director in charge of the field office, Shawn Henry, 47, will be responsible for leading federal investigations of fraud, public corruption and terrorism across Northern Virginia and the District, bureau spokeswoman Katherine Schweit said. The surroundings will be familiar: Henry began his career as a special agent in the District in 1989, focusing on public corruption. He was also on the SWAT team. Read the full Washington Post article here.

Cyber Thieves Raid School District Bank Account
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and New York State Police are investigating an attempt last month to steal about $3.8 million from the Duanesburg Central School District in Schenectady County, New York. Online thieves made a series of unauthorized funds transfers from the school district’s NBT Bank account to an overseas bank between December 18 and 22, 2009. The third transfer during this period was flagged as abnormal activity by the bank, which began blocking pending transactions after the school district confirmed the transfers had not been authorized. Read the full InformationWeek article here.

Cybersecurity: Make It Work This Year
2009 had all the makings to be a banner year for cybersecurity: The need had been identified, guidance was promised, appointments were planned and mandates were discussed. Unfortunately, 2009 will be remembered as the year that wasn’t, and the challenge facing us now is to make sure 2010 doesn’t follow suit. Many people mistakenly believe that cybersecurity protects only consumers and other civilian uses for the Internet, but today’s military is more dependent than ever on the civilian-based infrastructure for connectivity and information. Cyberspace has become a new dimension of the battlespace, so cybersecurity is much more than just firewalls and anti-virus protection on home or business computers. Read the full Defense News article here.