LAT: Classified E-Mail Left (Los Alamos) Nuclear Lab

[DeepModem Mom]

THE NATION
Classified E-Mail Left Nuclear Lab
Secret information at the Los Alamos weapons facility was repeatedly sent over the Internet.

By Ralph Vartabedian, Times Staff Writer


Los Alamos National Laboratory officials have discovered in recent weeks that secret information at the nuclear weapons facility was repeatedly transmitted over an unclassified e-mail system.

Officials at the New Mexico lab confirmed Sunday that the incidents were reported to Energy Department headquarters in Washington, and said that they were taking measures to improve security and "prevent significant risks to national security."

The breakdown marks yet another case of lax internal security at the lab, which is run by the University of California. In one other instance, at least two computer disks containing sensitive weapons information were discovered missing July 7 from the facility.

Top Energy Department officials arrived at the lab Sunday to begin an investigation of the problems, which had prompted an indefinite suspension Friday of all lab activities. Among other items, the officials are planning to examine a report that 19 electronic storage devices with classified data are also missing, according to a lab memo dated Thursday....

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lab19jul19,1,6741321.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[punpirate]

1. Perhaps I'm overly suspicious...

... but why do I think that this will eventually be used as a reason to restart underground testing? Bush wanted them restarted a couple of years ago.

[slaveplanet]

17. This has BFEE

written all over it...wonder if those codes would work to make it look like the terrapatsies set something off...god forbid.

[thecrow]

2. Well, DUHHHHHHHHH people!

You only stored that classified information on a damned ZIP DRIVE for God's sake! How can the people at the heart of our nation's most secret place be so lax about security???
:wtf:
You're right. It will probably be used as an excuse to start something nuclear up.

[Redhead488]

3. Classified information is stored on zip drives

so that it can be shared amongst classified computers. Often, Classified info is created on a stand-alone and if you want to get it to another authorized user, you have to put the info on a disk. That's not lax security, that's how you get your work done.

[thecrow]

4. Well obviously this wasn't a smart thing to do!

They need to rethink their options on that... maybe put some sort of sign-in/out on who it is passed to?
This information has been missing for quite some time!

[Redhead488]

5. As long as the classified disk

remains in the secured office, there is no need for sign-in/sign-out. Once it LEAVES the secured office space, it SHOULD have been logged. Problem is, if someone wants to take classified information out of a secured location (and that person has the proper clearances) there is not really any way to stop them short of searching each and every person every time they enter/leave a classified area.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. These folks have never heard of a secure network?

Come on it's the friggin 21st Century. There are a lot safer and more secure ways to transmit data, then to carry it around on zip disks that can fit very nicely into someone's pocket.

[Redhead488]

7. There are many facilities where

they have stand-alones STILL. And no, there is not one "secure" network that everyone who needs access to classified information can use. Sometimes, you have to use a disk to get info from one point to another.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. This isn't just some ordinary facility

It is the site of some of the most sensitive and dangerous work in the world. You would think if we can spend a billion a week destroying Iraq, we could spring to make sure Los Alamos has the most up to date computer equipment available.


edit: 'is' should have been 'isn't'

[Redhead488]

9. You're right

God knows we have had plenty of time to do it. The fact remains, we still use removable disks to transport classified information form point to point when we do not have the connectivity to do so by computer networks.

[TahitiNut]

16. There's a reason it's called "sneaker-net."

:shrug: Been there. Done that. (You'd also be surprised how many 'secure' workstations have modems and telephone lines.)

[TahitiNut]

14. The Scientists (MTS's) are driven hard to maintain professional standing

The DOE laboratories have arrogance beyond belief. Much of what they 'accomplish' is merely the academic research work of someone they hire who then cannibalizes some more so the laboratory can turn it into a "Project" -- which is a cash cow to the private contractor. The internal politics are vicious. The contractor (whether it be UofC, UofT, Battelle, Westinghouse, GE, or whomever) lives and dies on "cost plus" contracts -- selling the DOE on a research program or project. The MTS's are like cats in a bag - each fighting off the rest and jockeying for position. They're required to interact with both academic and industrial colleagues, publishing (or perishing), and being "rainmakers" for the contractor. Far, far more time and effort is focused on this "career housekeeping" and rain-making than on the nuts and bolts of any project ... by far!

When the DOE and security folks try to inhibit them from interacting outside the laboratory in any way (particularly via the Internet) they're pissing into the wind that consumes far more of the taxpayers' investment.

[struggle4progress]

10. Behold! the good old nuclear boys once again exhibit the carelessness ...

... that so often results from their arrogance.

[Moderator]

11. DeepModem Mom

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you.

DU Moderator

[AP]

12. Bush wants to terminate U of California contract and give U of Texas

the contract to run Los Alamos. The contract is worth millions of dollars.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of this shit isn't part of a consipiracy to make that happen.

[Leilani]

13. When Clinton was Prez & there were security breeches,

The Repubs screamed bloody murder!!

Do you remember the scandals? Laptops stolen, labs leaking info...

The Dems should make this a HUGE issue!!!

We were ATTACKED & BUSH & his Admin are NOT making us safer!!!

Dems really need to develop rapid response on every issue, & then echo it for days & days.

[denverbill]

15. I was hoping someone else remembered that.

My God, you'd have thought Clinton personally carried that crap around in his briefcase the way they assailed Clinton.

But do they emit one tiny peep when it's idiot boy in charge? Hell no. They don't give a damn about national security then.

[struggle4progress]

18. kick

:kick: