Swiss Spy Agency: Counter-Terrorism Secrets Stolen

Rambo Tribble writes "The Swiss spy agency, NDB, reports a disaffected employee walked out with drives containing terabytes of data shared by counter-terrorism agencies in Switzerland, the U.S. and Britain. It is not yet known if he was able to pass on any information before he was apprehended. 'A European security source said investigators now believe the suspect became disgruntled because he felt he was being ignored and his advice on operating the data systems was not being taken seriously.'"

Comments

Advice

[ipquickly]

If his advice included encryption and proper employee screening, maybe he was right.

Re:Advice

[sl4shd0rk]

Eh.. possibly not that honorable.

"the largest Swiss bank, UBS, expressed concern to authorities about a potentially suspicious attempt to set up a new numbered bank account, which then was traced to the NDB technician."

Re:Advice

[Arancaytar]

Showing that the whole "secret Swiss bank account" thing only applies when you're not trying to hide it from the Swiss government. :P

Re:Advice

[lloydchristmas759]

Actually, it has been a long time since banking secrecy in Switzerland does not hold when crime is involved. When any Swiss bank suspects funds originate from criminal activities (e.g. drug or weapon trafficking, etc), it has the legal obligation to report it to Swiss financial market authority. From there, an investigation will be open. More information here.

However, tax evasion is not considered as a crime in Switzerland. This means that until recently, Swiss banks or the government would not disclose any information to foreign governments when only tax evasion was suspected. In the past few years though, international pressure on the Swiss government obliged it to ease the banking secrecy to the point where there is no secrecy anymore, except for permanent Swiss residents.

So?

[Hatta]

Somehow, I'm not terribly worried. Terrorism is a lesser threat to any of us than slipping in the shower is.

Re:So?

[Anonymous Coward]

Somehow, I'm not terribly worried. Terrorism is a lesser threat to any of us than slipping in the shower is.

Indeed. We should close all the counter-terrorism agencies until the threat is back up to the level where people demand we do something about it...

Re:So?

[Overzeetop]

Or simply stop taking showers.

Then the terrorists will have won.

Re:So?

[Hatta]

You assume that counter terrorism actually does something to stop terrorism. There is no evidence for that assertion.

Re:So?

[Anonymous Coward]

At least you'll smell like one.

Re:So?

[Hatta]

Evidence you can't see might as well not exist. Especially if the person you have to trust is the one asking for extraordinary powers.

It's quite telling that there hasn't been a successful terrorist attack in the US since 9/11. That means that the government is 100% effective at counter terrorism. When was the last time the government was 100% effective at anything? Does that not raise red flags?

Also, look at the alleged terrorists they have apprehended. Every one of them was given significant help by the government. I don't believe a single one of them would have been a credible threat without being egged on by the government. Yes, they might have had the motive, but when the government provides the means and the opportunity they're at least as guilty as the alleged terrorist.

Should he get a medal or go to jail?

[ipquickly]

If he did this to prove that the security measures are so lax that lives are in danger - then he very honorably sacrificed his career.
If he made a backup copy, then he should go to jail.

Re:Should he get a medal or go to jail?

[timeOday]

His actions prove nothing except that a trusted senior individual with administrative rights and physical access to the system could, in fact, divulge sensitive information. That's not scandalous. In fact it is for all practical purposes unavoidable. OK, fault them for not inspecting everybody's bags on the way out of work every single day (ignoring the cost and alienation factor)... even then he could STILL have done it with a microSD under his tongue. At some point it comes down to trusting individuals.

Terrorists or "Terrorists"?

[crazyjj]

Something tells me that most of this stolen info consists of data gathered on "terrorists" like movie pirates, government critics, and information leakers.

Re:his advice on operating the data systems

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

OH NOES!

Now the TERR'ISTS gonna have all our GROPING secrets for PAT DOWNS! :-)

So...

[JestersGrind]

The Swiss security is similar to their cheese?

checks need 2 signatures, why not mv/cp/etc?

[Yakasha]

Most companies require a second signature on checks with a high enough dollar amount, so why not a similar system for servers?

Simply list secured directories/files and secured output devices (printers, usb, etc). If you try to move/copy/edit anything from a secured directory or to a secured device, your command gets put in a queue and waits for a second user to ok it.
Is there anything like this available already?

Re:Secret Data Network?

[funwithBSD]

No one was watching the watchers.