Hasta La Gadget!

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI has finally gone digital with its files, and the effort spanned 12 years. The digital system that the FBI has in place cost over $600 million and will see agents using a new computer system rather than paper files during investigations. The system the FBI has implemented is called Sentinel.

The WSJ reports that Sentinel has elements that are similar to web browsers on the market today with tabs in movable Windows. The forms the software uses are filled out in a question-and-answer format and are said to be similar to consumer tax software on the market today. The completion of Sentinel was announced this week and comes after the system was tested to work out bugs.

Sentinel has been implemented piecemeal in recent years with the final step coming recently as the FBI shut down the old system that relied heavily on paper documents. The FBI software allows agents to share files electronically, and the system can track changes made by others. The system also allows agents to set up RSS feeds to track updates made to files.

Another interesting feature that the new Sentinel system offers is the ability for agents to enter data such as phone numbers to search if the phone numbers related to any other active cases. The system is said to have a main page that looks similar to Microsoft Outlook featuring a calendar to remind the agent of deadlines on pending cases. Documents are signed electronically when the agent inserts a security badge into a card reader at the computer terminal.

FBI files finally go digital is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

As the world becomes more and more connected, the United States obviously faces threats that are purely cyber in nature. During his keynote at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas today, former FBI agent Shawn Henry made a point of discussing cyber-threats and how the US government can defend against them. The government can’t do it alone, however, which is why Henry called on hackers with the know-how to help the country out when it comes to fending off cyber-attacks.

“I believe that the threat from computer network attack is the most significant threat we face as a society,” Henry said. “Other than a weapon of mass destruction, I think it’s the most significant threat there is.” Henry told the audience of 6,500 that the government needed “warriors” to help fight the battle against cyber-terrorists, who he claims are “calling for the use of cyber as a weapon.” That’s a pretty scary notion, considering that a cyber-terrorist who knows what he’s doing can cripple a nation without ever having to pick up a gun or put someone in the line of fire.

Henry claims that the United States is failing at keeping our data secure, saying that we need to come up with a defense that works on multiple levels, instead of simply attempting to keep attackers out like we are now. He clarified that he wasn’t condoning cyber-attacks against other nations, but rather that he thinks we can make a hostile environment for cyber-terrorists to work in right here at home.

“The government is not able to independently solve this problem, and civilians are on the front line of the battle every day,” he said. “I believe that our failure to step up now will be a failure for society.”

[via eWeek]

Former FBI agent urges hackers to help US fend off cyber-threats is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Back in May, the judge presiding over the extradition case between Kim Dotcom and the US government ruled that Dotcom was allowed access to the files and information that the FBI held on him. Lawyers from both sides met yesterday to argue exactly what would be handed over, the result being a 40-page document compiled from 22 million emails obtained by the FBI.

The document is a summary of all the information intercepted the FBI put into 40 pages, something that Dotcom’s lawyers argues has been cherry picked. They believe that the FBI hasn’t fairly picked from the wealth of information, and won’t be able to build its defense and argue its case effectively as a result. Paul Davison, head of Dotcom’s legal team, doesn’t see why the FBI can’t deliver all the information when everything is stored electronically.

Dotcom, meanwhile, believes it’s a deliberate attempt by the government to stall the case: “Everyone can see there is a strategy of delay on the part of the US Government and the Crown.” The FBI argues that Dotcom isn’t being tried in New Zealand, and doesn’t need to see all of the information as a result. The organization says that there’s a standard that needs to be met before all information can be disclosed, and that Dotcom’s case doesn’t meet that standard.

[via Stuff NZ]

FBI rations Dotcom Megaupload evidence access is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.