Re: War on Terrorism Highlights FBI's Computer Woes

From: Jim Patrick (jpatrick+replyto@shentel.net)
Date: 07/29/02 

From: Jim Patrick <jpatrick+replyto@shentel.net>
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 11:02:18 -0400

In comp.security.misc, GATES IS SATAN wrote:

>I agree with what you're saying but refuse to believe it has sunk to
>such depths. You can bet those field offices are wired to the
>mainframe with broadband, ...

Broadband? Bwahahaha!!

>.....doesn't take much more than a Pentium II 200
>to do that and Outlook Express can handle jpeg. ....

You're right in one way to wrong in another. No, this was an example
of security architecture. Under no circumstances would you ever use
Outlook Express to e-mail suspects' photos to someone else; and I
doubt that JPEG is the standard archive format. The real question in
the example given is why they didn't just fax it.

>.....I have no doubt money
>was diverted (it always is) but to say their systems haven't been
>updated since '93 or '95 is ludicrous. ....

Again, the problem is that "their systems" covers too much ground.
The FBI has upgraded and modernized a number of their operations
centers, but "their systems" also include everyday field agents --the
real foundation of the agency-- and it's pretty obvious they've gotten
little or no computer upgrade, training, or support.

>....This article IMO was designed
>to create support for the vague "foundations" the FBI now intends to
>build. Big Brother is right around the corner and I'd rather they
>didn't get the money to build him at all.

IMO it would take very little _money_ to revamp the entire system.
There's several major subsystems:
        Datasets
        --Open facts (convictions, warrants, stolen property, etc.),
        --Known-but-restricted facts (fingerprints),
        --Unknowns and allegations (backgrounds, investigations)
                Query Systems
                --public
                --law enforcement
                --internal
        Communications like email
Overlying this is the security system, restricting public access to
investigations, verifying endpoints, and securing the communication
itself. As background, all the above, except email, was in place and
very functional by the late 1970's.

I'd disagree that the article was designed the way you see it, though
it's obvious some of the FBI's statements were designed for that.
OTOH I reluctantly agree that, given enough money, and that's exactly
what the current administration would build with it.

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