Laptop Battery JetBlue Airways confirmed on Thursday that in September 2002, it provided 5 million passenger itineraries to a defense contractor for proof-of-concept testing of a Pentagon project unrelated to airline security -- with help from the Transportation Security Administration.
"Computer industry analysts estimate that some 60 percent of all corporate data exists only on desktop and laptop computers, " said Walter Scott, CEO of Acronis. "Incorporating Acronis True Image with New Mexico Software backup server is the ideal solution to capture that corporate data and ensure that it is not lost. While traditional server backups are effective for protecting server data, every company should have a combination of server and workstation backup plans."
Thinkpad The contractor, Torch Concepts, then augmented that data with Social Security numbers and other sensitive personal information, including income level, to develop what looks to be a study of whether passenger-profiling systems such as CAPPS II are feasible.
According to the indictment, Jones would steal various IBM and Penguin computer servers from Verisign's warehouse in Virginia and sell them to Johnson. Johnson would then sell the servers to several individuals, who would sometimes place them for sale on eBay. As a result of this scheme, the indictment alleges that Jones and Johnson caused Verisign to lose more than $120, 000 worth of computer equipment. In the indictment, Jones and Johnson are charged in three counts with causing the interstate transportation of stolen property, namely IBM 330 and 335 servers, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
Microsoft The study (PDF), titled "Homeland Security -- Airline Passenger Risk Assessment," which JetBlue says was based on an unauthorized use of its data, was presented at a February technology conference.
Like in standard and professional editions, you can share outlook data using email, reporting, peer sharing, and server sharing.
Laptop Computers Privacy activist Bill Scannell, who runs the Don't Spy On.Us website, had scathing words for JetBlue's revelation.
Reach your video surveillance data from any location at any time using a desktop computer, laptop or PDA.
Laptop Computer "JetBlue has assaulted the privacy of 5 million of its customers," said Scannell. "Anyone who flew JetBlue before September 2002 should be aware and very scared that there is a dossier on them."
Computer memory is the quickest, cheapest, and easiest way to improve the performance of your system. Find RAM memory upgrades for desktops, laptops, servers, and printers all backed by a lifetime warranty and guaranteed compatible with your computer. Shipping is an everyday low price of $1.99! Computer Memory Outlet sells memory compatible with all leading computer manufacturers like Dell, Apple, Compaq, HP, Sony, IBM, Lenovo, and many more.”
Desktop Computer Torch Concepts acquired the data by contacting the Transportation Security Administration, which says it facilitated the transfer of the data from JetBlue to Torch Concepts, according to TSA spokesman Brian Turmail.
Notebooks The TSA says the study was for a Pentagon proof-of-concept program related to improving security on military bases.
Lenovo Torch Concept's lawyer, Richard Marsden, says the study was authorized and was related to "a science and technology study on the feasibility of enhancing the structure of the Army."
Hard Drive It remains unclear how an airline passenger-screening feasibility study without any references to the military relates to an Army feasibility study, though Marsden said he could not reveal any more information because of a confidentiality agreement.
Travelstar The Army is investigating the matter, according to spokesman Maj. Gary Tallman, who added that "we take data and privacy regulations seriously and do everything we can to protect people's privacy."
Gateway Because it was a defense contractor that set up the records system, the Army may have violated the Privacy Act by not issuing official notice of the creation of the system.
Laptop Parts The Privacy Act requires an agency to apply the act's provisions when it "provides by a contract for the operation by or on behalf of the agency of a system of records."
Software JetBlue clearly violated its own privacy policy by transferring its passenger data. Such a violation could be grounds for an investigation of unfair business practices by the Federal Trade Commission, which has the authority to fine companies and issue injunctions.
Hard Drives "We made a special exemption for this one exceptional case," said Gareth Edmundson-Jones, a spokesman for JetBlue. "We clearly have to review internally the decision and reconsider our policies."
Electronics The TSA, which is in charge of developing a new airline passenger-screening system called CAPPS II, adamantly denied receiving or reviewing the JetBlue data in the transfer. Turmail also said that the data was not used to test CAPPS II or CAPPS II prototypes.
Canon Torch Concept's presentation, unearthed on a conference website by travel privacy activist and travel agent Edward Hasbrouck, shows that upon receiving the data, Torch Concepts purchased matching personal records from Acxiom, one of the country's largest data-aggregation companies.
Desktop Pc That information included incomes, occupations, vehicle ownership information, number of children and Social Security numbers.
Desktop Computers The company then used the data to create profiles of groups of travelers, dividing them into three specific groups: young middle-income homeowners, older upper-income homeowners and a group of passengers with anomalous records, which the presentation attributes to "erroneous entry, fraud or mischief."
Think Pad Under the proposed CAPPS II system, passengers like those in Torch's third group would likely be assigned a yellow code by the system's algorithms, resulting in increased screening at the gate. Those whose identifying information is verified and who do not match a watch list of terrorists or wanted felons would get a green and face minimal scrutiny. Those whose names show up on the watch list would face arrest or be barred from flying.
Repair The company's presentation concluded that "known airline terrorists appear readily distinguishable from the normal JetBlue passenger patterns," but said differentiation would be enhanced if the system had access to a passenger's annual, as well as lifetime, traveling history.
Data Recovery Torch Concept's work does not seem to be a prototype of CAPPS II, but instead an attempt to measure the viability of verifying and scoring passengers by checking them against data-aggregation companies' files. This is the same mechanism that will be used in CAPPS II, but TSA officials are adamant this study was not part of the CAPPS II program.
Cisco After a reporter made inquiries to the TSA, JetBlue and Torch Concepts, the presentation and all references to it were removed from the conference website, which is run by the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association.
Keyboard The chapter's president, Joel Thomas of Elmco, said he received an internal e-mail Wednesday morning requesting its removal. Scannell has since mirrored the original document.
Monitor JetBlue's revelation came after two days of inquiry from Wired News, which reported Tuesday that TSA officials had told privacy activists that JetBlue gave assurances it would help in the testing of the agency's controversial new passenger-screening system, CAPPS II.
Desktop The presentation document also says the company first met with Jim Yeager at the Department of Transportation, who worked for the inspector general's office at the DOT.
Infosys Yeager was described as the "aviation security project manager" in a Jan. 4, 2002, document that announced the inspector general would conduct a review of proposed technologies to enhance aviation security. That audit, which is classified, was published in February 2003 and furnished to Congress.
Refurbished Laptops Yeager, who now works at the Border and Transportation Security branch of the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general's office, did not respond to messages left for him.
Wipro Rick Toliver, a researcher for SRI who has worked on homeland security projects, chaired the session at the February conference. Toliver confirmed that Torch Concepts' then-CEO Bill Roark delivered the paper and that the session was well-attended.
Lap Top Roark, who has a 15-year history of working on Pentagon projects, now works as the CEO of Torch Technologies, a Torch Concepts spin-off designed to focus on defense contracts.
Refurbished On Wednesday, JetBlue issued a carefully worded statement and sent e-mails to customers. "Contrary to reports, JetBlue has not entered into an agreement to implement the CAPPS II program with the Transportation Security Administration. Further, no JetBlue customer information has been provided for purposes of testing the CAPPS II program currently under design."
Memory David Sobel, an attorney with the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said it should not matter who received JetBlue's data in the transfer.
Intel "A third party is a third party, whether that is the DOT, TSA or a contractor," said Sobel.
As400 Hasbrouck called the presentation a "smoking gun" that proves that real passenger data has been used in the development of CAPPS II without attempting to get consent from passengers.
Averatec "Data from a number of different sources -- airlines, computer reservation systems, and third-party data warehouses -- (has) been provided to various contractors at various stages," said Hasbrouck.
Hardware Hasbrouck said the TSA has no authority to compel any airline to provide data, but even if JetBlue was ordered to provide data, the company should have told its customers.
Dual Xeon "The ethical thing would be to reveal the transfer to passengers, so they can make a decision whether or not to fly JetBlue," said Hasbrouck. "Instead the company turned over what appears to be every reservation they've ever made."
Storage It is unknown if the data has been destroyed or returned to JetBlue. _
[ Comment, Edit or Article Submission ]
