Chinese Syndicate C99 Linked to Security Breaches

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Federal Investigators working with the Department of Homeland Security announced today that the Chinese crime syndicate known as C99 has been linked to more than a dozen attacks against American companies over the past 18 months.

Four high profile security breaches were singled out in the report as being particularly troubling examples of failure to adequately protect sensitive customer information. The February 2007 attack against Bear Republic Investments, a San Francisco-based financial advisory firm, was most prominent in the report.

The Bear Republic Investments incident was linked to three other specific attacks that shared a similar method of intrusion. The related attacks were against Vangardia Bank, Edmonton Capital, and First Tuskaloosa Savings. In all four attacks, it appears that the thieves made use of PHP vulnerabilities to gain access to System i servers and move information from the corporate systems to servers based on the Chinese mainland.

The news comes on the heels of revelations that Silic Financial has been scrambling to pick up the pieces following an attack against their system last week. Officials close to the Silic investigation report that tell-tale signs of C99 have been found. Indications are that a PHP exploit was used to facilitate a complex plan involving both remote hackers and on-site operatives who had infiltrated Silic.

Following a lead that pinpointed recent C99 activity to Japan, agents with the SIS&CE Response Team has been dispatched to Tokyo to recover evidence and spearhead the international manhunt for the plan's masterminds, including Ryu Kong, pictured above. More about the investigation can be found at i5virus.com.

DOT Heeds Mandate from the People: Lark Lanes on America's Highways

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled plans today for the nationwide implementation of "Lark Lanes" on the nation's interstate system.

Stemming from a concept that has been tested in several of Florida's top retirement communities, Lark Lanes provide an added benefit for the elderly just as carpool lanes do for commuters.

"We all know that carpool lanes give driver's the opportunity to speed past traffic," explained Garratt Jonavich, a spokesman for the DOT, "and what we are doing here is providing a special lane where the older citizens of our nation can hop on their Larks and let traffic fly by them as they gradually make their way to the grocery store, the beach, the doctor, etc."

The plan may seem to have come out of the blue to many Americans, but in fact citizen groups have been lobbying for such a lane for more than 10 years. When the DOT decided in 1999 to give it a try, Florida seemed like the logical place for testing. During the first six years of Lark Lanes, Floridians have really taken to the concept. Highway Patrol officials even cite statistics that show a 10% decrease in traffic accidents in areas where these drivers have the option of staying out of the main traffic flow.





This Floridian cruises down a Lark Lane on Interstate 4 near Tampa. At speeds in excess of 5 mph, Lark Lane drivers can zip past commuters stuck in rush hour traffic.



For those unfamiliar with the Lark, it is an orthopedically designed scooter with padded seating for one. Its indoor and outdoor driving capabilities allow the rider to go just about anywhere, albeit at very low speeds. With rear-wheel drive transaxle and a handy front-mounted basket, the Lark has become all the rage with retirees on the go. But needless to say, it's not particularly highway-friendly.

Thanks to the L2I (Lark Lane Initiative), that's all about to change. New legislation calling for the DOT to implement L2I has been passed by Congress. Because of the nationwide nature of the initiative, the cost could skyrocket as thousands of miles of interstate are widened. The President is considering asking Congress for $130 billion dollars in emergency funds for the project. "We all know how important it is to keep Florida on our side," quipped a White House spokesperson.

The Lark Lanes project is expected to be finished in 2012.









Starbucks Close to Realizing Vision: A Continuous Chain of Coffee, Roast to Roast

LICK SKILLET, AL -- A tiny, backwoods town in the Heart of Dixie might be the last place one would expect to find a Starbucks, but that's exactly where the doors will swing open this Saturday at the company's newest location.

It's all part of a java-driven "Manifast Caffeino" that envisions a continuous chain of Starbucks locations. The idea behind the plan is for there to be no corner in America where a caffeine-deprived individual can stand without there being a Starbucks in view.





A man enjoys a latte at the Starbucks downstairs from his apartment while looking at the other Starbucks across the street.



"It all started during a marketing meeting about four years ago," recalls Brian Westington, a creative director with Market That!, a Seattle-based advertising agency. "One of our market planners had attended Florida State University and recalled how, due to safety concerns, there were emergency phones spread all over campus. In fact, there were so many that there was no place on the FSU campus where one could stand and not be within a quick sprint of one of these phones."

Westington goes on to explain how the dots were quickly connected. "When someone is in need of coffee, they are in a state of emergency. We saw how our shops are a lot like those emergency phones. We rescue people from the impending danger of becoming comatose from caffeine deprivation."

Following that historic meeting, Market That! set out to create an expansion plan that would put a Starbucks on every corner in America. To date, the plan is going well.

The fast-growing city of Reno, Nevada, is a great example of "Manifest Caffeino" in action. The company is preparing to open a new location in the rapidly expanding South Meadows area—less than two minutes from an already existing location.

"To get to the Damonte Ranch location," explains Westington, "one would have to go through one four-way stop and one traffic light. That can be quite an inconvenience."

The new South Meadows location departs from the purest vision of the plan in one respect: it cannot be seen from the already existing location. "That's true," conceeds Westington, "if [US Highway] 395 weren't there you'd be able to see it; but the view is blocked by the overpass."

Nevertheless, the company is satisfied that the new construct is in keeping with the spirit of the plan, and is already eyeing some as of yet undeveloped land about three blocks down the street. "That location," adds Westington, "would be the bomb."




Other Nation/World Stories

Be sure to uncover all the clues...

Issue 1

Data Theft and Loss an Important Issue for American Corporations
A special committee organized to investigate a growing trend of corporate data theft has released its report. It finds that data theft occuring in American corporations is a real cause for concern. :: View full story.

Nationwide Moving Sidewalk Network Sought
Transportation officials announced today that they are in the initial stages of development for a network of moving sidewalks that will enable Americans to travel anywhere in the country without moving their arms or legs. :: View full story.

Evans Business Solutions Goes Automated on iSeries
Evans Business Solutions, the Houston-based software company known for their accounting technology, recently took steps to remedy system disruptions that were costing the company big money. :: View full story.

Issue 2

Foreign Officials Warn of Attempts to Hack Key American Corporations
A special international agency today announced that they have monitored attempts by Islamic militant groups to hack into the computer networks of several major American corporations. :: View full story.

Manheim Taps StandGuard Anti-Virus for Protection
In a perfect world, there would be no viruses. In reality, news of viruses increases week after week; and the outlook calls for more targeted and malicious attacks. In the face of such risks, the world’s top companies are taking steps to ensure that their systems remain clean and their customers protected. :: View full story.

After Ted, Other Airlines Consider Offshoots
With the initial positive reaction to United Airlines' new low-cost carrier, "Ted," other airlines are considering similar moves. :: View full story.

Issue 3

Virus writers unleash first ever Mac OS X Trojan
Proving that even platforms thought to be safe from virus attacks eventually draw the attention of hackers, virus writers last week launched MacOS/Amphimix, an MP3 file housing a Trojan. It is the first known virus to target Apple's UNIX-based operating system. :: View full story.

Precious Metal Investors Get Gas, Rejoice
Investors looking to diversify and add stability to their portfolios have long latched on to gold. Now they are abandoning the precious metal in favor of something with even more value: gasoline. :: View full story.

Federal Regulators Note that More Data Laws Needed
Eight federal regulators recently announced their conclusion that additional laws safeguarding the integrity of corporate data are needed. :: View full story.

Issue 4

Matt Williams Questioned by Police in L.A.
L.A. city law enforcement officials last night took local waiter and aspiring actor Matt Williams into custody for questioning in connection with the Evans Business Solutions data theft case. :: View full story.

NSS Members Energized by World's First Private Spaceflight
The world witnessed the dawn of a new space age today, as investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen and Scaled Composites launched the first private manned vehicle beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. :: View full story.

Health Insurance Providers Consider New Approach: Appendage Insurance
In an effort to reform the way Americans buy health insurance, and in an effort to make their operations all the more lucrative, health insurance providers are considering a new "a la carte" style of coverage. :: View full story.