BBC Online 24/3/2000: "MI5 laptop snatched"

[Caspar Bowden]

Lucky the chap wasn't enroute to Cheltenham with GTAC's main key archive,
eh? Where was it GTAC is going to be physically located Simon ?

Earlier cutting from 98, appended. Well accidents do happen - but if a
serious GTAC compromise did occur, I wonder whether key-owners would be
warned?

--
Caspar Bowden                    http://www.fipr.org
Director, Foundation for Information Policy Research
Tel: +44(0)171 354 2333      Fax: +44(0)171 827 6534


http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_688000/688814.stm
MI5 laptop snatched

Computer was snatched at Paddington station

The Police Special Branch is investigating the theft of a laptop computer
containing sensitive data on Northern Ireland.
The £2,000 computer carrying coded information on Northern Ireland was
snatched from an M15 intelligence agent at Paddington Underground station in
central London.

Special Branch officers are working to recover the sensitive equipment but
sources have denied the theft represents a serious threat to national
security, claiming it appears to be an "opportunistic" crime.

A security source said: "We believe this was a spur of the moment theft and
that the MI5 agent was not targeted deliberately.

"The information in the computer does not constitute a threat to national
security."

The incident took place on 4 March after the agent stopped to help a group
of youths on the concourse of the Underground station.

He rested a case containing the computer on the floor and a thief then
snatched the bag.

The MI5 agent gave chase but lost sight of the thief in the busy corridors.

Encryption

Files containing the sensitive data were encrypted to one of the highest
government levels and intelligence chiefs are understood to be confident
that the information cannot be accessed.

It is understood Home Secretary Jack Straw has been informed of the computer
theft although it is unlikely the prime minister will have been directly
told of the incident.

Conservative politicians called for ministers to be brought to account
before the Parliamentary committee responsible for the security services.

Shadow cabinet office minister spokesman Andrew Lansley said: "This is a
very serious potential security lapse.

"No effort should be spared to secure the return of the lap-top and
ministers should account to the committee on the security services for the
operational procedures which have allowed this to occur."

MI5 is now in the frontline of Britain's intelligence gathering operation in
Northern Ireland after taking on extra responsibilities in recent years to
combat terrorism.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Caspar Bowden [mailto:Caspar.Bowden@qualia.co.uk]
> Sent: 17 January 1998 22:13
> To: Ukcrypto (E-mail)
> Subject: Top-secret encoder is stolen
>
>
> Anyone offered such an item by a man in a sheepskin jacket in a pub,
> kindly contact the MI5 freephone number.........
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------
> ------------------------------
> from
> http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/Times/frontpage.html?1046120
>
> Top-secret encoder is stolen
>
> A computer code encrypter for sending secret messages to the
> Prime Minister and
> the Security Services has been stolen from Whitehall.
>
> The machine was taken from the Cabinet Office, next to 10
> Downing Street,
> despite the tight security in the area. Officers from Charing
> Cross police
> station are investigating.
>
> The machine is thought to be used to scramble and unscramble
> telephone calls
> from the Prime Minister, MI5, MI6 and friendly powers. It is
> also used to
> communicate in safety with Cabinet ministers when they are abroad.
>
> --
> Caspar Bowden - Director, Qualia Internet Consultants
> 41 Great Percy Street, London WC1X 9RA
> Tel: +44(0)171 837 8706, Fax: +44(0)171 827 6534
>