Information Security News: Israeli spy chief's phone theft raises fears for secrets

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

Forwarded from: William Knowles <wk () c4i org>

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001876453_mossad11.html

March 11, 2004 

By The Associated Press and Reuters

JERUSALEM - A cellphone belonging to the chief of the Israeli Mossad
spy agency was stolen last month, and the theft might compromise
sensitive security information, police said yesterday.

Mossad chief Meir Dagan's phone has not been found, and no suspects
have been arrested, said Israeli police spokesman Gil Kleiman.

The phone was taken from Dagan's car in Tel Aviv last month, police
said. It was unclear if the theft was random or intended to obtain
security information.

The cellphone may have contained telephone numbers, ranks and other
information on top Israeli security officials and access to the army's
Internet network, Israeli media reported.

To be extra safe, Mossad ordered the phone company to remotely erase
the memory on Dagan's handset.

"There were quite a few numbers of agents and secret service heads
stored there. We did not want embarrassing exposure for them too," one
source said.

On Feb. 8, an Israeli TV station reported the theft of a sensitive
item from a security official, but military censorship banned
publication of further details until yesterday.

Dagan, a counterterrorism expert and former army general, was
appointed to head the Mossad in 2002.


 
*==============================================================*
"Communications without intelligence is noise;  Intelligence
without communications is irrelevant." Gen Alfred. M. Gray, USMC
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