Security Alert: Credit and Debit card

Make it a habit yearly obtain a replacement credit or debit card especially if you use them for purchases on the internet or other uses.


Banking and Finance Sector


8. May 18, H Security – (National) Global Payments breach reportedly worse than expected. The security breach at credit card processing company Global Payments extends back further than was previously believed, H Security reported May 18.

According to BankInfoSecurity, the incident is now thought to go back as far as January 2011 — it was originally believed to have taken place between January 21 and February 25, 2012, but was later dated to early June 2011. While initial reports of the breach suggested more than 10 million accounts were compromised, Global Payments later said fewer than 1.5 million card numbers were taken.

Source:     http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Global-Payments-breach-reportedly-worse-than-expected-1578956.html

DHS\FEMA. Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Requirement

Grant Programs Directorate Information Bulletin  No 385      April 4, 2012

MEMORANDUM FOR: All State Administrative Agency Heads
                                        All State Administrative Agency Points of Contact
                                        All Urban Areas Security Initiative Points of Contact
                                        All State Homeland Security Directors
                                        All State Emergency Management Agency Directors
FROM: Timothy W. Manning
Deputy Administrator
Protection and National Preparedness

SUBJECT: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Requirement

This Information Bulletin (IB) is applicable to grantees receiving Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) and Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) awards.

As enumerated in the funding opportunity announcements and application kits, each grantee receiving funding assistance from the above grants must conduct a Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) in order remain eligible for grant funds. HSGP and EMPG grantees will be required to develop a THIRA and provide a copy to their Regional Federal Preparedness Coordinator no later than December 31, 2012. The THIRA must be updated and reviewed by DHS for consistency and content annually.

Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Guide and an accompanying CPG 201 Supplement 1: Toolkit with resources and information, data sources, and table templates are attached for your convenience, and are also posted at http://www.fema.gov/prepared/plan.shtml. Grantees are strongly encouraged to work jointly with their counterparts in other levels of government, and across the whole community in order to ensure a complete THIRA. Technical assistance and a report template will be made available to assist grantees in meeting this requirement.

Questions regarding this Information Bulletin may be directed to your assigned FEMA Program Analyst or the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk at askcsid@fema.dhs.gov or 1-800-368-6498.

Attachment:
                CPG 201: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Guide
                CPG 201 Supplement 1: Toolkit
                 Use of THIRA for Preparedness Grants

http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?&id=5838