Suspicious Packages Prompt Nationwide Security Response

Suspicious Packages Prompt Nationwide Security Response

The wave of suspicious packages appears to be the biggest threat of a mail-based terror plot since the Anthrax attacks in the weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, which killed five people.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Oct 26, 2018

[UPDATED Oct. 26, 2018, 8:24 a.m.]

Apparent package bombs sent to prominent political figures and a news organization Wednesday, Thursday and Friday have mailrooms strengthening their mail screening procedures. The wave of suspicious packages appears to be the biggest threat of a mail-based terror plot since the Anthrax attacks in the weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, which killed five people.

Since Wednesday morning, the FBI has intercepted multiple manila envelopes containing an explosive device. The suspicious packages have been addressed to the following:

  • Philanthropist George Soros
  • Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
  • Former President Barack Obama
  • CNN/Former CIA Director John Brennan
  • Former Attorney General Eric Holder (This package was returned to the sender, had been labeled as Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
  • Rep. Maxine Waters
  • Former Vice President Joe Biden
  • Actor Robert De Niro
  • Sen. Cory Booker
  • Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper

The attacks have led the U.S. Postal Service and other federal agencies to step up their procedures for mail-screening. In the agency’s annual report, USPS said it responded to 2,282 suspicious packages in the U.S. last year.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service did not comment on how it detects bombs sent through the mail, because it would “compromise the effectiveness of our investigative methods.”

According to security experts, mailrooms should look for signs of a suspicious package: too much postage, a missing or fake return address, or demands that the package be opened only by a specific person.

For example, several of the packages discovered Wednesday had the return address of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former head of the Democratic National Committee, and at least one was rerouted to her office in Florida.

Mail addressed to government agencies is often screen off-site before delivery. All mail addressed to ZIP codes 20201 (the Department of Health and Human Service) through 20599 (the Presidential Inaugural Committee) is irradiated to kill off potential biological attacks.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Maximizing Your Security Budget This Year

    Perimeter Security Standards for Multi-Site Businesses

    When you run or own a business that has multiple locations, it is important to set clear perimeter security standards. By doing this, it allows you to assess and mitigate any potential threats or risks at each site or location efficiently and effectively. Read Now

  • Survey: 72% of CISOs Are Concerned Generative AI Solutions Could Result In Security Breach

    Metomic recently released its “2024 CISO Survey: Insights from the Security Leaders Keeping Critical Business Data Safe.” Metomic surveyed more than 400 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from the U.S. and UK to gain deeper insights on the state of data security. The report includes survey findings on various cybersecurity issues, including security leaders’ top priorities and challenges, SaaS app usage across their organization, and biggest concerns with implementing generative AI solutions. Read Now

  • New Research Shows a Continuing Increase in Ransomware Victims

    GuidePoint Security recently announced the release of GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team’s (GRIT) Q1 2024 Ransomware Report. In addition to revealing a nearly 20% year-over-year increase in the number of ransomware victims, the GRIT Q1 2024 Ransomware Report observes major shifts in the behavioral patterns of ransomware groups following law enforcement activity – including the continued targeting of previously “off-limits” organizations and industries, such as emergency hospitals. Read Now

  • OpenAI's GPT-4 Is Capable of Autonomously Exploiting Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

    According to a new study from four computer scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, OpenAI’s paid chatbot, GPT-4, is capable of autonomously exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities without any human assistance. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises. 3

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge. 3