Expert Says Security Breaches Happen Daily that No One Knows About

Expert Says Security Breaches Happen Daily that No One Knows About

  • By Matt Holden
  • Aug 11, 2014

Expert Says Security Breaches Happen Daily that No One Knows AboutAccording to Rick C. Mathews, Director of the National Center for Security & Preparedness (NCSP) at the University Albany, State University of New York, security breaches happen across the country every day that no one knows about.

This comes in an interview following the security breach atop the Brooklyn Bridge, where someone climbed to the top and replaced the American flags with white ones. Some viewed this as a political statement meaning “surrender.”

Mathews said in the interview that New York City has layers upon layers of security, and just because someone broke through one layer doesn’t necessarily mean the city can be blamed. “There’s some of the best security around the world in New York City, but this incident should make you embarrassed,” said Mathews. “People climb the top of buildings, and jump off of them all the time. It happens. The fact that these guys changed the flags makes it unusual.”

Another expert, Tony F. Lemieux, Ph.D., said that police forces have to be mindful of this sort of behavior so they can better prepare themselves for it. Lemieux is a researcher with the National Center for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland.

“I think it’s something police should be mindful of,” said Lemieux. “And also an example of something that prompts our officials to take a harder look. Not just from a terrorism angle, but a safety perspective. How could somebody climb on top of the Brooklyn Bridge and do that?”

Despite these criticisms, Lemieux admits that anytime you have a city with the population of New York City, security efforts will be massive and the potential for someone to take this action will always be there.

About the Author

Matt Holden is an Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media, Inc. He received his MFA and BA in journalism from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He currently writes and edits for Occupational Health & Safety magazine, and Security Today.

Featured

  • The Next Generation

    Video security technology has reached an inflection point. With advancements in cloud infrastructure and internet bandwidth, hybrid cloud solutions can now deliver new capabilities and business opportunities for security professionals and their customers. Read Now

  • Help Your Customer Protect Themselves

    In the world of IT, insider threats are on a steep upward trajectory. The cost of these threats - including negligent and malicious employees that may steal authorized users’ credentials, rose from $8.3 million in 2018 to $16.2 million in 2023. Insider threats towards physical infrastructures often bleed into the realm of cybersecurity; for instance, consider an unauthorized user breaching a physical data center and plugging in a laptop to download and steal sensitive digital information. Read Now

  • Enhanced Situation Awareness

    Did someone break into the building? Maybe it is just an employee pulling an all-nighter. Or is it an actual perpetrator? Audio analytics, available in many AI-enabled cameras, can add context to what operators see on the screen, helping them validate assumptions. If a glass-break detection alert is received moments before seeing a person on camera, the added situational awareness makes the event more actionable. Read Now

  • Transformative Advances

    Over the past decade, machine learning has enabled transformative advances in physical security technology. We have seen some amazing progress in using machine learning algorithms to train computers to assess and improve computational processes. Although such tools are helpful for security and operations, machines are still far from being capable of thinking or acting like humans. They do, however, offer unique opportunities for teams to enhance security and productivity. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3