Yeshiva World News

The personal information of more than 123,000 participants in a retirement savings program for federal employees was accessed in a sophisticated cyberattack that happened last July, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board announced on Friday.

The attack was targeted at a computer belonging to Serco, a firm that provides services to the Thrift Savings Plan. The FBI informed Serco and the FRTIB of the hacking incident in April.

The names, addresses and Social Security numbers of around 43,000 people were accessed, according to the Thrift Savings Plan website. The Social Security numbers and other information belonging to about 80,000 other people — but not their names — were also accessed.

On its website, the Thrift Savings Program said it “does not have any evidence that any personal information has been used or is being misused or disclosed to other persons.”

“We sincerely regret that this event occurred,” said Greg Long, executive director of the FRTIB in a statement, “and we will provide assistance and support to the affected individuals through a call center and credit monitoring. We are working with Serco and other security experts to ensure that TSP data is protected and secure. We are proud of our service to our participants and beneficiaries and want to continue to earn their trust.”

The FRTIB said it took immediate steps with Serco to address the attack. They immediately shut down the compromised computer and formed a response team to carry out a systemwide review of all computer security procedures.

READ MORE: POLITICO

The Shomrei Emunim Rebbe Shlita collapsed in beis medrash this morning, Monday. Ichud Hatzalah EMTs arrived on the scene within a few short minutes and began CPR.

The rebbe collapsed in the Meah Shearim beis medrash during shachris. Baruch Hashem, a spontaneous pulse returned after CPR was performed by Ichud Hatzalah EMTs. The rebbe, who is 88, was transported to Bikur Cholim Hospital in critical/stable condition.

The tzibur is asked to be mispallel for Rav Avrohom Chaim ben Sima b’soch kol cholei am yisrael.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem – Published on Monday, isru chag in Eretz Yisrael)

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Sunday indirectly confirmed recent remarks by the Ambassador to Israel that the U.S. is “ready from a military perspective’’ to stop Iran from making a nuclear weapon if international pressure fails.

The U.S. and members of the United Nations Security Council recently met in Baghdad for talks about Iran’s suspected nuclear weapon program. Iran denies it has military intentions but has called for the destruction of Israel.

“We have plans to be able to implement any contingency we have to in order to defend ourselves,’’ Panetta said on ABC’s This Week. Earlier, Panetta said, “The fundamental premise is that neither the United States or the international community is going to allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.’’

Panetta defended the U.S. military’s use of drones to kill terrorists, resulting in some civilian casualties, calling them “one of the most precise weapons that we have in our arsenal.’’

He also insisted that the administration did not share any “inappropriate’’ details with filmmakers making a movie about Osama bin Laden, despite criticism from members of Congress.

Panetta also condemned Pakistan for sentencing a doctor to prison for helping the U.S. hunt down terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.

READ MORE: NATIONAL JOURNAL

Whether you will be traveling, at home, with family or with friends; YWN would like to wish all of our devoted readers and advertisers, a wonderful Yom Tov of Kabolas Hatorah.

NOTE: (NYC) Alternate Side Parking regulations will be suspended on Sunday and Monday, May 28-29 for Shavuos. Because Monday is a major legal holiday (Memorial Day), parking meter regulations also are suspended.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ENTIRE NYC / 5 BOROS: Misaskim has made arrangements with a non-Jew to work with them regarding any incidents of Kovod Hames. Chas Vishalaom if a person is Niftar on Yom Tov, and there is a possibility of an autopsy about to take place, or any other urgent legal matter, please call the Misaskim 24hr hotline number 718-854-4548 and it will be answered. Please note, this arrangement is for Kavod Hames related emergencies ONLY.

ALERT: Shomrim have asked YWN to post the following request: KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE SHAVUOS NIGHT!

–YWN Admin

A federal jury on Thursday convicted a Muslim soldier on six charges in connection with a failed plot to blow up a Texas restaurant full of Fort Hood troops, his religious mission to get “justice” for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Jurors in U.S. District Court in Waco deliberated a little more than an hour before finding Pfc. Naser Jason Abdo guilty of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempted murder of U.S. officers or employees, and four counts of possessing a weapon in furtherance of a federal crime of violence.

Abdo, 22, did not stand with his attorneys when jurors and the judge entered the room, and he showed no emotion when each of the six guilty verdicts was read by the court clerk. Abdo, who’s been accused of spitting blood on authorities escorting him and a jailer, wore a mask covering his nose and mouth throughout the trial.

He faces up to life in prison. U.S. District Judge Walter Smith is set to sentence Abdo in July.

Prosecutors said Abdo had already started making a bomb when he was detained at a Killeen motel last July after going AWOL from Fort Campbell, Ky. Authorities also found numerous bomb-making components, a loaded gun, 143 rounds of ammunition, a stun gun and other items in his backpack and motel room.

In a recorded police interview, Abdo said he was planning to pull off an attack in the Fort Hood area “because I don’t appreciate what my unit did in Afghanistan.”

READ MORE: FOX NEWS

Pedro Hernandez, the former bodega worker arrested on Thursday and accused of killing Etan Patz in 1979, was held overnight Thursday under a suicide watch and transferred to Bellevue Hospital Center early Friday morning, an official briefed on the matter said.

Mr. Hernandez, 51, was taken into custody on Wednesday and held Thursday night under close monitoring, the official said.

He was under the constant observation of a police sergeant until 5:30 a.m., when he was transferred to Bellevue, the official said.

It was unclear where Mr. Hernandez was held until he was moved to the hospital, and the official could not say whether he was transferred for any formal evaluation. Mr. Hernandez has been accused of second-degree murder by the police but has yet to be charged by prosecutors.

He told investigators that on the day Etan, 6, disappeared on his way to a school bus stop in SoHo, he lured the boy to the basement of the bodega where he worked with the promise of a soda, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said Thursday night. Once inside, Mr. Hernandez said he choked Etan, stuffed his body in a bag and took the bag about a block and a half away, where dumped it in the open amid other trash.

Etan disappeared 33 years ago on Friday.

(Source: NY Times)

An upper Manhattan public elementary school will be the first in the city to require that students study Arabic, officials said yesterday.

Beginning next semester, all 200 second- through fifth-graders at PS 368 in Hamilton Heights will be taught the language twice a week for 45 minutes — putting it on equal footing with science and music courses.

One reason Principal Nicky Kram Rosen selected Arabic — as opposed to more common offerings, such as Spanish or French — is because it will help the school obtain a prestigious International Baccalaureate standing.

“Arabic has been identified as a critical-need language,” she said, citing students’ future “career trajectories.”

READ MORE: NY POST

The following is via TLS:

The Office of the Ocean County Fire Marshal would like to wish everyone a safe Shavuot. Since Shavuot this year begins after Shabbos, we’d like to offer some fire safety tips for the long holiday. One of the most important issues are stoves and ovens being left “On” causing a potential buildup of Carbon Monoxide in your residence. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and potentially deadly gas causing headaches, dizziness, redness in the face, nausea, and flu like symptoms. Remember, Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisonings can happen at anytime of the year due to a fuel-burning appliance not working or operating properly or improper ventilation for those appliance(s).

Because of those dangers, we along with the Orthodox Union’s Safe Homes, Shuls, and Schools Initiative issue warnings before holidays or occasions when the use of fire or cooking is part of the tradition. The risk of CO poisoning is an area of concern, due to several incidents in the last several years, here in NJ and around the country sending families and their friends to the hospital for CO poisoning. We urge families to replace their Smoke/Carbon Monoxide alarm batteries prior to the holidays and provide some guidelines for carbon monoxide safety:

• All homes must have working CO detectors. We recommend electric plug in models with a display and battery backup or a combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide battery operated ones. A basic unit is adequate however. We recommend at least one on each level.

• IMMEDIATELY CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR 911 IF YOUR SMOKE/CO ALARM GOES OFF! The fire department will respond quickly to check homes with their multi-gas meters and help in the removal of the CO.

• Your house should have the hood above your stove vented to the outside. A hood that vents back into the kitchen will not help reduce CO.

• An alternative to the stove is an electric hot plate with a timer to shut it on and off and be UL listed, which has no flame, so does not produce CO.

• A UL listed electric crock pot is another alternative, which is insulated and reduces the chance of someone burning themselves.

• You should have a one-foot non-combustible area around the stove and crock-pot.

• NEVER use an extension cord with these devices! They require too many amps and could cause a fire. The above devices should be plugged directly into an outlet.

• If you must operate a stove, leave a window open near the stove at least approximately 4 inches, and have a second window open at the opposite side of the house. This will allow some cross ventilation and a supply of fresh air.

• An electric stove with a warming drawer is another solution. This would keep food warm without generating CO.

• A future solution would be an electric stove that would turn on and off during the Sabbath and holidays as needed. The community is always looking for manufacturers who are willing to work with us.

Bathroom exhaust fans – Our office has seen many bathroom ceiling exhaust fan fires in the last several years. The fans are designed for use when the bathroom is in use. We understand they are left on for Shabbos for 24 hours or longer on holidays. Since that is the case we ask that you check them periodically for lint and dirt buildup and make sure they are working properly to prevent them from overheating due to their extended usage.

(Source: TLS)