Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT1084
2008-10-28 13:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
DHS CYBERSECURITY DISCUSSIONS FOCUS ON INTERNAL
how-toVZCZCXRO6693 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #1084/01 3021358 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281358Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2261 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001084
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP,
PLEASE PASS TO DHS A.MOLET
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV KHLS AINT KU
SUBJECT: DHS CYBERSECURITY DISCUSSIONS FOCUS ON INTERNAL
PROTECTIONS AND PRIVACY
REF: A. 07 KUWAIT 1285
B. KUWAIT 1075
Classified By: Political Counselor Peter O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b an
d d
Summary
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001084
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP,
PLEASE PASS TO DHS A.MOLET
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV KHLS AINT KU
SUBJECT: DHS CYBERSECURITY DISCUSSIONS FOCUS ON INTERNAL
PROTECTIONS AND PRIVACY
REF: A. 07 KUWAIT 1285
B. KUWAIT 1075
Classified By: Political Counselor Peter O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b an
d d
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Kuwaiti Central Agency for Information (CAIT) and
National Security Bureau officials discussed with DHS Deputy
U/S Scott Charbo on October 21 the vulnerabilities and
challenges faced by the GOK in staving off electronic attacks
on its information technology (IT) systems. The GOK
officials raised privacy concerns and highlighted disruptions
waged from within GOK systems, allegedly by GOK officials
and/or Iranian agents. The GOK welcomed the dialogue, the
result of Secretary Chertoff's September 19 meeting with
Kuwaiti PM Shaykh Nasser Al Sabah, and expressed a desire for
future exchanges. End Summary.
2. (U) On October 20, DHS National Protection and Programs
Directorate Deputy Under Secretary Scott Charbo discussed
cybersecurity on October 20 with officials from Kuwait's CAIT
and with NSB's Deputy Director Shaykh Thamer Al Sabah.
CAIT's Director General Ali Al-Shuraidah and Shaykh Thamer
warmly welcomed the visit and expressed hope that it would be
the first of many cybersecurity exchanges.
CAIT: "How do we protect ourselves from within?"
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Al-Shuraideh's concern focused primarily on privacy
and internal security. He asserted that some GOK staff were
either permitting or perpetrating attacks and abuses on IT
systems. He explained that CAIT would coordinate with the
Ministry of Interior in investigating malware transmissions,
but that there are no clear guidelines that govern
interagency cooperation. He queried Charbo repeatedly on
privacy issues and on the right and capability of a
governmental entity to monitor its citizens electronically.
(Note: Reftel report of the 2007 arrest of a blogger who
posted remarks critical of the Amir suggests that the
government's authority to monitor and shut down websites is
clear in only two areas: denigrating Islam and criticizing
the Amir. End note.) Reflecting on the PM's September 19
discussion with Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff, Charbo
piqued Al-Shuraideh's interest with his description of
Einstein I and II software packages and their utility in
detecting malware and other electronic intrusions.
"How do we protect our systems from Iranian infiltration?"
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Echoing Al-Shuraideh's concerns on cyber attacks --
notably from within -- NSB's Shaykh Thamer charged Iran and
its agents with spamming and corrupting GOK websites,
targeting in particular the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments)
and Islamic Affairs. He viewed such attacks as Iranian
efforts to exploit a sectarian rift between Kuwaiti Sunni and
Shi'a Muslims. In particular, he queried Charbo on how to
identify perpetrators from within government circles who hack
into accounts for which they are not granted access. Thamer
also lamented the expense and ineffectiveness of a previous
attempt to establish a governmental intranet. Because of the
poor safeguards built into the system, within a two month
period in 2006 every GOK website was hacked, Thamer said.
5. (SBU) Like Al-Shuraideh, Thamer raised concerns over the
absence of legislation governing privacy and internet
monitoring. He expressed his desire for the GOK to be more
active in investigations after detections of malware usage,
but complained that legal parameters were not clear for law
enforcement.
Comment and Next Steps
--------------
6. (C) Both CAIT and NSB warmly received Deputy U/S Charbo's
visit, which responded directly to Kuwaiti PM Shaykh Nasser's
request when in Washington September 19. The fact that the
CAIT meeting was attended by representatives of the MFA and
the NSB demonstrated a desire for interagency cooperation on
cybersecurity. In both meetings, the officials candidly
listed the GOK's IT weaknesses: difficulties in hiring
qualified professionals, suspicions of internal tampering,
lack of legislation and guidelines to dictate governmental
KUWAIT 00001084 002 OF 002
capabilities and limits, and lack of interagency cooperation.
Our interlocutors asserted that the GOK has the will and the
resources to address the problem. They expressed an interest
in participating in future training, conferences and other
exchanges with the USG. We look forward to a continuing
dialogue in this area and believe the prospects for eventual
cooperation are good. End comment.
7. (U) Deputy U/S Charbo has cleared this cable.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
JONES
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP,
PLEASE PASS TO DHS A.MOLET
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV KHLS AINT KU
SUBJECT: DHS CYBERSECURITY DISCUSSIONS FOCUS ON INTERNAL
PROTECTIONS AND PRIVACY
REF: A. 07 KUWAIT 1285
B. KUWAIT 1075
Classified By: Political Counselor Peter O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b an
d d
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Kuwaiti Central Agency for Information (CAIT) and
National Security Bureau officials discussed with DHS Deputy
U/S Scott Charbo on October 21 the vulnerabilities and
challenges faced by the GOK in staving off electronic attacks
on its information technology (IT) systems. The GOK
officials raised privacy concerns and highlighted disruptions
waged from within GOK systems, allegedly by GOK officials
and/or Iranian agents. The GOK welcomed the dialogue, the
result of Secretary Chertoff's September 19 meeting with
Kuwaiti PM Shaykh Nasser Al Sabah, and expressed a desire for
future exchanges. End Summary.
2. (U) On October 20, DHS National Protection and Programs
Directorate Deputy Under Secretary Scott Charbo discussed
cybersecurity on October 20 with officials from Kuwait's CAIT
and with NSB's Deputy Director Shaykh Thamer Al Sabah.
CAIT's Director General Ali Al-Shuraidah and Shaykh Thamer
warmly welcomed the visit and expressed hope that it would be
the first of many cybersecurity exchanges.
CAIT: "How do we protect ourselves from within?"
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Al-Shuraideh's concern focused primarily on privacy
and internal security. He asserted that some GOK staff were
either permitting or perpetrating attacks and abuses on IT
systems. He explained that CAIT would coordinate with the
Ministry of Interior in investigating malware transmissions,
but that there are no clear guidelines that govern
interagency cooperation. He queried Charbo repeatedly on
privacy issues and on the right and capability of a
governmental entity to monitor its citizens electronically.
(Note: Reftel report of the 2007 arrest of a blogger who
posted remarks critical of the Amir suggests that the
government's authority to monitor and shut down websites is
clear in only two areas: denigrating Islam and criticizing
the Amir. End note.) Reflecting on the PM's September 19
discussion with Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff, Charbo
piqued Al-Shuraideh's interest with his description of
Einstein I and II software packages and their utility in
detecting malware and other electronic intrusions.
"How do we protect our systems from Iranian infiltration?"
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Echoing Al-Shuraideh's concerns on cyber attacks --
notably from within -- NSB's Shaykh Thamer charged Iran and
its agents with spamming and corrupting GOK websites,
targeting in particular the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments)
and Islamic Affairs. He viewed such attacks as Iranian
efforts to exploit a sectarian rift between Kuwaiti Sunni and
Shi'a Muslims. In particular, he queried Charbo on how to
identify perpetrators from within government circles who hack
into accounts for which they are not granted access. Thamer
also lamented the expense and ineffectiveness of a previous
attempt to establish a governmental intranet. Because of the
poor safeguards built into the system, within a two month
period in 2006 every GOK website was hacked, Thamer said.
5. (SBU) Like Al-Shuraideh, Thamer raised concerns over the
absence of legislation governing privacy and internet
monitoring. He expressed his desire for the GOK to be more
active in investigations after detections of malware usage,
but complained that legal parameters were not clear for law
enforcement.
Comment and Next Steps
--------------
6. (C) Both CAIT and NSB warmly received Deputy U/S Charbo's
visit, which responded directly to Kuwaiti PM Shaykh Nasser's
request when in Washington September 19. The fact that the
CAIT meeting was attended by representatives of the MFA and
the NSB demonstrated a desire for interagency cooperation on
cybersecurity. In both meetings, the officials candidly
listed the GOK's IT weaknesses: difficulties in hiring
qualified professionals, suspicions of internal tampering,
lack of legislation and guidelines to dictate governmental
KUWAIT 00001084 002 OF 002
capabilities and limits, and lack of interagency cooperation.
Our interlocutors asserted that the GOK has the will and the
resources to address the problem. They expressed an interest
in participating in future training, conferences and other
exchanges with the USG. We look forward to a continuing
dialogue in this area and believe the prospects for eventual
cooperation are good. End comment.
7. (U) Deputy U/S Charbo has cleared this cable.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
JONES