May 4 (UPI) — A report released Monday by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said that personnel in the department’s intelligence office did not use proper security precautions on smartphones, leading to a risk of cyberattacks and putting sensitive information in danger.
The inspector general is an independent watchdog for the Department of Homeland Security. Officials from the department acknowledged the concerns, said changes have already been made and then blamed Democrats for issues.
“DHS has worked diligently to fix the vulnerabilities that Democrats created so that we can securely do our jobs in keeping Americans safe and secure in the homeland,” a DHS statement said, The New York Times reported.
The report said that the intelligence office, which has about 800 employees, did not require some security settings and allowed downloading of some “high-risk” apps. It found that 76% of apps on devices used by office personnel “pose security risks, are prohibited or allow prohibited activities.” The apps weren’t named but included social media apps, third-party file-sharing apps, streaming apps, online gaming apps, apps “associated with foreign adversaries” and others.
The department didn’t restrict employees from installing unapproved apps and approved some of the apps deemed “high risk,” the reports aid. It also said that employees were allowed to reuse passcodes against security recommendations.
“Allowing passcodes to be reused heightens the risk of attackers successfully exploiting previously compromised credentials, increasing the likelihood of unauthorized access,” the report said.
The inspector general report also said that 19% of devices had outdated operating systems and that the department did not make sure there were proper authorization and security precautions for international travel.
