DOD Web-watchers find war plans online

A new reserve unit that monitors the Defense Department's presence on the

World Wide Web has found an astonishing amount of classified or sensitive

material on public sites.

The Web Risk Assessment Team, established by the Joint Task Force for

Computer Network Defense, is made up of reservists who spend one weekend

each month scanning DOD Web sites, according to Air Force Maj. Gen. John

Campbell, commander of JTF-CND.

A survey of 800 major DOD sites on the Internet recently revealed as

many as 1,300 "discrepancies," some of them involving highly classified

information, Campbell said. The team uncovered more than 10 instances where

information on Pentagon war plans was posted.

Also among the discoveries has been information on computer system vulnerabilities

and more than 20 detailed maps of DOD facilities.

Some of the maps and photographs included detailed plans of a facility

known as "Site R," which serves as the alternate Joint Communications Center

for U.S. nuclear forces, according to Campbell. The overhead photo of "Site

R" showed the location of underground tunnel entryways and a detailed floor

plan of the facility.

Likewise, the Web site for an annual exercise known as "Cobra Gold"

included an entire list of participating units, communications frequencies

and call signs for aircraft and data on Identification Friend or Foe squawks,

which are signals used by pilots to determine if a plane is friendly or

enemy.

In another instance, the team found a classified excerpt in a policy

document on counterterrorism.