Pitts backs computer security

U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts toured a small Lancaster computer security company this morning and lent his support for a House bill that would toughen reporting of identity theft.

White Wolf Security, in the Burle Business Park along New Holland Avenue, provides computer security training to law enforcement and federal employees.

The firm, which has two full-time employees and several part-time trainers, conducts three-week courses in network security related to tracking security breaches and identity theft.

The company annually trains some 100 personnel and also holds cyber- defense security competitions.

During this morning's 30-minute visit, company president Tim Rosenberg briefed Pitts on a House bill that would strengthen reporting requirements for computerized data containing personal information.

The bill would oblige private companies to report instances of identity theft involving more than 10,000 names Currently, there are no federal standards for reporting identity theft.

The measure would require more training of the type White Wolf offers in Lancaster and immediately expand its business. Rosenberg said the bill's passage would prompt him to add some 4,000 square feet to the training center, and possibly lead to setting up a duplicate of the training center, which can now handle 16 students.

The Data Accountability and Trust Act was introduced last October and reported out of committee in June.

Pitts said he favors the pending legislation, which he said could be passed this month. He also expressed his support of the local firm.

"I didn't know this was here. I'm very pleased we're doing this kind of federal training here in Lancaster," he said.

Rosenberg is a former lawyer who founded White Wolf Security with his father Roger in 1999. The company moved from Philadelphia to East Hempfield in 2002, and has been in the Burle Business Park since August 2005.

Rosenberg said that while some federal agencies were initially skeptical of sending their employees to Lancaster for training, they have since responded with enthusiasm.

Some federal workers who have come for training have come back with their families to visit tourist destinations such as Dutch Wonderland and the outlets, he said.

The theft of personal information from computers is a growing concern. Among the most prominent instances was the loss in May of a Department of Veterans Affairs laptop holding information on 26.5 million veterans and military personnel; that laptop was recovered.