[Quest:] Now, this is what they call a KVM. Many of you will know exactly what it does. Well, apparently, it's just about $20, and using equipment like this, a gang of thieves were basically able to steal more than $2 million from a London branch of Barclays bank. The device they used is called a keyboard video and mouse switch, the KVM. Eight people have been arrested, including a man that police are calling the Mr. Big of UK cyber crime. CNN's Jim Boulden is in London.
[Jim Boulden, Cnn International Correspondent:] So, this is the branch of Barclays bank where the Metropolitan Police say eight men conspired to steal 1.3 million pounds. That's just over $2 million. And this is how the police say they did it.
[Boulden:] This is a photo of something called a KVM switch. Police say one member of the gang talked himself into the bank branch back in April and attached this to one computer through a 3G router. These are normally used to allow people to access their work computers remotely. In this case, the police say the gang used it to steal money from a host of accounts in just one day by remotely controlling the branch's computer system.
[Terry Wilson, Metropolitan Police:] The size and sophistication of the operation has shocked us, and we're actually having to draft in more resources, techs, with the amount of evidence that we've recovered.
[Boulden:] Recovered, the police say, from houses around London. Authorities called one of these sites a cyber control center. In all, they found cash, jewelry, drugs, thousands of credit cards, and personal data. The police are now linking the Barclays heist with another using a KVM switch at a London Branch of Bank Santander. In total, 20 people have been arrested.
[Wilson:] We would consider one of those to be extremely significant. I would class him as the Mr. Big of UK cyber crime at present.
[Boulden:] The police say, however, not all the money has been recovered. Now, for its part, Barclays bank says no customers lost money from their accounts because of the alleged actions. Jim Boulden, CNN, London.
[Quest:] Finding the right balance between safety and low regulatory burden is no easy task. Neelie Kroes is the Europe commissioner for the digital agenda. She joins me tonight here in the C Suite, and we're delighted to have you with us, Commissioner. First of all, this balancing act between cyber security and privacy and the need for regulation, we are still a long way from understanding where we need to go with this.
[Neelie Kroes, Vice President, European Commission:] Well, in a way, it's not that long from now on. So, there is a proposal from the Commission, and it is about cyber security, and it's clearly directed in a line where all those who are having experiences like this bank are mentioning that and are taking their measures. So, they always denied it so far, and every time, it's the same situation. It is, indeed, absolutely one of the responsibilities of the business world.
[Quest:] You've got to get on with it.
[Kroes:] Absolutely. And we do have a directive now, and that has to be accepted by the Council. And I'm absolutely certain that they'll be done within a couple of months.
[Quest:] The digital environment in the EU is still not a single market. There is still so much work. And on the anniversary of Maastricht just coming up. Are you embarrassed that it's not a single market yet?
[Kroes:] It is an embarrassing situation. In my former life as a national politician and as a minister in the 80s, we were already dealing with starting this whole process. So, it takes a bit too long, so to say. But now, there is a proposal, and that is solving the problem. It is not only taking away the barriers, now we have 28 member states and 28 markets. That's crazy.
[Quest:] It's crazy, but you're the woman, the commissioner, who can do something about it. You've got to have teeth.
[Kroes:] I can assure you, I have them. And the proposal is just accepted by the Commission, and now will be dealt with the European Council, and that is the meeting in October, with all the leaders of the member states, presidents and prime ministers, and then going to Parliament. So, if we have a little bit of realism in as well the Council as well in Parliament, then we can deal with it before the elections of the European Parliament.
[Quest:] Commissioner, you and I have talked many times on this, and you know where I'm going to go with this. Two words: roaming charges.
[Kroes:] It is outrageous. If it wasn't that serious, it should be hilarious for you are paying for something that is not anymore there. When you are passing a border in Europe, then it is an artificial border, for it's one single market. So, we don't have borders anymore. And still, when you have your mobile
[Quest:] Last night on this program, the CEO of Portugal Telecom said progress was being made and it's not a single market and we can't run it like the United States runs theirs with AT&T; or Verizon. Do you basically tell him nonsense, get on with it?
[Kroes:] No. If he has said that, then I'm pleased, for I need the backing of the incumbents and of the alternatives, I need the backing of the consumers, and I feel certain we've got the backing of the consumers, but also of the manufacturers and of all the other players in this market.
[Quest:] We have an antique on the set in the form of the commissioner's BlackBerry.
[Kroes:] This is my private one, and
[Quest:] Oh, sorry.
[Kroes:] No, no, no, no, no!
[Quest:] We can be
[Kroes:] No, no, no, no, no, no, no! But I'm using it since the early 90s, and it's great.
[Quest:] Good! Thank you very much, Commissioner, thanks, indeed, for joining us.
[Kroes:] Yes.
[Quest:] Jenny Harrison, who's a woman always at the forefront of technology, is with us at the Weather Center this evening. Good evening.
[Jenny Harrison, Cnn Meteorologist:] Hello to you, Richard. I'm going to start talking about Super Typhoon Usagi. The reason for this is because, of course, it's beating down in Taiwan, but also bearing down on that south coast of China, Hong Kong in particular. It is a vast storm, look at this. Winds 240 kilometers an hour, still a super typhoon. It is going to lose some of its strength, but the size of this thing is actually over 1,000 kilometers in diameter. But look at the progress it's going to make. It will actually lose some of its strength in terms of winds over the next couple of days. It is forecast to actually make landfall in Hong Kong sometime late on Sunday. So, this gives you just a slightly different view of the same forecast. So you can see here throughout Saturday, very, very strong winds still impacting Taiwan and the northern Philippines. And then, as it continues to make its progress, it'll lose some of that strength. Still, a very, very strong typhoon, and very heavy rain coming in with this storm as it heads towards Hong Kong later on Sunday. There are no warnings yet, no signals being put up by Hong Kong. Of course, the travel delays already beginning to kick in, but it will get worse than this. No doubt about it, the airlines will begin to actually cancel their flights. There is probably no doubt that there will actually be no flights at all coming out of Hong Kong and also potentially out of Taipei. The rain coming through will be very heavy. Landslides, mudslides, and of course, flooding. And look at this, the next 48 hours, over 400 millimeters to Taiwan, and then also beginning to really add up in Hong Kong, so we'll keep you well updated in the hours and the couple of days to come. Meanwhile in Europe, as we go through the weekend, really feeling cool and autumnal across much of the north-central regions and the east. That warm-up in place across the west and the southwest. It is also Oktoberfest. It kicks off this weekend. Not sure if you kick off when you start to drink, but that is what's going on. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, they've actually got a bit of a warm-up by Monday. We've got some pretty good weather conditions, a little bit of clouds, but some sunshine as well. Chilly in the overnight hours for Munich, but even so, that never, of course, spoils anybody's fun. And how about this? Do you fancy flying away on your Friday? I'm sure plenty of you do. Well, here's a couple of destinations for you. How about the beautiful island of Majorca? Palma will be beautiful Saturday and Sunday, temperatures in the high 20s. Mostly sunny on Saturday, glorious sunshine on Sunday. The overnight hours pretty nice, as well, 16 and 15 on Sunday night. And then, if you fancy a city destination, how about that glorious city of Venice? Saturday, 23. Sunday, 22. Little bit more clouds around, but some very nice weather for doing some very nice sightseeing, and still not too cold, of course, to get out there on the canals in a gondola. But if you're not going anywhere, you're stuck at home, have a look at these temperatures. There's some pretty good sunshine around.
[Quest:] Right.
[Harrison:] 31 in Madrid, 22 in Paris, and 17 Celsius in Vienna. So, something out there for everybody, Richard, apart from you. You're in New York.
[Quest:] Fly Away Friday. We love it. Thank you very much, indeed, Jenny Harrison at the World Weather Center. When we come back, Motorola's chief executive thinks he knows what SmartPhone customers want, and he is making it in America. Then to Texas, where people are riding the bull of prosperity in the state's oil boom town. Later in the program, all the fun of the Midland County Fair. On QUEST MEANS BUSINESS tonight.