Instant Messages To Israel Warned Of WTC Attack

September 28, 2001

Instant Messages To Israel Warned Of WTC Attack

NEW YORK -- OFFICIALS at instant-messaging firm Odigo confirmed today that two employees received text messages warning of an attack on the World Trade Center two hours before terrorists crashed planes into the New York landmarks. Citing a pending investigation by law enforcement, the company declined to reveal the exact contents of the message or to identify the sender.

But Alex Diamandis, vice president of sales and marketing, confirmed that workers in Odigo's research and development and international sales office in Israel received a warning from another Odigo user approximately two hours prior to the first attack. Diamandis said the sender of the instant message was not personally known to the Odigo employees. Even though the company usually protects the privacy of users, the employees recorded the Internet protocol address of the message's sender to facilitate his or her identification.

Soon after the terrorist attacks on New York, the Odigo employees notified their management, who contacted Israeli security services. In turn, the FBI was informed of the instant message warning. FBI officials were not immediately available for comment today. The Odigo service includes a feature called People Finder that allows users to seek out and contact others based on certain interests or demographics. Diamandis said it was possible that the attack warning was broadcast to other Odigo members, but the company has not received reports of other recipients of the message.

In addition to operating its own messaging service network, Odigo has licensed its technology to over 100 service providers, portals, wireless carriers, and corporations, according to the company. Odigo is online at http://www.odigo.com .

World Trade Center Attacks: The Most Costly Man-Made Disaster in U.S. History

World Trade Center Attacks: The Most Costly Man-Made Disaster in U.S. History
By: SmartPros Editorial Staff

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2001 -- The horrible terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers will be the most costly man-made catastrophe in U.S. history, with insured losses likely to be in the billions of dollars, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

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Property insurance policies generally cover damage from fire, explosion, smoke, or other property or liability loss that occurs, the III explained. Insurance policies do exclude war, but this is generally defined as a declared war between nations. In light of increased global terrorism, some commercial insurance policies may have exclusions for damage caused by terrorist attacks. Aviation policies will also be impacted.

The 1993 World Trade Center bombing caused $510 million in insured losses. The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing resulted in insured losses of $125 million. The Los Angeles riots of 1992 resulted in insured losses of $775 million, previously the most costly insured man-made disaster until today, according to the III.

Any determination of insured losses will have to take into account the destruction of the World Trade Center towers; business and personal property of tenants and their employees; workers' compensation for injured workers; claims for lost business income; and the cost of establishing alternative, temporary operations at off-site locations.

The U.S. government is self-insured, so physical loss to government buildings is not a commercial insurance issue. Insured commercial businesses within the Pentagon, for example, could incur insured losses.

The Insurance Information Institute also announced that its close vicinity to the demolished World Trade Center could affect operations as the tragedy unfolds.

Aon Corporation Provides Update on World Trade Center Tragedy

Aon Corporation Provides Update on World Trade Center Tragedy

By: SmartPros Editorial Staff

CHICAGO, Sept. 13, 2001
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Insurance brokerage and consulting firm Aon Corporation, based in Chicago, announced that the majority of about 1,100 employees located in Two World Trade Center and other buildings in Lower Manhattan are reported safe.

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In a message posted on the company Web site on Wednesday, the company announced: "We are deeply relieved to know that the number of confirmed survivors is growing, and we continue to hope and pray that we will find even more of our Aon family safe. [930 - ed] Aon employees at the command center in Glenview, Illinois continue to work around the clock to contact New York-based employees and their families in an effort to account for all of our employees."

The message continued: "While our primary focus will continue to be on our colleagues and their families, we also need to be concerned for the business and personal needs of our clients, many of whom also suffered losses in this terrible tragedy. To that point, we have agreed that unless local authorities direct otherwise, our offices everywhere in the world except New York City will be open for business to assist clients and policyholders during this very difficult period. We are finalizing plans as to where our World Trade Center operations will relocate and we will provide this information to employees and clients as soon as possible."

Aon has initiated its disaster recovery plans and will be providing additional information on alternative locations for operations as that information becomes available. Information will be posted on Aon's Web site (www.aon.com).

Phone numbers for Aon client services:

• Aon Risk Services: 866.256.4157 or 847.953.4071
• Aon Consulting: 800.438.6487
• Aon Service Group: 818.227.3420