Cybersecurity

Agencies Finally Move to Stronger Sign-ons as OPM Breach Widens to 21 Million

Officials now say the massive breach of background check and personnel files housed by OPM has spurred federal agencies into taking action to secure their networks.

Cybersecurity

OPM Announces More Than 21 Million Affected by Second Data Breach

The federal personnel agency will announce Thursday that a breach of OPM data revealed the information of 21.5 million federal employees and their families.

Cybersecurity

Washington Can't Fix Computer Glitches

Wednesday’s NYSE and United Airlines problems wouldn't have been avoided if there had been a cybersecurity information-sharing law in place.

Ideas

Post-Megabreaches, Feds Should Focus on Third Party Risk

Continuous monitoring of third parties and reducing reliance on paper-based risk assessment will help address some of the root causes for the recent hacks on the government.

Cybersecurity

OPM director refuses to resign amid new hack revelations

Officials detailed the timing of the two breaches and confirmed that they were executed by the same "actor."

Cybersecurity

OPM: 21.5M impacted by background-check breach

Agency details results of an "interagency forensic investigation," plans for assisting affected individuals.

Cybersecurity

Justice Dept. seeks new authorities to fight cybercrime

Agency argues legislation is needed to effectively prosecute new kinds of online fraud and abuse.

Cybersecurity

Fixing FISMA, blaming … someone, and another lawsuit

Lawmakers wrestled with the regulatory shortcomings that helped allow the OPM breach to happen as they continued the search for someone to blame. Employee unions, on the other hand, know whom they're blaming.

Cybersecurity

5th OPM Hack Hearing Presents Yet Another Unanswered Question

No "credit check" can offset the risks to national security of compromised security clearance records.

Cybersecurity

Employee Union Deems OPM Breaches ‘Unconstitutional’ -- And Sues

National Treasury Employees Union litigation marks second suit against OPM Director Katherine Archuleta.

Cybersecurity

DHS Secretary: 'Federal Cybersecurity Is Not Where It Needs To Be'

DHS' multipronged approach includes public-private information sharing groups, among others.

Emerging Tech

New York Stock Exchange Suspends Trading Following 'Technical Issue'

It’s been a weird day for high-profile tech glitches.

Cybersecurity

Hillary Clinton: Cyber Legislation in Congress Is 'Not Enough' to Stop Foreign Hackers

"It's not only the Chinese. We know that other governments—Russia, North Korea, Iran—have either directly or indirectly sponsored hacking."

Cybersecurity

Comey renews encryption plea on Capitol Hill

The FBI director's arguments for law enforcement access to encrypted communications met a friendlier reception in the Senate than in the House.

Cybersecurity

Senator Wants Watchdog to Poke Around for More Flaws in OPM’s Security Clearance Systems

A legislator said he wants the IG to have “unfettered access” to OPM's security clearance system.

Cybersecurity

A FOIA app, Chamber targets cyber, shelling out for Shell and more

News and notes from around the federal IT community.

Cybersecurity

Federal Researchers Developing New Spoof-Proof Email Security System

The goal is to build an email encryption system, and then demonstrate to federal agencies and businesses how they can use it.

Cybersecurity

Post-Breach, Interior Has Mandated Computer Users Sign On with Smart Cards

The majority of individuals with high-level control over Interior data and networks needed only a password to log in.

Digital Government

Eric Holder: The 'Possibility Exists' Edward Snowden Could Come Home

“I certainly think there could be a basis for a resolution that everybody could ultimately be satisfied with,” the former attorney general said.

Cybersecurity

Report: UL in talks with White House on IoT certification

A certification from Underwriters Laboratories, which has historically focused on electrical safety, could set a broad risk standard for cybersecurity.