Cybersecurity
e-QIP fallout and more phishing schemes
News and notes from around the federal IT community.
Cybersecurity
Warren: Cyber won't suffer in VA budget crunch
Acting VA tech head Steph Warren says malware attempts are trending down from a peak in March, a result of the wider use of Einstein 3.
Cybersecurity
Halvorsen's Silicon Valley trip shakes up JRSS
An RFP for Joint Regional Security Stacks software will ask vendors to incorporate big-data analytics capabilities that DOD CIO Terry Halvorsen observed firsthand in Silicon Valley.
Digital Government
State Department Posts Back Online after Tech Glitch Snarls Visas
A hardware bug corrupted the agency’s database used for processing biometric information.
Cybersecurity
Why the Lawsuit Against OPM over the Massive Data Breach Faces an Uphill Battle
Demonstrating damages have been suffered will be the challenge, legal experts say.
Digital Government
Nextgov Prime 2015 to Shine Spotlight on Cybersecurity and Data
The event will give federal IT influencers insight into the top challenges of managing, leveraging and securing data and tackling emerging cyberthreats in 2015 and beyond.
Digital Government
Court Revives Defunct NSA Mass Surveillance Program
NSA’s phone dragnet is back—for now.
Cybersecurity
OPM May Announce Size of Second Data Breach Next Week
The embattled federal agency is planning to reveal details about a breach of security-clearance information as soon as early next week, according to Hill sources.
Cybersecurity
Federal Employee Union Sues Over OPM Hack, Citing Financial and Emotional Distress
Agency Director Katherine Archuleta and CIO Donna Seymour are named in the class action lawsuit.
Cybersecurity
Contractors Hacked Other Contractors and Agencies for Financial Gain
Government (U.S.) // Technology // United States
Cybersecurity
DHS Group Wants Homeland Security to Share Database of Cyber Incidents with Private Sector
The effort builds on a 2015 White House executive order encouraging more cyberthreat information sharing between the public and private sectors.
Digital Government
After Hack, Officials Pull Plug on Pentagon and OPM Background Check Systems
A vulnerability in an OPM tool that links to the Pentagon system was discovered during a probe.
Modernization
Feds: App Secretly Hijacked Phones to Mine Digital Money
The "Prized" app drained batteries and burned through mobile data, according to regulators.
Cybersecurity
Is it Time to Finally Get Rid of the Password?
The vast majority of users and organization still rely on passwords for protection from increasingly persistent cyberattacks.
Cybersecurity
OPM yanks background check system offline
Weeks after first disclosing massive breaches, OPM has shuttered a vital background check system.
Cybersecurity
McCormack details changes at DHS CIO office
The moves include the promotion of Deputy CIO Margie Graves, the appointment of CTO Michael Hermus and creation of a new deputy CIO post.
Cybersecurity
Hackers Expose Narcotics Dealers, Dump Canadian Officials’ Credentials and Sell Patient Records for $3
Just another week in ThreatWatch, our regularly updated index of noteworthy data breaches.
Cybersecurity
Canadian Health Authority ‘Tearing’ Offices Apart For Missing Thumb Drive and Assigning 30 Workers for Notification
Healthcare and Public Health // Canada
Cybersecurity
OPM Chief’s New Cyber Defense Operation Has Potential, Private Investigators Say
But GOP lawmakers have asked Obama to remove Archuleta.
Cybersecurity