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.
Cybersecurity
OPM Hiring IT Staff to Work on Cyber Upgrades
The agency that suffered three big data breaches needs $170,000 project managers to move forward with a computer upgrade.
Cybersecurity
Hillary Clinton: China Hacks Into 'Everything That Doesn’t Move'
The former secretary of state accused China of stealing large amounts of government information.
Cybersecurity