People
CFPB hires longtime fed as new CIO
Jerry Horton, most recently at the State Department, fills the post vacated by Ashwin Vasan.
Digital Government
Here's Why Defense IT Firms Should Brace for Merger Mania
Companies that excel in emerging technologies—like cloud computing and internet of things—will be prime targets.
Modernization
Carter stresses reform and innovation in exit memo
In his exit memo, the secretary of defense outlines current threats and priorities with a strong emphasis on the need for acquisition reform and innovation.
Cybersecurity
DHS tags election systems as critical
Some state government officials object to the Department of Homeland Security's move to add election infrastructure to the roster of 16 existing federal "critical infrastructure" areas.
Cybersecurity
This is the Hacking Investigation Trump Wants Instead
The president-elect seems more interested in how results of Obama’s probe into Russia’s election-related hacking were leaked to the press than in the intelligence itself.
Cybersecurity
EU needs more nudging on travel data, says DHS chief
The incoming administration will have to continue prodding the EU to share more traveler passenger information with DHS, according to the agency's outgoing secretary.
Cybersecurity
L.A. College Pays Hacker’s Ransom to Unlock IT Systems
Don’t expect exploitative ransomware attacks to die down anytime soon.
Ideas
With Self-Driving Cars, the Future is Now
Much of what was considered the stuff of science fiction is today certainly within reach technologically.
Acquisition
An IT moonshot: Can government IT development come to look like SpaceX?
Steve Kelman outlines the changes needed to truly transform IT acquisition.
Cybersecurity
Hackers Engage in WhatsApp Wi-Fi Scam; N.H. Health Data Breach and SOCOM Staff Leak
Another busy week in Threatwatch, Nextgov's regularly updated index of cyber incidents.
Modernization
Lawyer Rewrote Instagram’s Privacy Policy So Kids and Parents Can Have Meaningful Talk About Privacy
How many people actually understand what they sign up for?
Modernization
Obama Was Too Good at Social Media
His “cool dad” presidency blinded him to technology’s dangers.
Cybersecurity
DHS Designates Election Systems Critical Infrastructure
The moves comes amid an end-of-administration drive to respond to Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Digital Government
Congress Wraps First Week with Muslim Registry, H1-B Visa and Innovation Fellow Bills
One week into the 115th Congress, and there’s already plenty of legislation for the tech community to track.
Digital Government
Pentagon Acquisition Reorganization Could Help Fight Adversaries
The NDAA breaks down a major acquisition role into two parts.
Cybersecurity
Intel Report: Russian Government Aimed to Help Trump with Hacks
The new report does not provide additional nonpublic information to support its findings.
Modernization
US Is Finally Getting Serious About Security on the Internet of Things With This Lawsuit
The lawsuit is against Taiwanese router manufacturer D-Link and its alleged shoddy security practices.
Cybersecurity
Trump Ducks Russian Attribution After DNC Hacks Briefing
The president-elect has called the attribution politically motivated.
Digital Government