Digital Government
Stuxnet worm deemed 'best malware ever'
The highly sophisticated malware known as the Stuxnet worm operated undetected for nearly six months while carrying out its stealth attack on utility infrastructure around the globe. Read about how it was brought to bay.
Digital Government
Rather Pay Than Install EHR
A lot of work went into the development of <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100713_8741.php>meaningful use standards</a> -- those requirements that an electronic health record system has to do to be considered a bona fide electronic health record system.
Digital Government
What's the IT Cost of Legislation?
When Congress passes legislation, it rarely thinks about how much work is involved in putting a new policy into place. And that includes information technology work.
Digital Government
How the iPad Informs Cyber Command
In his <a href=http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/FC092310/AlexanderStatement.pdf>testimony</a> given before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Gen. Keith B. Alexander, commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, cited Apple's iPad, which costs $499 and up, as an example of the challenges the nation faces as it attempts to operate in a global and amorphous cyber space.
Ideas
A More Serious Twitter Breach
When hackers on Tuesday exploited a security flaw on the social-networking service Twitter to corrupt messages from users -- including the White House press secretary's account -- the breach seemed to be a joke rather than an effort to bring down systems.
People
Improving federal IT acquisitions
Blogger Steve Kelman contends vendors should make experts available to provide comments or suggestions on technical or contracting strategy issues during the contract bidding process.
Cybersecurity
ESPN Fantasy Football Flaw
ESPN fantasy football players beware: The system is rife with security flaws. According to security experts, the vulnerabilities exist in the URL the site uses as a final confirmation when making roster decisions. The site is not authenticating the requests correctly, so by essentially editing the URL, a player can make changes to another player's team.
People
4 keys to finding the best new hires
Federal agencies have an opportunity to broaden the available talent pool, write Ronald Sanders and Jeff Pon from Booz Allen Hamilton.
Modernization
Electronic tax-filing system gets few takers
The IRS had expected millions of taxpayers to file online using its new system this year, but fewer than 1 million did, according to a new audit.
People
IT spending: When bad news is good news
Improved access to federal spending data bodes well for IT decision-making, writes FCW columnist Chris Bronk.
People
Federal IT program failures: It's the content, stupid
Many federal IT programs fail because agencies focus on systems rather than content, writes consultant Barry Schaeffer.
Digital Government
A battle over public safety radio plans
Seattle officials exchange a blog-based war of words over the region's strategy for first-responder communications.
People
Second Senate panel approves Lew to head OMB
The Senate Budget Committee has approved Jacob Lew's nomination to be director of the Office of Management and Budget.
People
FCC website goes open source with Drupal
The Federal Communications Commission is transitioning FCC.gov to the Drupal open-source content management system.
Modernization
PowerPoint takes a few bullets
Microsoft PowerPoint is the junk food of office software: Everyone loves to trash it, but they eat it up all the same. Granted, not always by choice.
Modernization
Flexibility drives new Pentagon satellite plans
The military's new Wideband Global SATCOM program is a case study in balancing the need for speed with investment protection.
Modernization
CIA needs nimble tech to keep pace
Chief Technology Officer Gus Hunt describes how the CIA is building its future on cloud computing, social media and other emerging technologies.
Cybersecurity
DHS gets average grade on public transit info sharing
The Homeland Security Department could do a better job of streamlining the security information flow to public transit agencies, according to a new GAO report.
People
6 IT lessons learned the hard way
Even the best government IT practitioners had to fail at some point to learn the lessons that propelled them to their eventual successes. Here are their stories.
People