Digital Government

Former TSA worker indicted on tampering charges

Employee compromised security of terrorist screening database.

Digital Government

Orszag: White House will post spending-bill earmarks

Announcement comes after a ban of for-profit earmarks.

Digital Government

GAO finds more glitches in stimulus spending reporting process

Some congressional districts and their ZIP codes do not match, and federal officials said they hope to have the problem fixed before the April 10 deadline to file spending data.

Digital Government

Army, Air Force mine databases to manage evacuations of wounded

Systems balance the need to remove injured soldiers with the safety of medevacs, help design better armor and prepare medical teams for when troops arrive at hospitals for treatment.

Digital Government

Help wanted: Agencies expect to hire more info security pros in 2010

Federal government is a good place for information security professionals to be during the economic downturn, with relatively stable budgets, rising wages and growing employment, according to a survey by ISC2.

Digital Government

DHS to enlist cell phones for early-warning chemical detection

The Homeland Security Department is working on developing a cell phone with an artificial nose that can detect and warn of chemical attacks.

Digital Government

Former TSA employee charged with infecting databases

A former Transportation Security Administration data analyst has beenn charged with injecting malicious code into two TSA databases last year, about a week before his employment was about to end.

Digital Government

The Carrot is Mightier Than the Stick

The coiners of maxims about relative strength -- the pen is mightier than the sword. Superman's more powerful than a locomotive. Love conquers all -- have long overlooked the humble carrot.

Digital Government

VA Still Recovering from Bug?

I'm picking up strong signals that the Veterans Affairs Department has yet to <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100304_9977.php>fix the bug in its electronic health data exchange</a> with the Defense Department and may not until next week rather than on March 9 as predicted.

Ideas

Win Cash and IP Rights

Citizens who enter innovation contests that the government plans to launch this year could rake in cash on top of the prize money that agencies are allowed to award. The White House on Monday released a <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100309_4641.php">legal framework</a> for giving away money and other incentives during competitions aimed at improving open government, spurring research and development and addressing national priorities.

Cybersecurity

Anti-Minus Protection?

Computer security is a fairly new endeavor for me, so I find myself asking basic questions about basic protections. Like should I install virus protection software on my computer? The answer seems obvious, but I've learned some pretty disturbing facts about the effectiveness of this "protection."

Digital Government

Upcoming FCW Feature

Update on topic and writer for upcoming FCW feature

Digital Government

Army e-mail consolidation first step in enterprise efforts

Over the next two years the Army will consolidate the various e-mail accounts for nearly 250,000 users, the first step in creating enterprise-wide e-mail services.

Cybersecurity

System errors lead SSA to issue replacement cards in error, IG says

The Social Security Adminstration's computer systems for tracking the issuing of replacement SSN cards is lapsing a high percentage of the time, according to a report from the IG.

Modernization

House bill targets Internet censorship

Legislation in the House would require the National Science Foundation to set up a foundation to fund programs to defeat Internet censorship.

Digital Government

VA has prototype of Aviva EHR system

The Veterans Affairs Department has taken delivery of a prototype next-generation digital health record system known as Aviva.

Digital Government

Top Dollar IT Certifications

While the down economy has led to nearly flat salaries for many tech jobs, IT professionals are touting one important tool that helps them earn more money: professional certifications. According to the March issue of the <a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MzcyNTMyfENoaWxkSUQ9MzY5OTU0fFR5cGU9MQ==&t=1">Dice Report</a>, IT professionals who obtain specific certifications are increasing their value to other companies and organizations, raising their value in the job market and signaling to their current management that they're worth holding on to.

Digital Government

Be careful of those hard drives, XP users

This post is for those that are still, and will be for a while, users of Windows XP. If that isn’t you then look away – or maybe gloat a little.

People

A new way to think about favoritism in the workplace

Cartoonist John Klossner suggests that everyone just admit that favoritism exists -- and to acknowledge that not all favoritism is bad.

Acquisition

OFPP administrator attempts to draw clear lines

Gordon wants to make sure agencies will have no questions about what work should and should not be done by contractors.