Cybersecurity

NIST Suggests Agencies Accept the Word of Software Producers Per Executive Order

The standards agency said an attestation from vendors themselves would be sufficient when screening for cybersecurity, unless an agency's risk calculus suggests otherwise.

Cybersecurity

CISA Offers Tips to Protect Data in Face of Evolving Ransomware Attacks

The cybersecurity agency warned attackers now threaten to sell or leak stolen data, not just render systems unusable.

Cybersecurity

Survey: Pandemic Has Left Public Sector IT Exposed

The single largest risk factor reported by respondents is the influx in remote work.

Cybersecurity

Bill Would Require Federal Agencies and Contractors to Report Cyber Intrusions Within 24 Hours

The bill leaves it up to an interagency rulemaking process to determine whether entities would be required to report incidents they’re aware of but not directly involved in.

Cybersecurity

Key Senator Wants Biden to Raise SolarWinds in International Negotiations

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner said espionage campaigns like the SolarWinds hack merit discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Cybersecurity

Justice Took Down Two Domains Used in USAID Hack 

The action demonstrates the department’s authorities beyond attributing malicious cyber activity.  

Cybersecurity

NTIA Wants Feedback on Software Transparency Plan

One high-profile expert raised the ever-looming workforce challenge in suggesting the juice might not yet be worth the squeeze.

Cybersecurity

Russia’s Latest Hack Shows How Useful ‘Criminal Groups’ Are to the Kremlin

Russian coders have little choice but to work with their government, which in turn denies any knowledge of their activities. That’s why hacking activity shows no sign of slowing.

Digital Government

Biden Budget Ups Request for Civilian Agencies’ Cybersecurity

The president’s funding proposal also puts numbers on the National Cyber Director’s Office and other priority cybersecurity areas.

Cybersecurity

Pipeline Companies Have One Week to Identify Cybersecurity Coordinators Under TSA Directive

The directive now mandates incident reporting and reviews described in the administration’s voluntary guidelines for the sector.

Cybersecurity

US Chamber Asks Government To Get More Involved In Ransomware Defense

The Chamber of Commerce offered six steps the federal government can take to help American businesses defend against and respond to ransomware cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity

37 Defense Industrial Base Companies Affected by SolarWinds Intrusion

A defense official told lawmakers the department’s CMMC program likely wouldn’t have guaranteed successful prevention of the SolarWinds breach.

Cybersecurity

Pipeline Security Act Reintroduced in House

More than a dozen lawmakers have cosponsored the legislation following the Colonial Pipeline attack.

Cybersecurity

Progressive Lawmakers Praise Biden’s Plan for Cybersecurity Labels

Reviews are in on the administration’s long-awaited executive order following several major hacking campaigns.

Cybersecurity

Cyber Response Bill Advances in Senate

The legislation includes a fund to help impacted organizations pay for remediation efforts.

Cybersecurity

Biden Issues Executive Order to Bolster Nation’s Cybersecurity

The administration calls for a standardized federal playbook and review board for incident response, as well as changes to software procurement.

Cybersecurity

Senators Cite Colonial Pipeline Hack in Calling for Cyber Response and Recovery Fund

A hearing on federal agencies’ response to the SolarWinds hack drew attention to communication issues, both with the private sector and within the government.

Cybersecurity

US, UK Agencies Warn Russian Hackers Are Adapting Based on Government Advisories

The adversary is changing its tools to avoid detection while attacking the vulnerabilities governments issue warnings about.