Cyber Defense
Voting machine researchers say federal work abruptly ended after Trump ally pushed back on their findings
Mojave Research executives said at DEF CON that the government had been preparing to expand the company’s election security work, and linked Trump adviser Kurt Olsen to pressure they faced after finding election system vulnerabilities but no evidence votes were altered.
Top cyber official wants US open-source AI adopted worldwide
National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross’s remarks come as the White House has excluded open-weight models from voluntary security testing and as new hacking incidents underscored risks posed by autonomous AI.
3 security questions agencies should answer before Gold Eagle lands
COMMENTARY | The agencies that build that capability will define what good looks like for the next decade.
The agentic SOC for today’s air-gapped environments: rethinking cyber defense in the age of AI
COMMENTARY | If you're not using AI to defend against AI, then the adversary has already closed the gap.
Pentagon closes cyber apprenticeship applications early after receiving over 15,000
A Pentagon official told Nextgov/FCW that the agency is “rolling out additional apprenticeship positions over the next few weeks.”
Pentagon opens applications for cyber apprenticeship program
DOD Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies said last month that the apprenticeship had “already generated more than 70,000 inquiries” since it was first announced in late April.
OMB issues instructions for agency migration to quantum-proof encryption
Agencies are expected to undertake two actions in service of enhanced security: execute a phased migration of cryptographic systems to prepare for quantum computing risk; and submit a PQC migration plan to OMB.
The hidden market turning home internet connections into cover for hackers
Researchers traced millions of household IP addresses through residential proxy networks, calling the illicit use of those connections the “blood diamonds of the digital age.”
DOD quantum strategy ‘a first step’ in preparing for the future, CIO says
Pentagon Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies said the department’s new post-quantum cryptography strategy is only one component of ensuring its operations “are robust and ready in an increasingly unpredictable world.”
Exclusive
CISA now has full Mythos Preview access, people familiar say
The cyberdefense agency received access around a week ago, but the White House has not yet set clear parameters for how the agency should use the model.
CISA directive revamps how agencies prioritize vulnerable systems
The move is part of CISA’s response “to the current threat landscape where AI software services can assist threat actors to find and exploit vulnerabilities,” the agency says.
Exclusive
Lack of White House guidance has complicated agency Mythos adoption, people familiar say
Agency tech leaders say they don’t have clear direction from the White House on how to access and implement Anthropic’s cyber-focused AI model for their networks.
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New CISA directive would reshape how agencies prioritize cyber risk, official says
The forthcoming mandate aims to triage vulnerabilities by real-world consequences of a successful cyberattack, marking a major shift in how the government decides which cyber risks demand attention first.
Warner unveils bill to restore cyber information-sharing program funding
The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee also sent letters to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and to every governor urging them to support state and local cyberdefense.
New coalition will enter legal debate over industry’s role in government cyber missions
Its formation occurs amid a broader discussion over whether existing laws are suited for cyber activities that increasingly depend on cooperation between the government and private sector.
EHR modernization needs better cyber and privacy collaboration, GAO says
The Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization office needs to improve its interagency coordination to address potential privacy and security vulnerabilities in the new system, according to the watchdog.
Breaking News
Trump signs AI executive order after postponement last month
The order encourages developers of advanced AI to grant the U.S. and certain critical infrastructure operators 30 days of pre-release model access. Earlier drafts had set 90 days of early access.
NSA taps three officials for top cybersecurity positions
David Imbordino and Holly Baroody will take leadership roles in the agency’s Cybersecurity Directorate, while Bruce Jones will head its Cybersecurity Collaboration Center.
AI is compressing attack timelines. Here's how agencies can respond.
COMMENTARY | The zero-day clock is already running.
Draft executive order would set deadlines for digital signature and key quantum encryption
The developing order on post-quantum cryptography sets rigid deadlines for quantum-resistant cryptography updates, underscoring that contractors need to migrate to certain standards by 2030.
