Exclusive Cybersecurity

Much-hyped Effort to Help DHS Land Cyber Talent is Slow to Make Hires

So far about four hires have been made under the Cybersecurity Talent Management System, with the agency hoping to make offers to 150 new cyber specialists by the end of September.

Cybersecurity

House Lawmaker Asks 9 Entities to Illuminate Crypto’s Security Concerns

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi issued nine letters to regulatory agencies and crypto trading platforms alike asking for future plans, emphasizing consumer protections.

Cybersecurity

How Energy's Cyber-Informed Engineering Strategy Fits into a Pending National Plan

A key White House official highlighted the importance of education and workforce training in the government’s procurement-centric cybersecurity policy.

Cybersecurity

Advisory Board Sends Critical Infrastructure Cyber Recommendations to the White House

The National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee voted unanimously to send its most recent report on IT systems security to President Biden.

Cybersecurity

CISA Hosts Election Security Exercise Ahead of 2022 Midterm Elections

State and local officials, along with representatives from federal agencies and election industry companies, participated in the “Tabletop the Vote” exercise to prepare for a range of hypothetical risks to election operations.

Cybersecurity

CISA Warns About Exploitation in Online Collaboration Suite

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued a cybersecurity advisory warning about active exploitations of vulnerabilities found in systems using unpatched Zimbra Collaboration Suite.

Cybersecurity

An Experiment Showed that the Military Must Change Its Cybersecurity Approach

The Defense Department’s current “checklist” approach can’t keep its networks safe.

Cybersecurity

White House Cyber Director: ‘Defense is the New Offense’ for Cyber

At DEF CON, National Cyber Director Chris Inglis discussed the nuances of cyber defense.

Artificial Intelligence

New Research Points to Hidden Vulnerabilities Within Machine Learning Systems

Agencies need to provide extra attention and security for machine learning and artificial intelligence-based systems, beyond the normal level of cybersecurity protection.

Cybersecurity

VA Systems Vulnerable to Cyber Intrusions Due to Lack of Effective Oversight, Report Says

The Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General's office said the agency is "leaving its systems vulnerable to compromise by impostors who may gain access to protected information."

Cybersecurity

Cyber Threats Warrant a Government Reorganization, Former CISA Head Says

Inaugural CISA director Chris Krebs said the federal government should do more to respond to cybersecurity and data concerns.

Emerging Tech

Mobile Threats Prompt Operational Changes for Government Staff

More than 80% of public sector respondents to a recent survey said they have been forced to re-evaluate workplace practices as attacks on mobile devices grow.

Cybersecurity

FCC, FEMA Raise Alarm Bells About Vulnerabilities in Emergency Alert System

Both agencies warned that software and equipment vulnerabilities could allow hackers to transmit fake emergency messages or disrupt real ones. 

Cybersecurity

Top Malware of 2021 Has Been in Use for Years, CISA Warns

The advisory highlights that such usage offers “opportunities to better prepare” and provides recommendations to mitigate cybersecurity threats.

Cybersecurity

Finance Sector Deals Latest Blow to Cyber Solarium Construct Teetering in NDAA

Congress will return from the August recess faced once again with the challenge of building cybersecurity policy for private providers of critical infrastructure faster than industry can tear it down.

Cybersecurity

Misinformation Campaigns and Threats are Undermining Confidence in U.S. Elections, Official Says

CISA is ramping up efforts to defend voting systems from outside intrusion, but the spread of online misinformation and threats against election officials still damage faith in the electoral process.

Cybersecurity

How the Cyber Ambassador In Waiting Plans to Control $1.5 Billion for Open Networks

The recently passed “CHIPS and Science Act” funds a grants program that the new State Department official will have a key role in steering, including to telecom networking firms.

Policy

Senators Propose Cybercrime Training Center Get 6 More Years of Congressional Support

Legislation to reauthorize the National Computer Forensics Institute through 2028 comes after House lawmakers passed a similar proposal included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

Cybersecurity

Security Alerts: Not All Vulnerabilities Are Created Equal

For industries without a heavy IT expertise, responding to the myriad vulnerability advisories released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is a daunting task.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers Question DOJ’s National Security Division on Cybersecurity, Surveillance

The House Judiciary Committee raised concerns over  three hostile foreign actors that breached court systems in early 2020, in addition to questions about the surveillance of Americans.