Cybersecurity

Human Rights Advocate to Congress: Stop Federal Procurement of Commercial Spyware

The Intelligence Authorization Act, which recently cleared committee in the House, empowers—but does not require—the director of national intelligence to bar such acquisitions.

Cybersecurity

DHS Convenes Regulators, Law Enforcement Agencies on Cyber Incident Reporting

The Department of Homeland Security started the clock on a report to Congress for streamlining requirements, amid industry dissatisfaction with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s pending reporting regime.

Cybersecurity

Ransomware Hackers Will Still Target Smaller Critical Infrastructure, CISA Director Warns

CISA Executive Director Brandon Wales discussed how ransomware actors target companies of all sizes, and how CISA wants organizations to prevent zero-day events.

Cybersecurity

Hackers Use More Sophisticated Scams to Drive Costly Data Breaches, Analysis Finds

Criminals are using more sophisticated methods, including virtual meeting services, to take advantage of compromised business emails and accounts for financial gain.

Cybersecurity

Election Officials Want to Tell the Public 'Where the Good Guys Won' in Cyber Efforts

As misinformation around the 2020 elections continues to swirl, state election officials say that DHS and CISA should do more to raise up ‘successes’ around efforts to mitigate vulnerabilities in voting systems.

Cybersecurity

Simple Cyber Reporting Will Enable Better Governmentwide Response, Lawmaker Argues

Sen. Gary Peters discussed how streamlined reporting to CISA can clarify the cyber threat landscape to all U.S. networks.

Cybersecurity

Cyber Safety Review Board Closes the Book on SolarWinds While Reporting on Log4j 

Legislation seeking to amend the annual National Defense Authorization Act wants the Government Accountability Office to investigate.

Cybersecurity

CISA Urges FCC to Prioritize National Security in Internet Routing Probe

CISA Director Jen Easterly said industry concerns shouldn’t preclude use of the commission’s regulatory authority to mitigate exploitation of the Border Gateway Protocol. 

Cybersecurity

Diabetes Patients Flood FDA with Comments on Cybersecurity for Medical Devices

As the agency finalizes guidance for approving the sale of devices such as those used to monitor and control glucose levels, the comments highlight competition and consumer protection issues associated with a grassroots movement for the “right-to-repair.”

Cybersecurity

North Korea Behind Manually Executed Ransomware Attacks, Federal Agencies Say

Officials are connecting the “Maui” ransomware to attacks on the public health sector over the past year. 

Cybersecurity

China’s Disinformation Warriors May Be Coming for Your Company

A recent attack on a rare-earths processor shows a new facet of information warfare: weaponized NIMBYism.

Digital Government

Updated Digital Forensics Database Speeds Criminal Investigations

NIST’s expanded, more searchable database will help law enforcement find incriminating data in electronic media.

Cybersecurity

Congresswoman Promotes Cyber Insurance Amid Shifting Policy Landscape

The jury is still out on how using insurance policies to pay ransoms and re-establish systems after a cyberattack affects critical infrastructure organizations’ individual and collective resilience.

Cybersecurity

Allied Cybersecurity Agencies Advise Against Disabling Popular Tool for Cyberattackers

The Microsoft program—PowerShell—has granted malicious actors in major hacks remote command and control ability over victims, but, by the same token, it can improve cybersecurity management across an enterprise.

Cybersecurity

GAO: Potential Federal Cyber Insurance Program Should Avoid Moral Hazard

The government watchdog highlighted the need for specific security requirements in recommending other relevant agencies explore the possibility of providing federal assistance to private sector entities following a catastrophic event.

Digital Government

Biden Signs Bill Creating Federal Cybersecurity Rotational Program

Certain cyber and IT federal employees will be able to rotate to other agencies under a new law signed Tuesday.

Emerging Tech

TMF Announces $95 Million in New Funding Focused on Security and Networks

The Technology Modernization Fund is announcing a new set of investments to help three agencies meet White House cybersecurity objectives.

Cybersecurity

DOJ Ramps Up Efforts To Halt Cybercrime

Through new enforcement and reporting efforts, the Justice Department is attempting to curb online harassment, especially related to vulnerable populations.