Cybersecurity

U.S. discloses zero-day exploitation practices

The government officially revealed that it uses undisclosed vulnerabilities in commercial software for surveillance and offensive cyber purposes.

Cybersecurity

Bill coming to establish encryption commission

Lawmakers plan legislation to create an encryption commission to make recommendations on how companies and law enforcement can work together.

Cybersecurity

McCaul adviser sees digital security commission launching soon

Legislation to establish a commission on encryption and other security issues "is going to happen," said Col. Andrea Thompson, a national security adviser to the House Homeland Security Committee.

Cybersecurity

The Hidden History of Encryption

The technology that keeps your text messages private had its start on the banks of the Tigris River, 3500 years ago.

Digital Government

The Cunning Way Hackers Break So-Called Unbreakable Encryption

If you’re a cryptographer, patterns are your enemy. But if you’re a cryptanalyst—someone who’s trying to break the code—they’re your friend.

Cybersecurity

Juniper Hack: DHS Tells Agencies to Close Encryption Backdoors

The government is scouring its IT inventory to identify affected Juniper systems.

Digital Government

Lawmaker: 'Encryption is Going to be a Big Issue in 2016'

Fueled by recent events and the 2016 election, expect the debate over encryption to heat up next year.

Cybersecurity

Clinton calls for 'Manhattan-like project' on encryption

Clinton has elevated her voice among current and former Obama administration officials warning of the potentially dire consequences of "going dark."

Digital Government

FBI Director Says San Bernardino Shooters Didn’t Post Public Social Media Messages

The attackers sent messages, but they were private and couldn’t have been caught by intelligence.

Modernization

BlackBerry boss strikes conciliatory tone on encryption

Like his Apple counterpart, BlackBerry CEO John Chen is opposed to weakening encryption but says the debate between law enforcement and tech firms has gotten too acrimonious.

Digital Government

FBI Says It Uses ‘Zero-Day’ Exploits, Too

The Bureau uses the same security loopholes in software that unscrupulous hackers do.

Cybersecurity

Privacy groups discuss encryption with White House

Obama administration officials met with multiple civil liberties groups about a petition urging the president to support strong encryption.

Digital Government

FBI Chief Admits It’s Impossible to Ban All Encryption

The government can at least make it harder to hide from surveillance, James Comey says.

Cybersecurity

White House reacts to pro-encryption petition

As "going dark" becomes a hot button issue in Washington, privacy activists are urging the White House to hold to its stance on commercial encryption.

Cybersecurity

Comey: 'Going dark' is business, not technical, challenge

The FBI director sounded upbeat about the possibility of convincing tech firms to give law enforcement access to encrypted customer communications with a warrant.

Emerging Tech

In-Q-Tel Invests in Firm That Says It Can Retrieve Evidence from Encrypted Devices

In-Q-Tel, the IC’s technology investment arm, did not disclose how much funding it will provide the Canadian-based Magnet Forensics.

Digital Government

House Homeland Security Chairman Wants Commission to Study Encryption

Law­makers are scram­bling to find a way to en­sure the gov­ern­ment can spy on ter­ror­ist com­mu­nic­a­tions.

Digital Government

Obama Hints at Policy Shift on Encryption

It could have serious consequences for the way Americans use technology.

Modernization

McCaul wants new commission on encryption and law enforcement

Top law enforcement officials have decried unbreakable commercial encryption as a dark space for terrorists and criminals. In the wake of the San Bernardino and Paris attacks, one House leader wants to take a hard look at the technology.