Emerging Tech

Decrypting the Encryption Debate

The ability to encrypt and use cyphers to hide messages from unauthorized readers goes back at least as far as Roman times.

Digital Government

Is Congress All Bark and No Bite on Encryption?

Even critics of the tech industry aren’t quite sure how to guarantee government access to terrorist communications.

Cybersecurity

This ISIS-Endorsed Encryption Contractor Says It Will Now Screen Who's Buying Its Services

The goal is to stop terrorists from using stolen credit cards bought off the online black market, and entering bogus physical addresses to register for encryption services.

Digital Government

Why Restricting Encryption Would Not Have Prevented the Paris Attack

... despite what intelligence officials from multiple countries are saying.

Digital Government

Senators Investigate Role of Encryption in Paris Attacks

Lawmakers want to know whether encryption allowed the attackers to keep their communications covert.

Cybersecurity

Paris attacks revive 'going dark' concerns

The terrorist attacks in Paris have rekindled a debate in the United States about law enforcement access to end-to-end encryption on mobile devices.

Digital Government

Brennan: Paris Is a 'Wakeup Call' to Europe on Encryption

The ability to shield communications from anyone but the intended recipient via encryption and other digital means will now face unprecedented challenges.

Cybersecurity

Governance lags tech on info sharing, CIA's Brennan says

The CIA director warns that the rapid technological improvements in spycraft and information collection have outpaced the ability of worldwide intel agencies to cooperate.

Cybersecurity

What does Tor's allegation against the FBI mean for computer research?

The Web anonymity service's allegation that the FBI paid researchers to unmask Tor users has alarmed some cryptographers and raises questions about the collaborative relationship between law enforcement and security researchers.

Digital Government

How Much Is Encryption Worth to the Economy?

With strong, ubiquitous encryption under fire, a new research paper tries to assess the economic benefits of encryption.

Cybersecurity

DHS chief defends China cyber accord

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told lawmakers it was too soon to tell whether a recent cyber accord with Beijing was altering Chinese behavior in cyberspace.

Cybersecurity

Grassley tries to revive 'going dark' legislative fix

The Obama administration may have shelved a legislative plan to force firms to decrypt communications, but Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley is not having it.

Digital Government

FBI: ‘Dozens’ of Terror Suspects Have Used Encryption to Hide from Law Enforcement

“I’m surprised if it is only a couple dozen people,” says Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson.

Digital Government

Former Intelligence Director: Law Enforcement Must 'Adapt' to Encryption

Mike McConnell, who has served as NSA Director and director of national intelligence, continues his new crusade for strong encryption.

Digital Government

FBI: Weaker Encryption Is a Worthwhile Tradeoff for Law Enforcement Access to Data

Government officials sparred with privacy advocates over encryption, but acknowledged that “back doors” come with risks of intrusion.

Digital Government

The FBI’s Charm Offensive on Encryption

“The FBI is not an alien force imposed on the American people,” the agency’s director says, as feds clash with Silicon Valley over encryption standards.

Emerging Tech

How Uber Could Contribute to the Future of Spycraft

DNI has quietly released an unprecedented, unclassified 5-year roadmap charting the future of data analysis.

Modernization

Do Encrypted Phones Threaten National Security?

A legislator compares manufacturing devices with strong, end-to-end encryption to dumping toxic waste in a stream.

Cybersecurity

Federal Researchers Developing New Spoof-Proof Email Security System

The goal is to build an email encryption system, and then demonstrate to federal agencies and businesses how they can use it.