Policy

Section 702 renewal has support in Congress, but intelligence officials are leery of warrant measure

The disputed surveillance authority expires April 19, and the intelligence community is sending a full-court press to keep it from garnering significant privacy reforms.

Cybersecurity

Government funding bill punts extension of controversial spying power

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires April 19 unless reauthorized by Congress, and an 11th-hour funding bill crafted to avert a partial government shutdown doesn't address the matter.

Cybersecurity

Government facilities were third largest ransomware target in 2023, FBI says

The FBI’s IC3 findings also show government official impersonation scams are on the rise.

Cybersecurity

US, international partners disrupt LockBit ransomware operations

Officials have also developed a tool for victims targeted by LockBit to potentially decrypt their compromised data.

Cybersecurity

FBI disrupts botnet controlled by Russian security services

The news comes just weeks after the U.S. announced it went on the offensive against a China-linked botnet operation.

Cybersecurity

Recent US operations rendered Chinese-backed hackers’ support system inert, research finds

The support network, called KV-botnet, has helped enable the activities of Volt Typhoon and other Chinese state-backed hackers.

Cybersecurity

Cyber, intelligence chiefs urge U.S. to strengthen against Chinese cyber threats

In a collective call to action, officials warned of invasive actions that China-backed hackers can take against U.S. infrastructure and elections.

Cybersecurity

Top cyber, intelligence chiefs to call out China as leading cyber threat

Researchers and officials have previously designated China as a clandestine, preparatory operator in cyberspace, quietly breaching and securing systems to use to their advantage at a later time.

Emerging Tech

Government needs to regulate facial recognition tech, says National Academies

A facial recognition risk management framework, new legislation and more are among the recommendations in a new report requested by the FBI and DHS.

Cybersecurity

CISA, FBI warn on risks of China-made drones

The new guidance is meant to alert critical infrastructure operators to potential security risks, including data exfiltration and cybersecurity risks, posed by unmanned aircraft systems manufactured in China.

Acquisition

Protests persist for FBI's long-delayed $5B IT contract

ANALYSIS | History looks to be repeating itself as the FBI keeps facing protests after each downselect phase and elimination of bidders.

Cybersecurity

CISA, FBI warn of social engineering-based ransomware

Federal agencies are revealing more information on the Scattered Spider cybercriminal group in a bid to both prevent breaches and encourage victims to offer more detail on such attacks.

Emerging Tech

US would be ‘effectively defenseless’ without counter-drone authority extension, FBI director says

The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice’s authority to mitigate threats from unmanned aircraft systems is set to expire on Nov. 18.

Modernization

FBI’s new headquarters plan was not influenced by the Trump White House, watchdog says

An inspector general report four years in the making found that FBI officials nixed a plan to move its headquarters to suburban Washington, D.C., for reasons not related to alleged political pressure from the Trump administration. 

Cybersecurity

North Korean hackers poised to cash out $40 million in bitcoin after crypto heists, FBI warns

The law enforcement agency says it has been tracking large volumes of cryptocurrency stolen by North Korean hackers during a summer of high-profile cyber heists.

Cybersecurity

CISA conducts largest annual election security drills amid threats targeting voting systems

The nation’s cyber defense agency hosted a three-day election security exercise with state, local and federal officials ahead of the 2024 race.

Cybersecurity

Agencies Warn of State-Sponsored Volt Typhoon’s Hacking Tactics

In collaboration with international and private sector partners, CISA released a new advisory warning network defenders of PRC-linked Volt Typhoon’s infiltration tactics. 

Cybersecurity

Securing U.S. Intellectual Property ‘Top Priority’ for Federal Law Enforcement

The FBI and Homeland Security are emphasizing the need to digitally safeguard tech R&D in the U.S. from state-sponsored adversaries.

Cybersecurity

Cyber Agencies Unveil Updated Ransomware Guide

The 2023 version offers more detailed, step-by-step guidance and associated recommendations to fortify public and private networks against sophisticated ransomware.