Cybersecurity

Study says law enforcement can make do without encryption override

Some in law enforcement want the keys to commercial encryption for investigative purposes, but a new study suggests there are other ways to capture the digital lives of criminal suspects.

Cybersecurity

New FBI biometric tech facility speeds analysis

The FBI's recently-opened center for biometrics technology in West Virginia giving the Bureau and the Department of Defense sharper capabilities, said a top FBI executive.

Digital Government

FBI Seeks New IT Chief

President Barack Obama recently tasked the agency with beefing up the IT infrastructure behind national background checks for gun purchases.

Modernization

FBI seeks CIO

Whoever takes the gig will be called on to carry the FBI forward in an era of cloud computing and data center consolidation.

Cybersecurity

Exclusive: What DHS and the FBI learned from the OPM breach

"Convenience and accessibility has been prioritized over critical security practices," at OPM, according to a Dec. 23 alert distributed to cleared contractors by the Defense Security Service on behalf of DHS and the FBI.

Digital Government

Obama Dispatches White House Tech Team to Expand Gun Background Check System

Planned upgrades to the $91.5 million, 30-second background check program already are off track.

Digital Government

Obama leans on tech in gun control action

President Barack Obama's executive actions to tighten national gun control include efforts to bolster FBI and ATF databases, as well as spur research and development of safe gun technology.

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."

Modernization

Report: Juniper breach has feds worried

A big breach at computer security firm Juniper Networks has federal officials fearing that foreign spies had access to encrypted communications between the U.S. government and the private sector for the last three years, according to a CNN report.

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.

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

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.

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.

Cybersecurity

Should the Secret Service Hand Over Its Cybersecurity Responsibilities?

It might be time for the Secret Service to transition its focus away from cybercrime, according to a recent House Oversight and Government Reform report.

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.