Homeland Security

CISA Shares Specs for Threat-Hunting Solution

The Cyberspace Solarium Commission is now pushing the Biden administration to require the same thing for companies serving the Defense Department.

  • By Mariam Baksh

DHS Nominee Pledges Review of Agency’s Core Cybersecurity Programs

Sen. Josh Hawley blocked quick confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas.

  • By Mariam Baksh

The Hack Roundup: SolarWinds Shares Details on How Attackers Inserted Backdoor

Here are the news and updates you may have missed.

  • By Heather Kuldell and Aaron Boyd

CISA: SolarWinds Hackers Got Into Networks by Guessing Passwords

The agency also highlighted new indicators of compromise and recommendations for mitigating follow on activity involving Microsoft Cloud users.

  • By Mariam Baksh

IG: Last Major CBP System Outage Caused By Code Defect Known for 2 Years

The customs agency could have avoided an August 2019 system outage—and hours of delays for travelers—with better patch management and employee training on backup procedures.

  • By Aaron Boyd

The Hack Roundup: CISA Guidance Warns Affected Systems May Need to Be Rebuilt

Here are the news and updates you may have missed. 

  • By Heather Kuldell

CBP Should Halt Expansion of the Biometric Entry-Exit Program, Many Commenters Write

Advocacy groups and the City of Portland wrote the Homeland Security Department urging a full stop on expanding the use of facial recognition technologies. 

  • By Mila Jasper

CISA Releases Draft Use Case For Securing Remote, Mobile and Teleworking Connections

The cybersecurity agency wants feedback on how to secure remote users under the Trusted Internet Connection 3 policy.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Massive Hack Roundup: Attorney General Pins Intrusion on Russia

Here are the news and updates you may have missed.

  • By Mariam Baksh and Mila Jasper

DHS Works to Improve Biometric Scanning of Masked Faces

Almost 600 human volunteers participated in a recent technology evaluation.

  • By Brandi Vincent

DIU, CISA Team Up to Coordinate Cybersecurity Tech Investments

The Defense and Homeland Security departments agreed to develop cybersecurity technologies for national security applications together.

  • By Mila Jasper

CISA: SolarWinds Is Not the Only Way Hackers Got Into Networks

The agency also warned that getting attackers out of networks will be complex—especially because they are monitoring IT and cybersecurity employees’ emails.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Biometrics in Action

Federal agencies ramped up the use and scope of facial recognition tools in 2020, expanding programs to target more people and making significant technology upgrades.

  • By Nextgov Staff

CISA Orders Federal Agencies to Turn Off SolarWinds Products 

A critical flaw in software used throughout government was reportedly used to breach a major security company and at least two federal agencies.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Featured eBooks

Biometrics in Action
The Future of Defense Networks
How the Cloud is Helping the Government’s Pandemic Response

FBI, CISA, State Leaders Warn Schools About Ransomware Threats

The percentage of ransomware attacks perpetrated against schools more than doubled in 2020.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Why Certain Cybersecurity Provisions Made it into the NDAA and Others Didn’t  

An effort to establish a public-private collaboration environment was cut from the final bill but a controversial insurance provision was retained. 

  • By Mariam Baksh

Bill to Boost CBP’s Synthetic Opioid-Detecting Tech Awaits President's Signature

Among other requirements, it calls for the establishment of a new, centralized database.

  • By Brandi Vincent

What to Expect from CISA’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation Efforts in 2021

Program managers said the summer will bring data quality checks.

  • By Mariam Baksh

CISA Warns of Iran’s Offensive Cyber Capabilities

One observer suggests the alert is meant more for the adversary than defenders.

  • By Mariam Baksh

CISA, FBI Warn that U.S. Think Tanks Are in Hackers’ Crosshairs

The agencies share guidance for shoring up defenses in a remote work environment that can disguise attackers.

  • By Heather Kuldell

Krebs Unloads About Trump’s Election-Fraud Claims

In the fallout from being fired, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is concerned about how his experience will affect the recruitment of future leaders.

  • By Mariam Baksh