Cybersecurity
US should rethink current views of Russia’s cyber might, new report says
A think tank paper argues that Moscow’s network of hackers is more fragmented than U.S. officials once believed — a dynamic that may have led to exaggerated expectations of Russia’s cyber capabilities during its 2022 Ukraine invasion.
Artificial Intelligence
Commerce rescinds Biden-era AI export controls
The controversial rule on what countries can receive and use U.S. artificial intelligence technology and components will be replaced with a new rule and new AI export control guidance.
Cybersecurity
US and Netherlands seize network providers that helped hackers mask activities
The Justice Department and Dutch law enforcement shuttered 5socks and Anyproxy, services with Russian ties that sold proxies to cybercriminals. Lumen provided internet backbone data to the agencies.
Cybersecurity
Top intelligence lawmaker fears China may exploit DOGE’s changes to government
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., also called out the Trump administration on the recent firing of NSA Director Timothy Haugh, a move he viewed as “puzzling.”
Policy
US urging allies to cease talks with Chinese satellite industry
Internal talking points also give State Department officials guidance on how to respond to allies’ concerns about SpaceX’s Starlink.
Cybersecurity
User with Russian IP address tried to log into NLRB systems following DOGE access, whistleblower says
The blocked login attempts, detailed in an extensive whistleblower complaint filed to the Senate Intelligence Committee and others, may indicate foreign adversaries have begun leveraging DOGE inroads into sensitive federal systems.
Cybersecurity
Chinese police say NSA hacked networks of Asian Winter Games
The accusations, which name three supposed NSA operatives, come amid escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
Cybersecurity
China is trying to recruit current and former feds, intelligence document warns
The notice is one of the first public acknowledgements from the U.S. intelligence community showing how adversaries are leveraging DOGE-led layoffs to target the government.
Artificial Intelligence
US needs to fast-track AI to counter China, DOD’s former AI lead says
When it comes to continued U.S. leadership in the AI space, former Pentagon chief digital and artificial intelligence officer Radha Plumb said “I worry sometimes that it’s passing us by.”
Ideas
The need for collaborative global cyber diplomacy is growing
COMMENTARY | Strengthening global cyber collaboration is needed now more than ever.
Cybersecurity
Tariffs create more volatile environment for cyberattacks, industry executive warns
Tenable Co-CEO Steve Vintz told Nextgov/FCW that the potential trade wars stoked by the Trump administration’s tariffs facilitate conditions that incentivize hacking activity around the globe.
Cybersecurity
Phishing campaign seeks to siphon Ukraine war intelligence from defense contractors
Nearly 880 spoofed domains of worldwide IT, defense and aerospace firms were identified between December and March, DomainTools Investigations says.
Cybersecurity
FCC to investigate potential US operations of restricted Chinese firms
The commission’s new chairman, Brendan Carr, believes that some or all of the companies on the FCC’s Covered List are still operating in the nation.
Policy
Experts fear global media agency’s gutting will strip key tools against foreign propaganda
U.S. Agency for Global Media programs serve a critical function in the face of U.S. adversaries’ efforts to wage information warfare against American allies and regions of critical interest, an influence operations analyst said.
Cybersecurity
Republicans urge Trump admin to launch offensive cyber operations against China
The letter cites high-profile Chinese intrusions into U.S. systems that have made headlines in recent months. Trump’s national security officials have expressed a desire to engage in offensive cyber ops against adversaries.
Cybersecurity
US charges 12 Chinese nationals for hacks into government systems
Some of the people have ties to i-Soon, the Chinese tech firm whose hacking-for-hire activities were exposed in a leak last year. Others are linked to Silk Typhoon, a hacking unit that recently breached the Treasury Department.
Policy
Trade group urges Commerce secretary to support the work of subagencies
The Business Software Alliance said international alliances, export control regimes and standards harmonization efforts can all support the Department of Commerce’s advancement of U.S. tech.
Cybersecurity
Hegseth orders suspension of cyber, information operations planning against Russia
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday that new U.S. foreign policy configurations “largely coincides with our vision.”
Cybersecurity
IBM contract for overseas cyber assistance canned amid USAID shutdown
The foreign aid agency — a prime target of President Donald Trump’s agenda to eliminate perceived government waste — declared cybersecurity an economic development issue in 2021.
Cybersecurity