Author Archive

Caitlin Fairchild

Web Producer

Caitlin Fairchild
Caitlin Fairchild joined Government Executive in summer 2011 as an editorial fellow, after graduating from the College of William & Mary, where she spent four years writing for the student newspaper, The Flat Hat. In March 2012, she was hired full time as a web producer. She has completed internships at Washingtonian Magazine and at the public affairs office of Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.
Cybersecurity

Here's Why You Should Be Using a VPN

How much do you value your privacy?

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Emerging Tech

Gmail's Confidential Mode Now Available For Mobile

It's not a perfect form of privacy, however.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Cody Wilson, with Defense Distributed, holds a 3D-printed gun called the Liberator at his shop, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, in Austin, Texas. Cody Wilson, with Defense Distributed, holds a 3D-printed gun called the Liberator at his shop, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, in Austin, Texas.
Emerging Tech

Senators Urge Tech and Social Media Companies to Block 3D Printed Gun Files

Will the tech giants step in?

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Cybersecurity

Watch Out For Travel Scams, FBI Warns

If it seems too good to be true...it probably is.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Cybersecurity

Hacked Appliances Could Shut Down the Power Grid, Researchers Say

What is your air conditioner really up to?

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Cybersecurity

FBI Warns Banks About New ATM Scam

A new era of bank robbing.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Cybersecurity

Back to School Cyber Tips From US-CERT

Teach your children well and they might not get hacked.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Emerging Tech

Inside NASA's Cold Atom Lab

Astronauts are studying some very chilly atoms.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Data

23andMe and Other Genetic Testing Companies Release Guideline on How to Handle DNA Data

This set of best practices doesn't guarantee privacy, though.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Data

The Way You Swipe Your Phone Can Be Used To Track You

Your fingers could give you away.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Cybersecurity

FTC Warns Citizens About Government Imposter Scams

No, the IRS doesn't demand gift cards.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Cybersecurity

Identity Theft Protection Service Accidentally Exposes Identities

Every lock can be picked.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Data

Report: IBM Watson AI Recommended Unsafe Cancer Treatments

The system was trained using hypothetical scenarios.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Emerging Tech

Drug Company Gains Access to 23andMe's Massive DNA Library

Do you know who has access to your DNA?

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Emerging Tech

AI Scanner Can Distinguish Whether An Iris is Living or Dead

No word if the technology works on zombies.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Cybersecurity

Google's Secret to Avoid Phishing? A Physical Key.

The security tech has been adopted by every employee.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Cybersecurity

How Apps Could Be Sneaking Malware Onto Your Phone

Some malware comes right through the front door.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Data

Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter Unite to Make More Portable Data

The tech companies are joining forces to allow users to download and transfer data more easily.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Data

IBM Extends Watson Partnership With VA to Support Veterans With Cancer

Watson will keep using AI to spot patterns in patient DNA.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild
Emerging Tech

Get Ready to Legally 3D-Print a Gun

A settlement between Defense Distributed and the State Department has been reached.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild