Cybersecurity

VA Systems Vulnerable to Cyber Intrusions Due to Lack of Effective Oversight, Report Says

The Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General's office said the agency is "leaving its systems vulnerable to compromise by impostors who may gain access to protected information."

Cybersecurity

Cyber Threats Warrant a Government Reorganization, Former CISA Head Says

Inaugural CISA director Chris Krebs said the federal government should do more to respond to cybersecurity and data concerns.

Emerging Tech

Mobile Threats Prompt Operational Changes for Government Staff

More than 80% of public sector respondents to a recent survey said they have been forced to re-evaluate workplace practices as attacks on mobile devices grow.

Cybersecurity

FCC, FEMA Raise Alarm Bells About Vulnerabilities in Emergency Alert System

Both agencies warned that software and equipment vulnerabilities could allow hackers to transmit fake emergency messages or disrupt real ones. 

Cybersecurity

Top Malware of 2021 Has Been in Use for Years, CISA Warns

The advisory highlights that such usage offers “opportunities to better prepare” and provides recommendations to mitigate cybersecurity threats.

Cybersecurity

Finance Sector Deals Latest Blow to Cyber Solarium Construct Teetering in NDAA

Congress will return from the August recess faced once again with the challenge of building cybersecurity policy for private providers of critical infrastructure faster than industry can tear it down.

Cybersecurity

Misinformation Campaigns and Threats are Undermining Confidence in U.S. Elections, Official Says

CISA is ramping up efforts to defend voting systems from outside intrusion, but the spread of online misinformation and threats against election officials still damage faith in the electoral process.

Cybersecurity

How the Cyber Ambassador In Waiting Plans to Control $1.5 Billion for Open Networks

The recently passed “CHIPS and Science Act” funds a grants program that the new State Department official will have a key role in steering, including to telecom networking firms.

Policy

Senators Propose Cybercrime Training Center Get 6 More Years of Congressional Support

Legislation to reauthorize the National Computer Forensics Institute through 2028 comes after House lawmakers passed a similar proposal included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

Cybersecurity

Security Alerts: Not All Vulnerabilities Are Created Equal

For industries without a heavy IT expertise, responding to the myriad vulnerability advisories released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is a daunting task.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers Question DOJ’s National Security Division on Cybersecurity, Surveillance

The House Judiciary Committee raised concerns over  three hostile foreign actors that breached court systems in early 2020, in addition to questions about the surveillance of Americans.

Cybersecurity

Human Rights Advocate to Congress: Stop Federal Procurement of Commercial Spyware

The Intelligence Authorization Act, which recently cleared committee in the House, empowers—but does not require—the director of national intelligence to bar such acquisitions.

Cybersecurity

DHS Convenes Regulators, Law Enforcement Agencies on Cyber Incident Reporting

The Department of Homeland Security started the clock on a report to Congress for streamlining requirements, amid industry dissatisfaction with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s pending reporting regime.

Cybersecurity

Ransomware Hackers Will Still Target Smaller Critical Infrastructure, CISA Director Warns

CISA Executive Director Brandon Wales discussed how ransomware actors target companies of all sizes, and how CISA wants organizations to prevent zero-day events.

Cybersecurity

Hackers Use More Sophisticated Scams to Drive Costly Data Breaches, Analysis Finds

Criminals are using more sophisticated methods, including virtual meeting services, to take advantage of compromised business emails and accounts for financial gain.

Cybersecurity

Election Officials Want to Tell the Public 'Where the Good Guys Won' in Cyber Efforts

As misinformation around the 2020 elections continues to swirl, state election officials say that DHS and CISA should do more to raise up ‘successes’ around efforts to mitigate vulnerabilities in voting systems.

Cybersecurity

Simple Cyber Reporting Will Enable Better Governmentwide Response, Lawmaker Argues

Sen. Gary Peters discussed how streamlined reporting to CISA can clarify the cyber threat landscape to all U.S. networks.

Cybersecurity

Cyber Safety Review Board Closes the Book on SolarWinds While Reporting on Log4j 

Legislation seeking to amend the annual National Defense Authorization Act wants the Government Accountability Office to investigate.

Cybersecurity

CISA Urges FCC to Prioritize National Security in Internet Routing Probe

CISA Director Jen Easterly said industry concerns shouldn’t preclude use of the commission’s regulatory authority to mitigate exploitation of the Border Gateway Protocol.