Modernization

Apple Is Right: The FBI Wants to Break Into Lots of Phones

After Apple’s lawyers revealed the agency is trying to gain access to about a dozen devices, it’s becoming increasingly clear why the government chose to take the San Bernardino case public.

Cybersecurity

Lieu asks Comey to back off Apple court order

In a letter to the FBI director, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) argued that forcing Apple to unlock the San Bernardino shooter's phone could have adverse Internet security consequences.

Cybersecurity

FBI Director: Apple Case Doesn’t Set Encryption ‘Precedent’

The FBI director says the litigation with the tech company is about justice for the victims of the San Bernardino attack.

Digital Government

What the FBI vs. Apple Encryption Fight Is Really About

When software engineers at Apple designed the iPhone’s security features, they labored knowing that millions were relying on them to safeguard their privacy.

Cybersecurity

GOP candidates weigh in on the Apple court order

Republican presidential candidates put IT security front and center in a town hall event in the wake of a court order to Apple to help unlock a suspected terrorist's iPhone.

Digital Government

Apple vs. the FBI

The company says it will fight an order that instructs it to provide “reasonable technical assistance” to unlock an iPhone that belonged to one of the San Bernardino attackers.

Modernization

Here’s Why the FBI Can’t Hack Into iPhones

It comes down to one setting, that anyone can turn on or off in seconds.

Cybersecurity

Apple balks at court order to unlock San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone

A District Court judge has ordered Apple to help the FBI break into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters. Many technologists are up in arms, and Apple is not backing down.

Cybersecurity

FBI budget calls for doubling of 'Going Dark' funding

The FBI’s fiscal 2017 request includes $69.3 million to address the challenge that end-to-end encryption and Web anonymity pose to law enforcement -- more than double its request from fiscal 2016.

Cybersecurity

Intel officials dwell on encryption as a potential security problem

FBI Director James Comey and other senior intelligence leaders told Congress that the use of encrypted communications by terrorists and other adversaries remains a problem for investigators.

Digital Government

The Government Might Subpoena Your Toaster. Blame the Internet of Things.

Law-enforcement officials say they’re running out of ways to spy on criminals and terrorists. Maybe they’re not looking in the right places.

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.