Digital Government

Senators Urge Investigation After CBP Admits to Warrantless Cell Phone Surveillance

Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security, told senators it uses a commercial database to conduct warrantless tracking of people inside the United States.

Emerging Tech

DHS Biometrics Proposal Represents ‘Unacceptable Escalation of Government Surveillance,’ Senators Say

Five senators sent a letter urging the Homeland Security Department to abandon a proposal to expand its biometrics program.

Policy

CBP Launches Website to Promote Transparency Around Biometric Travel Program

Privacy advocates say they still want better privacy protections for the agency's Entry-Exit program.

Emerging Tech

Homeland Security Funds 5 New Projects Exploring Blockchain Technology

The move builds on several others the agency recently made in pursuit of modernization.

Cybersecurity

CISA Leader Puts Health Sector Project on the Level of Election Security Initiative

A senior adviser brought in to boost the pandemic-driven effort says new materials are coming and stresses the importance of organizations acting on the agency’s advisories as part of their risk calculus.

Cybersecurity

CISA Reveals Timeline for Improving Anemic Information Sharing Program

The private sector has been pushing for greater liability protections before participating in a two-way exchange of cyber threats and vulnerabilities with the agency.

Cybersecurity

DHS Exempts Expanded Insider Threat Program From Key Privacy Act Provisions

The agency will be allowed to collect large amounts of data without having to follow several provisions regarding disclosure, relevance and the sharing of that information.

Cybersecurity

CISA Releases Tips For Secure Teleworking

The short guide offers quick tips and links to deeper resources for employees at every level.

Digital Government

Lawmakers: Did DHS Surveil Portland Protesters’ Phones?

Lawmakers want to know if federal agencies intercepted messages or collected cellphone data—including through commercial sources—during Portland protests.

Cybersecurity

IG: CBP Responsible for 2019 Biometrics Breach, Though No Federal Networks Were Compromised

A ransomware attack on a Customs and Border Protection vendor leaked facial images on more than 184,000 travelers—something agency security and policy should have prevented.

Cybersecurity

Government Employees May Need to Update Threat Hunting Perspectives

As Congress considers expanding threat hunting programs into the private sector, a majority of federal workers surveyed last year didn’t seem to have a clue about such efforts within their own agencies.

Cybersecurity

CISA Orders Immediate Action to Fix Vulnerability in Windows Directory

The agency has seen code designed to exploit the vulnerability in a system used to permit access to network resources.

Cybersecurity

CISA Data Shows Federal Civilian Agencies Faster Than Industry at Patching

The nation’s risk adviser continues to expand its role in what it’s dubbed the year of vulnerability management.

Cybersecurity

CISA, FBI Warn Iran-based Threat Actor May Be Planning Ransomware Attacks 

The attacker is targeting virtual private networks and cloud computing vulnerabilities, and has been present in victim networks for several months.

Cybersecurity

Hackers Connected to China Have Compromised U.S. Government Systems, CISA says

Using publicly disclosed code and vulnerabilities, attackers appear to be winning a crucial race against defenders.

Emerging Tech

Bill Would ‘Jumpstart’ Planning Process for Beefing up Border Security Tech

The bill, announced by Rep. Elissa Slotkin, would require the Homeland Security Department to develop a comprehensive border security technology strategy.

Ideas

Diving into Government’s Trusted Internet Connections Standard 3.0 

The policy lays out the framework for security, but allows agencies to fill in the details based on their unique missions.

Cybersecurity

COVID Could Spur Reduced Reliance on Classified Sources of Cyber Intelligence

CISA officials highlighted cloud configuration and VPN vulnerabilities in assessing threats associated with the pandemic.

Digital Government

DHS Files Rule Proposing Increasing Scope of Biometric Information Collection 

The Homeland Security Department posted the full text of a proposal to the Federal Register that would give it the ability to collect more biometric information from immigrants.