Cybersecurity

'Hack DHS' Bug Bounty Program to Begin Second Phase with New Contract Request

The contract is geared toward companies that can conduct crowdsourced events and competitions for vetted security researchers, to help bolster DHS’ cyber resilience.

Modernization

DHS Research Arm Seeks Science, Tech Capabilities to Protect U.S. Agriculture

The agency issued a request for information to support its Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Defense program.

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

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.

Digital Government

Government Authority to Counter Drones Gets Expansion Under New Legislation 

The Senate bill  would extend the DHS and DOJ’s drone-countering abilities that are set to expire in October, while also implementing some of the Biden administration’s recommendations for mitigating risks posed by potentially malicious drones.

Digital Government

Audits of CBP’s Facial Recognition Partners ‘Vital to Building Trust,’ Lawmaker Says

The agency has “a ways to go” in auditing facial recognition partners for privacy and security, a watchdog noted.

Cybersecurity

Banking Groups Urge Senators to Reject NDAA Provision as Harmful to Cybersecurity

The provision for identifying “systemically important entities” included in the House-passed NDAA could still hitch a ride on the massive defense bill when it’s called to the floor in the upper chamber.

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.

Digital Government

DHS Cleared After 2021 Exposure of Terrorist Watchlist Data

The agency’s Office of the Inspector General found that the Department of Homeland Security has ways to safeguard and share sensitive data and properly acted once it learned about the alleged exposure.

Modernization

Lumen Tapped To Upgrade Customs and Border Protection Comms Network

The Communications company will overhaul CBP’s communications infrastructure and expand its network. 

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.

Modernization

CBP Built and Deployed an In-House Electronic Health Record System in Under 2 Years

Medical service contractors working for the Customs and Border Protection are using an agency app to record migrants’ medical information instead of just writing it down.

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

CISA Builds Out Effort to Influence Global Policy With London Attaché

The office will inform other efforts to come as the agency grows its international presence.

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.