Author Archive
People
Karen Evans tapped for DHS undersecretary weeks after assuming CISA role
Evans had been selected as both a senior advisor and then executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA prior to her DHS nomination.
Defense
Judge orders agencies to preserve discussions in airstrike Signal chat
The directive targets communications in a Signal chat with top intelligence and national security officials between March 11 and March 15 that discussed strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to that chat.
Cybersecurity
Phishing campaign seeks to siphon Ukraine war intelligence from defense contractors
Nearly 880 spoofed domains of worldwide IT, defense and aerospace firms were identified between December and March, DomainTools Investigations says.
People
Former election security official announces run for Congress in New York
Cait Conley is running on a Democrat platform to challenge Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in next year’s midterms. She is a combat veteran and served as CISA’s top election security advisor during the 2024 cycle.
Cybersecurity
FCC to investigate potential US operations of restricted Chinese firms
The commission’s new chairman, Brendan Carr, believes that some or all of the companies on the FCC’s Covered List are still operating in the nation.
Modernization
FedRAMP to announce major overhaul next week
The initiative would seek to automate much of the cloud security program’s approval workflow and shift more control to the private sector.
Cybersecurity
NIST’s vulnerability database logjam is still growing despite attempts to clear it
Vulnerability submissions increased 32% in 2024, NIST said. The agency is considering machine learning to automate certain vulnerability analysis tasks.
Policy
Experts fear global media agency’s gutting will strip key tools against foreign propaganda
U.S. Agency for Global Media programs serve a critical function in the face of U.S. adversaries’ efforts to wage information warfare against American allies and regions of critical interest, an influence operations analyst said.
People
CISA works to contact probationary employees for reinstatement after court order
Trump officials have vowed to downsize the nation’s leading cybersecurity agency. Ex-officials have said the moves would be harmful to national security.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers seek DHS records in probe of US response to Chinese cyber campaigns
The House Homeland Security Committee wants DHS to provide internal documents on China’s Volt and Salt Typhoon hacking units, according to a letter being sent Monday.
Cybersecurity
US spy chief probing classified chat rooms to pursue leakers
Tulsi Gabbard said recent examples of unauthorized leaks involve data about Iran, Israel, U.S.-Russia relations and activities in ODNI’s counterintelligence office.
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Cybersecurity
US lawmakers ask UK court for transparency into Apple backdoor order
The court order issued by the United Kingdom centers on the UK’s 2016 Investigatory Powers Act, which was invoked to demand Apple provide a backdoor into users’ encrypted iCloud backups.
Cybersecurity
Elon Musk paid a visit to NSA, Cyber Command amid DOGE-led overhauls
Musk’s trip to the signals intelligence office and combatant command is the first recorded instance of him visiting an intelligence agency since President Trump assumed office.
Breaking News
People
DHS taps Antoine McCord for top tech post
McCord is a former Marine and is excited about the use of AI in the agency, people familiar say.
Cybersecurity
Cyberspace Solarium Commission turns five years old
The commission has largely influenced cybersecurity policymaking in Congress through the first half of the decade.
Cybersecurity
Republicans urge Trump admin to launch offensive cyber operations against China
The letter cites high-profile Chinese intrusions into U.S. systems that have made headlines in recent months. Trump’s national security officials have expressed a desire to engage in offensive cyber ops against adversaries.
Policy
GSA reverses lease terminations for some GAO offices doing national security work
The Atlanta, Huntsville and Norfolk offices have been removed from a termination list tied to a DOGE effort to reduce purported government spending waste on building leases.
Cybersecurity
Top House cyber lawmaker to press DHS on key infrastructure group’s shutdown
Industry representatives say the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council has been a valuable information-sharing tool. It was disbanded last week under an order from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
People
Trump taps Sean Plankey to head CISA
Plankey served at the Energy Department and National Security Council during Trump’s first term.
People
Agency guidance on ‘five accomplishments’ email still inconsistent
Bureaus inside DHS are still reviewing past submissions from staff and have instructed their workers to hold off on sending more updates.
