Cybersecurity

FCC leaders skirt call for wiretap security reform, hope to ‘go deeper’ on telecom breach briefings

Lawmakers have called on the agency to take up a rulemaking to rethink wiretapping laws amid the hacks that have ensnared several telecom companies, but top FCC officials have not signaled any forthcoming action yet.

Exclusive Policy

FCC to propose first undersea cable security overhaul since 2001

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel cited rising national security risks in conflict zones as a catalyst for the proposed updates to submarine cable regulations.

Cybersecurity

New TSA cyber rules leave lawmakers, industry hopeful for happy medium regulations

The agency argues its Nov. 8 proposed rulemaking will dually address the transportation industry’s regulation concerns while ensuring they’re suitably protected from hackers. Others want to wait and see.

Cybersecurity

Hackers nabbed emails between congressional staff and Library of Congress 

Affected staff were notified Friday afternoon, according to an internal email. Capitol Hill communications with the Congressional Research Service frequently involve confidential legislative drafts or policies still in the brainstorming stage.

Cybersecurity

FCC to soon announce lead administrator for cyber assurance program

More information will also be unveiled during the 2025 CES, Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger said.

People

CISA Director Jen Easterly to depart on Inauguration Day

Easterly and Deputy Director Nitin Natarajan are set to leave as an administration change casts doubt on the agency’s future. 

Cybersecurity

US still backs UN cyber pact, but final approval awaits human rights safeguards

Some fear the convention would help legitimize authoritarian nations’ surveillance policies. The U.S. won’t formally ratify it until it sees human rights assurances.

Exclusive Cybersecurity

DHS issues internal comms guidance amid telecom breach investigation

The DHS Cyber Safety Review Board is already slated to investigate the hacking collective, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and its intrusion into telecommunications firms and wiretap infrastructure.

Cybersecurity

Intelligence community briefed Congress on Chinese telecom intrusions

It’s believed the hackers, dubbed Salt Typhoon, accessed call records on numerous Americans, including officials and staff affiliated with President-elect Trump.

Cybersecurity

Will cyber suffer under Trump’s goal to slash federal budgets?

Donald Trump’s intent to cut agency budgets has sparked concerns over adequate cybersecurity funding for government networks. Some believe these fears may be overstated.

Cybersecurity

CISA has no data supporting claims of election cheating, official says

Baseless voting fraud claims were pushed by Donald Trump in 2020 and the final weeks of his presidency.

Cybersecurity

Russian email domains sent uncredible bomb threats to polling places, FBI says

Kremlin-backed actors have a long record of sowing fear and disinformation into the U.S. election process.

Cybersecurity

CISA has not clocked any 'national-level significant incidents' impacting the election, official says

The agency is notably not in active contact with social media platforms but “if a threat were to arise that would necessitate us to do so, we would absolutely reach out,” Cait Conley said.

Cybersecurity

Potential year-end cyber executive order may hinge on election results, people familiar say

The pending order will focus heavily on federal cyber standards and emerging tech threats, but remains in limbo amid the presidential election.

Cybersecurity

Chinese telecom breaches won’t sway election outcomes, CISA chief says

The top U.S. cyber defense agency has seen “no evidence of activity that has the potential to materially impact the outcome of the presidential election,” Jen Easterly said Monday.

Cybersecurity

Russia produced fake video of immigrant election fraud in Georgia, officials say 

CISA is “very concerned” about the ways foreign adversaries might ramp up their efforts during the election certification period, one official said.

Cybersecurity

Fed, intel and military groups warn data broker practices may threaten national security

The groups wrote a letter concerning a CFPB rule, which is still in development, that would require certain data brokers to follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Cybersecurity

‘Every single American’ a target of election interference, former DHS official says

Adversaries have heavily accelerated efforts to sway the outcome of next week’s presidential election.

Breaking News Acquisition

US charges 6 for conspiring to defraud agencies through IT contracting schemes

The charges are the first in an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into “IT manufacturers, distributors and resellers” that sell to the government.

Cybersecurity

UN cybercrime convention will ‘legitimize’ authoritarian nations’ cyber behavior, senators warn

The proposed treaty has ignited debate among officials, as it may offer adversaries a stronger voice in international discussions about cybersecurity and surveillance.