Threats

White House Cuts Cyber Coordinator Role But Lawmakers Say Not So Fast

House Democrats charged National Security Adviser John Bolton’s move lowers the White House’s cyber expertise as threats are increasing.

Science & Tech

Homeland Security Unveils New Cyber Strategy

It envisions clearer consequences for agencies that don’t meet their cyber responsibilities.

Business

Report: Insecure Contractor Emails Leave Government Vulnerable

Federal IT contractors aren’t using an email security tool that’s now mandated for agencies.

Science & Tech

DARPA Wants to Merge Human and Computer Cyber Defenders

The CHESS program would build on DARPA’s autonomous cybersecurity contest and traditional hacking competitions.

Threats

Justice Launches Cyber Task Force

The task force will examine cyber efforts to undermine elections and critical infrastructure.

Threats

DHS to Scrutinize Government Supply Chain for Cyber Risks

The department wants to integrate cyber vetting into existing supply chain checks.

Threats

Chinese Telecoms Could Join Kaspersky On Governmentwide Banned List

The Homeland Security Department banned the Russian antivirus company Kaspersky from government networks last year. Huawei and ZTE may be next.

Policy

Cyber R&D Would Go Up at Defense, Down At Standards Agency

Budget proposal would cut 18% from NIST, just as it updates cybersecurity rules that apply across government.

Policy

Microsoft Vet to Lead DHS Cyber and Infrastructure Division

Christopher Krebs has been acting chief of the cyber and infrastructure protection division since August.

Science & Tech

State Dept. Reverses Course, Plans to Launch Cyber and Digital Economy Bureau

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson earlier shuttered a cyber coordinator’s office with similar duties.

Business

Booz Allen Hamilton Wins $621 Million DHS Cyber Contract

The six-year project will expand the continuous diagnostics and mitigation services DHS provides to other agencies.

Science & Tech

DHS Cyber Info Sharing Tool to Get a Reboot This Year

The goal is for organizations to use the tool to automatically block cyber threats.

Policy

Shutdown, Surveillance Deadlines Loom Over Congress

A pair of lawmakers also proposed a pay raise for federal employees.

Science & Tech

DHS Offers to Vet States’ Voting Systems. But Will They Ask for Help?

Some states remain wary of federal election-security assistance, but the ice is thawing, a Homeland Security official said.

Threats

The FBI Is Disrupting One-Tenth as Many Cyber Crime Rings As In 2015

The bureau missed its own goals for disruptions and dismantlements the past two years.

Threats

Here’s Why the Trump Administration Called Out North Korea’s Cyberattacks

The attribution announcement made three big arguments and North Korea’s culpability was only one of them.

Threats

Kaspersky Strikes Back After US Government Ban

The Russian anti-virus company wasn’t given a meaningful opportunity to defend itself, the CEO says in legal suit.