Trump taps border hawk to head DHS. Will Noem’s ‘enthusiasm’ extend to digital domain?

November 23, 2024 at 12:49PM President-elect Donald Trump nominated South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, emphasizing her hardline immigration policies. Noem’s cybersecurity background will be tested amidst rising threats. Critics worry CISA may shift focus away from disinformation and election security under her leadership, while she promotes state-led cybersecurity initiatives. ### Meeting … Read more

Kansas water plant cyberattack forces switch to manual operations

September 24, 2024 at 03:57PM Arkansas City, Kansas, faced a cyberattack on its water treatment facility, prompting manual operations while authorities investigate. City officials reassured residents that the water supply remains secure and operational. The incident coincided with a warning about Russian-linked threat actors targeting the U.S. water sector, reflecting ongoing cybersecurity challenges in the … Read more

Target Practice: Honing Critical Skills on Cyber Ranges

September 23, 2024 at 02:11PM Cyber ranges offer a solution to staying abreast of evolving cyber threats for cybersecurity professionals. Used by governments, universities, and organizations, these simulated training environments aid in practicing network and system usage. Beyond training, cyber ranges also serve as a business tool, engaging the wider cybersecurity community in competitions and … Read more

Columbus investigates whether data was stolen in ransomware attack

July 30, 2024 at 12:52PM Columbus, Ohio is investigating a ransomware attack on July 18, 2024, which disrupted city services and potentially exposed personal data. Public safety services were not affected. The attack was attributed to foreign ransomware actors, with the FBI and Homeland Security containing the threat. The city is in the early stages … Read more

Microsoft bigwig says the Feds catching Chinese spies in Exchange Online is the cloud working as intended

June 13, 2024 at 08:47PM During a US House committee hearing, Microsoft president Brad Smith faced scrutiny over security breaches involving China-backed spies. Smith admitted to the company’s errors and defended its operations in China, prompting further questioning from lawmakers about compliance with Beijing’s national security laws. Other topics included the role of Microsoft in … Read more

Owner of Incognito dark web drugs market arrested in New York

May 20, 2024 at 03:40PM Rui-Siang Lin, the owner of Incognito Market, a dark web marketplace for selling illegal narcotics, was arrested at JFK Airport. The market facilitated over $100 million in illegal drug sales. Lin had ultimate control over employees, vendors, and customers. He could face life in prison for several criminal charges. Lin … Read more

CISA Rolls Out New Guidelines to Mitigate AI Risks to US Critical Infrastructure

April 29, 2024 at 01:59PM CISA, the US government cybersecurity agency, has released guidelines to enhance critical infrastructure security against AI-related threats. The guidelines identify three types of AI risks and advocate a four-part mitigation strategy, emphasizing a robust organizational culture focused on AI risk management. CISA also stresses the need for contextualized risk evaluation … Read more

White House Calls on States to Boost Cybersecurity in Water Sector 

March 20, 2024 at 08:03AM The White House has called for a meeting with state agencies to discuss protecting water and wastewater infrastructure from cyber threats. The one-hour virtual meeting on March 21 will focus on US government efforts to enhance cybersecurity, address vulnerabilities, and urge immediate action to safeguard critical infrastructure. The White House … Read more

AT&T Says the Outage to Its US Cellphone Network Was Not Caused by a Cyberattack

February 23, 2024 at 05:21AM AT&T experienced a major outage, affecting thousands of U.S. cellphone users. The company stated that the disruption was caused by a technical error in network expansion, not a cyber attack. Reports indicated over 73,000 outages, mainly in Houston, Atlanta, and Chicago, but services were gradually restored. Regulators and authorities initiated … Read more

Idaho National Nuclear Lab Targeted in Major Data Breach

November 22, 2023 at 12:40PM The Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a US Department of Energy national lab, experienced a significant data breach on November 19. Employee information, including addresses, Social Security numbers, and bank account details, were leaked. The breach impacted the Oracle HCM system servers that support INL’s Human Resources applications. An investigation involving … Read more