Recent spear-phishing attacks and breaches on natural gas pipeline companies can be traced back to the same spies likely involved in the RSA Inc. cyber attacks last year, the Christian Science Monitor reported in an exclusive story. RSA provides security services to defense companies and government agencies. The breach to …
Read More »Exclusive: McAfee CTO Phyllis Schneck Talks Cyber Threats, Lattanze Award Win
Each year, Loyola College recognizes information technology thought leaders who have made an impact in the field with the Lattanze Executive of the Year Award. Dr. Phyllis Schneck, McAfee’s chief technology officer for the global public sector, recently received the award for technical vision for applications of global threat intelligence …
Read More »UK Defense Ministry Suffers Cyber Attack Via Facebook
In early March, reports surfaced that U.S. and British leaders had mistakenly accepted Facebook friend requests from an illegitimate profile of NATAO Senior Commander and U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis. Similar methods have now led to compromise of information from the U.K. Defense Ministry’s top secret system, AOL Government reports. Stavridis …
Read More »US, EU Officials Discuss Cyber Cooperation; Jane Holl Lute Comments
The U.S. and European Union have developed cooperative cyber crime investigations but officials suggest developing policy for a concrete partnership may prove more difficult, GCN reports. U.S. and E.U. officials met in Washington Wednesday at an event hosted by Center for Strategic and International Studies and the European Security Round …
Read More »Report: Iran Cyber Threat Perceptions Fueled by House Hearing
Experts told House lawmakers this week that they believe Iran is a bigger threat than China or Russia, having passed developmental stages for offensive capabilities and moved onto defensive efforts in cyberspace, GCN reports. Ilan Berman, vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council, told attendees of a joint House …
Read More »In-Q-Tel CISO Dan Greer Wants Human Touch in Security Loop
We no longer live in a time where disconnecting critical infrastructure components from the Internet is a viable options, a top security officer from In-Q-Tel told Boston Source conference attendees Wednesday. Disconnecting the power grid and water utilities from the Internet for security is good in theory but is is unrealistic …
Read More »Shawn Henry: Private Sector Has Cyber Info Void to Fill
Cybersecurity efforts should focus on hunting down the network intruder instead of trying to defend the network from an attack, says Shawn Henry, the FBI’s former top cyber official. Henry retired from the bureau last month and has moved to startup company CrowdStrike, which provides malware and incident response services. …
Read More »Suzanne Vautrinot: Air Force Cybercom Plays Defense for Info Advantage
The Air Force’s cyber command operates with the same mission-focus as any other command of the force, Maj. Gen. Suzanne Vautrinot said this week, according to an Air Force release. Vautrinot serves as head of the 24th Air Force and the branch’s cyber air component to cyber command. The 24th …
Read More »Northrop Recruits Interns at DC High School Cyber Defense Event; Diane Miller Comments
A group of cyber savvy high school students recently traveled cross-country to participate in a Washington-based cyber defense competition, the Los Angeles Times reports. The CyberPatriot National High School Cyber Defense Competition challenged students to defend computer networks from hackers hoping to gain access to sensitive information. Eleven teams manged …
Read More »Los Alamos Hosts Cyber Breach Simulation; CIO Tom Harper Comments
Government information technology and cyber experts gathered at Los Alamos National Laboratory Thursday to simulate cyber threats and develop cyber response strategies. The laboratory said Eventide cyber simulation event hosted more than 100 IT experts from both the public and private sector. Cyber experts from the Energy Department’s Cyber Forensics Laboratory, …
Read More »Estonia President Ilves: Intellectual Property Main Target in Cyber Warfare
Cyber threats have changed the face of war but Estonia’s president suggests the greatest threats are not to military targets and critical infrastructure, but intellectual property instead, GCN reports. Estonia’s President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington Thursday that there is too much …
Read More »Industry Experts: Best to Recognize Networks Are Indefensible
Army Gen. Keith Alexander, head of the National Security Agency and Cyber Command, told attendees of an FBI-sponsored event in January that the U.S. defense network is currently “not defensible.“ Amit Yoran, senior vice president and general manager for EMC’s RSA security management and compliance business unit, has come to similar …
Read More »L-3 Forms R&D Partnership With Two College Labs; Les Rose Comments
L-3 Communications is partnering with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Maryland to conduct technology research and development projects. Les Rose, president of the company’s Reston, Va.-based Stratis unit, said he hopes the alliances will enhance the company’s standing in the national security market. Stratis said it plans …
Read More »Former White House CIO Cautions Against 'Excessive' Cyber Reporting
A former White House chief information officer is suggesting current cyber information sharing programs do little for network resiliency, FierceGovernment IT reports. Theresa Payton said at an eIQ Networks event Wednesday that the government needs a new information sharing model instead of replicating current forums. Payton, now president and chief …
Read More »Air Force Space Head Wants 'Holistic' Cyber Defense Plan
Defense and intelligence officials told the Senate Tuesday that the U.S. needs new strategy to mitigate cyber attacks. Gen. William Shelton, head of the Air Force Space Command, is also looking ahead to gauge what cyber defense his Pentagon division will need in order to maintain security, DoD Buzz reports. Shelton …
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