Features
On the Cyber Beat
Chief information security officers must balance mission requirements against threats to vital data.
Tech
From Nextgov: Hack of IMF data raises global worries
Speculation about potential Chinese intrusion at IMF generates concern about U.S. financial networks.
News
From Nextgov: FEMA watchdog endorses data mining to uncover overpayments
Inspector general urges the disaster assistance agency to replicate pattern-detection software used to monitor federal stimulus spending.
News
Chief of the Year: Information Security
Jerry Davis, deputy assistant secretary for information security, Veterans Affairs.
Defense
From Nextgov: General Dynamics snags $1 billion networking contract for DHS headquarters
Feds canceled a $2.6 billion deal with Northrop Grumman for the project in 2010.
News
From Nextgov: Airport body scans to get less personal by early 2012
TSA plans to modify half its machines to show more generic pictures by year-end.
News
From Nextgov: Former federal contractor gets jail time for falsifying immigration records
Fraud allowed illegal immigrants to get passports; case represents larger insider threat problem.
Trends
Just Rewards
Eliminating second chances for contractor incentives could save millions, auditors say.
News
From Nextgov: Interior center inadvertently exposes personal data of SEC employees
No sign of interceptions by intruders during 60-second transit.
Tech
From Nextgov.com: U.S. border agents to snag drug-smuggling jets with Canadian military radar
But Homeland Security officials have made little progress in deploying license plate readers to identify vehicles supporting the flights.
Tech
Nextgov.com: DHS accused of hiding fingerprinting data
'Metadata' for agency emails on Secure Communities program sought by immigrant groups under FOIA.
News
From Nextgov.com: White House sends Congress long-awaited cybersecurity proposal
Guidelines don’t address some contentious issues, including the president’s authority to shut down Internet in an emergency.
News
From Nextgov.com: Bill mandating WikiLeaks safeguards for Pentagon networks set to advance to House floor
Computer security experts say the mandates still would not stop malevolent insiders.
News
From Nextgov.com: Federal security chiefs pull top salaries among global cyber workforce
Government CIOs are embracing social networking tools, but aren't necessarily applying controls.
News
From Nextgov.com: Lawmakers would give Energy authority over utilities during cyber emergencies
Stuxnet virus raised fears about electricity grid’s vulnerability to sabotage.
News
From Nextgov.com: U.S. and Estonia forge new cyber relationship
A joint investigation recently netted a major international cyber ring involved in computer fraud and identity theft.
News
From Nextgov.com: Cellphone may have signaled bin Laden's location
Former cyber-forensic officials say al Qaeda leader's courier may have inadvertently given U.S. counterterrorism pros their break.
Trends
Into the Budget Morass
A delayed project to improve immigration processing is pulling resources and morale off course.
News
From Nextgov.com: DHS probing Sony PlayStation network attack
Massive data breach could enable hackers to break into banking and other commercial systems.
News