Pay & Benefits
State Department warns employees of fraud scheme targeting payroll systems
Hackers have been targeting annuity accounts to redirect payroll deposits.
Tech
U.S. accuses Chinese hackers of a 14-year campaign targeting government officials
The coordinated charges include sanctions on Chinese government-affiliated hackers and an up to $10 million reward for information about the defendants.
Tech
U.S. still finding victims of advanced China-linked hacking campaign, NSA official says
The Volt Typhoon hacking collective, backed by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, has been working to burrow into sensitive U.S. systems, officials previously said.
Tech
Ex-NSA innovation chief’s new startup looks to future-proof federal agencies against cyberthreats
Kevin Keaton’s Eyris would fuse blockchain technologies into advanced security solutions to defend federal agencies, the Pentagon and others against cyber threats.
Tech
CISA targeted through Ivanti VPN vulnerabilities, reports say
The DHS agency has been issuing warnings about Ivanti products since at least 2020.
Management
New bill aims to bring SNAP card security up to credit card standards
Security standards for SNAP cards have not kept pace with industry advancements, lawmakers say.
Tech
Government facilities were third largest ransomware target in 2023, FBI says
The FBI’s IC3 findings also show government official impersonation scams are on the rise.
Tech
FCC staff targeted in phishing attack that cloned agency login site
A cybercriminal group built a duplicate webpage used by employees to validate their login credentials.
Tech
Energy to fund 16 infrastructure cybersecurity projects
The White House’s cybersecurity strategy implementation plan asks the agency to identify pilot projects for energy infrastructure security.
Defense
Top Pentagon IT official departs deputy CIO role
Lily Zeleke will be taking over “new responsibilities” at the agency, though it’s still unknown what her new position is.
Tech
Biden to sign executive order boosting cybersecurity of ports, maritime vessels
The order empowers the Coast Guard to shore up cyber protections for maritime systems and harden current cyber incident reporting rules.
Tech
NSA cyber director to step down after 34 years of service
His departure comes amid heightened security fears in 2024 and debate over whether to renew a controversial spying power.
Tech
The Pentagon is notifying individuals affected by 2023 email data breach
The exposed contents were not secured with a password at the time of their compromise.
Tech
Some 6,600 current and former employees impacted in a January GAO data breach
The breach, which also included some companies doing business with GAO, may further galvanize concerns about the federal government’s ability to defend itself from cyber intrusions.
Tech
Proposed contractor cyber reporting rule sets a ‘significantly problematic’ bar, industry groups say
The groups, which represent tech and cybersecurity companies sometimes contracted by the government, say the proposals are too rigorous and inconsistent.
Tech
National Cyber Strategy needs better implementation measures, GAO argues
The White House Office of the National Cyber Director can improve on performance measures and cost estimations, the U.S. federal oversight agency said in a Thursday analysis.
Tech
Agencies must disconnect all exposed Ivanti products by Friday, cyber officials say
The directive follows a related warning issued last month about cybersecurity flaws in Ivanti systems.
Oversight
Former DHS employees sentenced for plot to steal government software, databases
The trio wanted to to build a commercial software product that would have been sold to government agencies.
Oversight
NSA illegally purchases Americans’ internet data without a warrant, senator says
The NSA’s purchases of commercial metadata without a court order — revealed in documents exchanged with Sen. Ron Wyden — violate consumer protection laws, the Oregon Democrat claims.
Oversight