Your digital footprints are more than a privacy risk – they could help hackers infiltrate computer networks
Hackers with open source intelligence gathering tools can mine a target’s audio and video to extract personal information they then use in phishing messages that appear to come from a trusted source.
How QR codes work and what makes them dangerous – a computer scientist explains
Just as it can be hazardous to click links in emails, visiting URLs stored in QR codes can also be risky.
Thieves hit on a new scam: Synthetic identity fraud
Combining real Social Security numbers with mismatched or phony names to create new synthetic identities allowed swindlers to bilk the federal government out of nearly $1 million from the Paycheck Protection Program.
Zero-trust architecture demands a new view on data security
State and local government agencies can meet today’s expanded threat landscape with zero trust’s simplified access control enforcement and continuous validation and authentication.
How Ukraine has defended itself against cyberattacks – lessons for the US
Authenticating logins, backing up critical data and patching software vulnerabilities will help protect critical infrastructure from malicious foreign actors.
Compromised email behind fake emergency data requests
Emails that look like they’re coming from law enforcement agencies have mobile providers, ISPs and social media companies turning sensitive data over to hackers.
States unclear on what constitutes ‘reasonable’ cybersecurity
Confusion about cyber insurance, incident response, multifactor authentication and cyber hygiene training is widening a gap between acknowledging risk and managing it.
Ransomware tests local governments
Malicious actors increasingly target smaller governments that lack sufficient cyber defenses, risking the operation of critical public services.
Cyberattacks have yet to play a significant role in Russia’s battlefield operations in Ukraine – cyberwarfare experts explain the likely reasons
Cyber operations have become an integral part of military campaigns, and Russia is targeting Ukraine's networks and infrastructure with disinformation campaigns on social media sites.
FBI urges local agencies to prepare for ransomware attacks
To fend off attacks and avoid unnecessary exposure, the FBI issued a notice calling on local governments to deploy timely patching, awareness campaigns and regular encrypted backups.
Phishing scam targets election officials, FBI warns
Election officials in at least nine states received emails with attachments that redirected to credential harvesting sites.
Illinois joins states setting up cyber units
Gov. JB Pritzker announced the Illinois Cyber Security Commission to boost cybersecurity and coordinate efforts across all levels of government.
Ransomware now encrypts so fast it ‘will burn the house down’
A new study found that ransomware can encrypt 54 GB in 43 minutes, an extremely limited window of mitigation, especially considering it takes about three days for compromises to be detected.
Local governments are attractive targets for hackers and are ill-prepared
Agencies often lack the resources to defend against a lengthy cyber conflict and are considered enticing targets for hackers looking to disrupt daily citizen services.
Ukraine war puts US cities, states on cyber alert
States are blocking Russian IP addresses and running through scenarios to streamline cyberattack response and network lockdown procedures.
Ransomware getting ahead of state, local governments, survey finds
While respondents acknowledge the growing threat from ransomware, most are unprepared to prevent or respond to it.
Older Americans are given the wrong idea about online safety – here’s how to help them help themselves
Older adults may be at heightened risk of cybersecurity breaches and fraudulent behavior because they lack experience with internet technology and represent a financially attractive target.
Can CDM work for state, local governments?
Proposed legislation would extend the federal Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program to state and local governments to help them strengthen their cybersecurity.
NJ mulls cyber incident reporting
A state Senate bill would require public agencies and government contractors to report cybersecurity incidents within 72 hours.
Threat-resilient workforce key to preventing cyberattacks
Investing in workforce training and education will go a long way in stopping attacks that target state and local agencies, a cyber expert said.
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