Cyber bill's FISMA mandate could be a step backward
Proposed cybersecurity legislation would revamp FISMA to include mandatory security controls for agencies, but that could favor compliance over security.
Lieberman's new cybersecurity bill forbids a kill switch
A wide-ranging cybersecurity bill introduced by Sen. Joe Lieberman would revamp FISMA and establish executive oversight of critical infrastructure security but would specifically forbid shutting down the Internet.
Microsoft defends 'silent fix' patching rationale
"Silent fixes" are no cause for alarm for IT pros practicing good patch-testing techniques.
Microsoft warns of new zero-day vulnerability in Windows
An unnamed security researcher released information Monday on a discovered Windows vulnerability that could be used to perform remote code execution.
New cyber threats emerging, and IPv6 won't make defense any easier
Defense against emerging attacks such as advanced persistent threats and targeted worms requires more policy than technology, say industry officials at this week’s RSA Security Conference.
NSA reveals its secret: No backdoor in encryption standard
The National Security Agency wanted to make DES as strong as possible without adding any surprises, NSA official Dickie George said, but did not install a backdoor, as so many have suspected: "We're actually pretty good guys."
How the most common cyber exploits could be prevented
Spam volumes dropped in the last half of 2010, but that was mainly just good luck, according to a new report from M86 Security. In the meantime, hackers are taking full advantage of known vulnerabilities that remain unpatched, sometimes for years.
CMS, DOD officials honored for security work at RSA Conference
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services CISO C. Ryan Brewer was recognized at the RSA Conference for his work on enhancing the security of CMS networks while improving efficiency, and Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn was honored for his public service.
DOD's Lynn wants to enlist private sector for cyber defense
Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III is expanding a number of programs to bring much needed private sector expertise into the military.
Trusted online identities plan hinges on collaboration
The director of the new program office for the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace said public-private collaboration will be at the heart of the strategy.
Contrary to popular opinion, FISMA can improve security, agency officials say
The much-maligned Federal Information Security Management Act is not a bad tool, but it has been used improperly, federal officials say.
NJ police chief offers spy seminars for parents of Facebook-friendly kids
The police department in Mahwah, N.J., promotes spying on kids' Facebook pages by hacking into their accounts. Seminars given by detectives show parents how to install software and conduct surveillance activities.
Smart phones in the enterprise: Can't keep them out, so manage them
A pilot program at Unisys aims to assume some control over the evolution of mobile computing that is bringing more personal devices such as smart phones into the enterprise and assign responsibilities to both the users and administrators.
Emerging cyber threat: Evasion techniques that combine to conquer
Finnish security company Stonesoft, which announced a new class of evasion techniques for malicious exploits last year, said it has found 124 new advanced evasion techniques that could allow attackers to steal silently through most network defenses.
Stuxnet targeted 5 Iranian facilities, report states
The Stuxnet worm targeted five organizations in Iran between June 2009 and May 2010, in an attempt to reprogram industrial control systems, according to a recent report from Symantec.
In event of cyberattack, who's in charge?
Lawmakers say lines of authority over defending cyberspace aren't clearly defined, and that a formal plan for response is missing.
Death, taxes – and spam in your inbox
After a brief respite, spam appears to be making a comeback. Like the poor, it will always be with us.
DOD's Job Shadow Day grooms teens for future in government IT
The Pentagon last week held its fifth annual IT Job Shadow Day, giving local high school students a chance to see what a job in government's information technology workforce looks like.
Fresh advice on building safer software
SAFECode, an industry group focused on reliability of commercial software, has released a second edition of its best practices for developing secure software, adding more specific data on validating results.
Fill out your brackets: College teams set for spring cyber showdown
Schools from across the country are sending teams to nine regional competitions over the next two months. Winners will compete in April in the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in San Antonio both for bragging rights and job opportunities.
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