Author Archive
Joseph Marks
Joseph Marks covers cybersecurity for Nextgov. He previously covered cybersecurity for Politico, intellectual property for Bloomberg BNA and federal litigation for Law360. He covered government technology for Nextgov during an earlier stint at the publication and began his career at Midwestern newspapers covering everything under the sun. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and a master’s in international affairs from Georgetown University.
Management
DHS Preps Extra Cyber Support for States with Close Midterm Races
The tightness of an election is just one factor to guide where the Homeland Security Department will field its Election Day cybersecurity teams.
- By Joseph Marks
Management
Election Day Security Chat Room Will Be Open to More Than 3,000 County-Level Officials
The chat room will operate on an unclassified level and invite participation from across U.S. counties, a federal official said.
- By Joseph Marks
Management
Security Clearances Won’t Get in the Way of Responding to Election Cyber Threats, Officials Say
One intelligence leader urged a “just get it done, we’ll worry about the consequences later” approach to countering threats on Election Day.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
Hackers Report Cites ‘Staggering’ Vulnerabilities in U.S. Voting Systems
The report from DEF CON’s Voting Village found one bug that alone could flip the Electoral College. Another has gone unfixed for 11 years.
- By Joseph Marks
Infrastructure
Homeland Security Invests $11.6 Million in Countering Large-Scale Internet Outages
The grants are focused on the effect outages could have on critical infrastructure.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
Census Should Be More Transparent About Cyber Protections, Former Officials Say
The Census Bureau will conduct its first largely online decennial census in 2020 but hasn’t said how it will secure the process.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
Bill Would Prevent States From Messing with Encryption
The bill comes amid an encryption debate that pits national security against cybersecurity.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
Uber Agrees to Expanded Data Breach Settlement With FTC
The ride-sharing company tried to conceal a 2016 data breach through its bug bounty program.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
Spending Bill Boosts Election Security, Clarifies Overseas Data Warrants
The bill also requires supply chain reviews for cyber risk at some agencies.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
Here Are Some Key Challenges to Critical Infrastructure Security
Researchers should focus on when humans need to be in the loop and when machines can take charge.
- By Joseph Marks
Management
Here’s How to Counter Fake News During a Disaster
A Homeland Security Department advisory group wants to help emergency responders control the social media conversation.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
The Annual Cost of U.S. Cybercrime Could Top $100 Billion
Companies aren’t properly incentivized to protect their networks and we’re all paying the price, the Council of Economic Advisers concludes.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
These L.A. Startups Are What Stand Between Hackers and Your Medical Devices
Some of the most important cybersecurity work is happening in nondescript offices across the nation.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
Election Cyber Coordinating Council to Be Finalized Next Year
State and federal officials met with election industry leaders to launch the council.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
L.A. Cyber Center Hopes to Be a Model for Cities Nationwide
During the past four years, Los Angeles has centralized its cyber operations using models developed by the federal government and industry sectors.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
Homeland Security Told States About Russian Hacking Attempts With a Phone Script
Homeland Security notified state government officials about Russian probing in advance of the 2016 election, but often did not reach out to election officials, many of whom lacked security clearances.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
House Democrats Eye $400 Million for Election Security
The goal is to replace outdated and unsecured voting machines that lack paper receipts for votes.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
DHS: Sharing Election Threat Info With States Won't Be One-Size-Fits-All
As the clock counts down to national elections in 2018 and 2020, Homeland Security is asking top election officials in all 50 states how they’d like to communicate about relevant information security information,
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
State Election Officials Still Angry But Ready to Work With DHS
A conversation about state and federal cooperation on election cybersecurity with Connie Lawson, president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.
- By Joseph Marks
Digital Government
Time's Running Out to Prevent a Massive Cyberattack on Critical Infrastructure
The U.S. risks missing a “narrow and fleeting window of opportunity before a watershed, 9/11-level cyberattack,” according to a new report approved by the Homeland Security Department's National Infrastructure Advisory Council.
- By Joseph Marks