Al Qaeda Cyber Capabilities and US Regulations Raise Concern
Another week promised another string of risks to US cybersecurity, with the latest cyber threats coming out of the Middle East. But is the government doing more harm than good in its attempts to protect the Internet? According to one source, that may be the case.
For more on this and other cybersecurity news, check out my weekly recap via ClearanceJobs.
New US Cyber Czar Amid Emerging Cyber Threats
With several cybersecurity bills held up on the Hill, one top White House official has announced he won’t be on the clock while the rest of us wait around to see what happens.
As President Obama’s cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt announced his retirement this week, Michael Daniel, head of the national security division for the White House Office of Management and Budget, will prepare to step in and undoubtedly have his hands full while attempting to work with Congress and industry to manage emerging cyber threats. Read my full report via ClearanceJobs.
CISPA Passes House, Faces Senate Hurdles
Dubbed “Cyber Week” in Washington, the House took on a series of cybersecurity bills this week, with the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) causing debates on and off of the Hill.
After a number of hearings, amendments, letters of support and calls to Congress to boot the bill, CISPA passed in the House Thursday evening on a 248-168 vote, with the bill’s cosponsors, Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), commending their colleagues for the bipartisan effort and calling on the Senate to quickly pass the legislation. Read more…
Hackers Take on Cyber Bill
Just when you thought it was safe to forget about SOPA, the much-debated Stop Online Piracy Act made its way back into the headlines this week for what lawmakers are saying are all the wrong reasons.
Despite the current congressional recess, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), introduced by Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), was under fire this week for being too similar to SOPA, with critics claiming it’s just another way Congress intends to regulate the Internet. Read more…
Senator Casts Outlook on National Interest in Global Conflicts
Vast population growth across the globe is contributing to international conflicts that require US support, advised retired Democratic Senator George Mitchell during a meeting held Wednesday for government technology professionals.
As the former US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace under the Obama Administration, Mitchell warned that much of the population growth is happening in poor regions of the world, where increased competition for land, water, other natural resources and political power are contributing to inequality, injustice and the absence of freedom.
Citing a rise in the population of the Muslim world, Read more…
Congress, DoD and North Korea Move on Cyber
While much of Capitol Hill was busy with the budget this week, two congresswomen came together to put forth a new House cybersecurity bill.
Similar to the bill Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and seven of his Senate colleagues released at the beginning of the month, Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-Cali.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on Tuesday unveiled their version of the “Strengthening and Enhancing Cybersecurity by Using Research, Education, Information and Technology Act of 2012,” or the SECURE IT Act, for short.
Adding to the growing list of cyber bills already introduced in Congress this year, Reps. Bono Mack and Blackburn’s bill intends to Read more…
Cyber Attacks Up for Public and Private Review
Cyber attacks are on the rise, according to a range of sources around the globe, with everyone from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to the UK-based BBC News this week surveying the cyber landscape to determine how best to handle a hack.
In a newly released annual report to Congress, the OMB offered up its assessment of cybersecurity at the federal level – and the results showed mixed reviews.
The report, issued under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), addressed the strengths and weaknesses of federal cybersecurity for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, touting a list of accomplishments and proposing plans to overcome obstacles. Read more…
