Cybercriminals begin to exploit the cloud for hacking – Homeland Security Newswire
Want to check whether the password to your wireless network (or your neighbor’s) passes muster? For $34, you can do just that by using a password-cracking service that is primarily aimed at “penetration testers” — people who are paid by a company to test its network’s security.
Congressional Quarterly surveyed homeland security experts, a number of whom are contributors to Security Debrief, on the state and future of homeland security. Some of their views on the Obama administration’s best move in homeland security in 2009 are provided here.
People all over the country are writing about 2009 – a good many will write about the events that affected cyber issues. I will not try to do a complete tour de force but will list some of the issues I felt were either very interesting or particularly important.
Obama Names Former Bush Adviser as Cyberczar – Finally After a prolonged search — vowing to make the choice personally — President Obama has named Howard A. Schmidt, a former cybersecurity adviser to President George W. Bush as the nation’s cyberczar. Schmidt, who has more than 30 years in government service, also served as Chief […]
Hackers Brew Self-Destruct Code to Counter Police Forensics – Wired
Hackers have released an application designed to thwart a Microsoft-packaged forensic toolkit used by law enforcement agencies to examine a suspect’s hard drive during a raid.
When I look at the military’s efforts in the cyber security realm, I am concerned. The military still has the highest motivation, but in cyber security, it is not doing as well as some entities in the private sector. Please do not misunderstand me. The military and other U.S. defense agencies are doing well in many areas. But on the defensive side, I have much less confidence.
The Internet Security Alliance (ISA), a broadly focused industry group, has released a report as their entry into a race to be the most helpful in cyber security to the Obama Administration. At the National Press Club, the release was marked by a lunchtime gathering and short presentation led by the organization’s president. Recommendations focused on how the government will work with the private sector.
In November, the Harvard Business School hosted its annual Tech Conference, the “Cyberposium,” focusing on this year on the “digital storm” and addressing the cutting-edge challenges that the U.S. faces. The purpose of the event was to give its top-notch business students exposure to key issues they will face as they go out and act as leaders of American and international business.
A big topic today is the so-called Smart Grid. This is our power system on steroids, or at least, on millions of small, very capable monitoring computers that will make our power usage more efficient and more, well…smart. Most people are now aware (or are getting more so) that all this wonderful technology that makes us efficient, effective and connected also makes us vulnerable to those who want to do us harm.
Incentives Can Help Build Public-Private Cyber Partnership – CQ Homeland Security
For years, cybersecurity experts have expounded on the need for a “public-private” partnership to protect critical infrastructure, financial institutions and other targets of attackers. But a new report from the Internet Security Alliance suggests the approach thus far has been backward: It should really be a “private-public” partnership.
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