In-brief: A firm that sells secure conferencing equipment to the U.S. government and military has acknowledged that it shipped software for the device that contained an undocumented “backdoor” account.
White House
Fed CIO’s Security Sprint Ends with Long To-Do List
In-brief: In a 21-page memorandum posted on the White House website, the Obama Administration identified its top cyber security priorities. Among them: identifying high value information and assets on government networks, responding to cyber incidents in a timely manner and finding and keeping qualified information security staff. Its a list that one leading security expert says sounds worryingly familiar to earlier federal nostrums.
Whitehouse Taps Google Advanced Projects Lead for Software Safety Lab
In-brief: The Obama Whitehouse has tapped famed hacker Peiter Zatko (aka “Mudge”) to head up a new project aimed at developing an “underwriters’ lab” for cyber security.
Wanted: Clean Bills on Data Breach and Cyber Intel Sharing | Digital Guardian
In-brief: Two pieces of legislation moving through Congress could address glaring needs for more legal protections for companies that want to share information on cyber attacks. They would also grease the wheels of the federal government’s omnibus surveillance machine. Read this post in its entirety on Digital Guardian’s blog.
Bill in U.S. House would Open Doors to Threat Intel Sharing | Reuters
In-brief: Leaders of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee introduced the Protecting Cyber Networks Act on Tuesday. The bill would make it easier for companies to share information about attacks with each other and with the government. It also addresses concerns about omnibus spying by U.S. intelligence agencies.
