Tag: Policy

Massachusetts on Front Lines (Again) in Battle for Right to Repair

In-brief: After legislation in five states stalled in the Spring, states like Massachusetts will be on the front line of renewed efforts to pass pro-consumer laws that create a “right to repair” for cell phones, medical devices and other software-driven products. At stake could be the right of consumers to control Internet of Things devices they purchase for use in their home, on their person or in their business.

Heading to College? Job 1: Lock Down your ‘Directory Information’

In-brief: Colleges in the U.S. give away personally identifying data on millions of students each year as unregulated “directory information.” Job 1 when arriving on campus: opting out and protecting your data.

Analysis: there is both Means and Motive for Cyber Attacks on Navy Vessels

In-brief: could cyber attacks have played a role in recent collisions between US Navy vessels and commercial ships? The short answer is yes. Regardless of what caused the most recent incidents, both the means and the motive exist to launch such attacks in the future.

OSINT University: are Colleges and Universities protecting Student Data?

In-brief: Colleges and universities collect reams of student data – including personally identifying information- as part of their student “directory” files. They then distribute it to – basically – whomever asks. In this podcast, we talk with researcher Leah Figueroa who has researched the issue. Also: where are all those Devil’s Ivy attacks? And: companies are desperate for tools and talent to beat back sophisticated threats. Is artificial intelligence the answer? We talk with Endgame about the results of a new survey. 

It’s the Corruption, Stupid: why Russians aren’t the biggest threat to Election Security

In-brief: Russian hackers aren’t the biggest threat to the security and integrity of elections says Bev Harris of Black Box Voting. Instead, it’s a more common enemy: run of the mill political corruption, mostly at the local level. Also: Eric Hodge of CyberScout talks about the challenges of helping states secure their election systems. Problem number one: recalcitrant voting machine makers.