26 posts and columns on cybersecurity

News Byte

First White House Cyber-Security Coordinator to Retire

in News on May 17 at 8:47 am PT

Howard Schmidt, the first-ever White House cyber-security coordinator, is leaving the post he’s held since 2009. Schmidt, who has spent the past two-and-a-half years working on protections for the country’s critical infrastructure, will step down at the end of this month; he’ll be succeeded by Michael Daniel, chief of the White House budget office’s intelligence branch.

Numbers

WTF Is CISPA?

in Numbers on May 1 at 4:45 pm PT

With SOPA and PIPA out of the picture, it seemed like digital privacy was less threatened. Then along came the new cybersecurity bill on the block, CISPA.
cispa_infographic

Voices

House Passes Cybersecurity Bill

in News on April 27 at 9:05 am PT

Congress moved toward gridlock over how to improve the security of the nation’s computer networks when the House of Representatives approved a measure opposed by the White House and at odds with Senate efforts on the issue.

Voices

Hackers Press the “Schmooze” Button

in Voices on October 31, 2011 at 5:00 am PT

Chris Patten called a large investment-management firm to report that he was going through a divorce and was worried that his wife had set up an account under a false name.

Operation Shady RAT: The Biggest Hacking Attack Ever

in News on August 3, 2011 at 7:15 am PT

The biggest network intrusion ever has been carried out since 2006 against organizations in 72 countries. You get three guesses who the attacker is thought to be, but you probably only need one. Need a hint? It wasn’t LulzSec.
ShadyRAT_chart1

U.K. Police Say This Is the Face of LulzSec Hacker Known as Topiary

in News on August 1, 2011 at 5:59 am PT

The 18-year-old resident of the Shetland Islands has been granted bail and is scheduled to appear in a U.K. court on Aug. 30.
jake-davis-topiary

Voices

The Cop on the Cyber Beat

in Enterprise on June 27, 2011 at 12:00 am PT

Companies are hiring chief information-security officers and spending ever-increasing sums to protect their communications networks and databases from attack. Bruce McConnell, a senior cybersecurity official with the Department of Homeland Security, sat down with The Wall Street Journal’s John Bussey to discuss what role the government should play in this effort and why he’s especially concerned about the theft of intellectual property.

Voices

Prolific Spam Network Is Unplugged

in News on March 17, 2011 at 1:54 pm PT

Activity from Rustock, one of the world’s most prolific spam email networks, has ground to a halt, apparently thanks to a coordinated effort by Internet service providers and software vendors. The take-down, which took place Wednesday morning Eastern time, happened without fanfare, and surprised many in the tight-knit community of cybersecurity consultants and experts.

Voices

White House Advisor: Use of Term Cyberwar "Terrible"

in News on February 16, 2011 at 12:00 am PT

White House cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt said that policymakers and others should stop “conflating… cyberwar with cyber-espionage with cybercrime.”

Voices

Oil Firms Hit by Hackers From China, Report Says

in News on February 10, 2011 at 5:30 am PT

Hackers who appear to be based in China have conducted a “coordinated, covert and targeted” campaign of cyber espionage against major Western energy firms, according to a report expected to be issued today by cybersecurity firm McAfee Inc.

Exclusive: Apple Taps Former Navy Information Warrior for Global Director of Security

in Enterprise, January 22, 2011 at 12:30 pm PT

Dude, Where's My Czar?

in News, August 4, 2009 at 5:01 am PT

Dude, Where’s My Czar?

in News, August 4, 2009 at 5:01 am PT

AT&T Talks Cybersecurity With Congress

in News, March 20, 2009 at 12:35 pm PT