Cybersecurity
Whole-of-state cyber defense: The pathway for addressing today’s AI-fueled threats
COMMENTARY | When every link in the chain is protected, the entire state is stronger, so they and their technology partners must operate as a unified, integrated force.
States, feds scramble to prevent more water cyberattacks
In the weeks after nine states were hit, lawmakers at the federal and state levels have proposed new funding to harden infrastructure, but experts warned they remain vulnerable.
White House to soon launch water provider cyber protection program
The plans come as several states face water system intrusions from what some official suspect could be linked to Iran.
Treasury sanctions Iranian hackers tied to critical infrastructure breaches
Four of the five people named in the cyber action were also charged last week in the Justice Department’s expanded Mabna Institute case.
What leaders get wrong about cloud security
COMMENTARY | Local governments are adopting cloud-based ERP systems to modernize finance operations, but cloud migration alone doesn’t eliminate security and compliance risks.
Former California CISO reflects on cyber’s importance in state government
Now a senior advisor at World Wide Technology, Vitaliy Panych said his aim was always to make everyone a “risk practitioner,” while managing an enormous state infrastructure.
New ‘Water Watch Center’ launched to help small utilities stop cyberattacks
The initiative comes as multiple states grapple with intrusions into their water systems that some officials suspect could be tied to Iran.
More US water systems struck by hackers
The FBI said systems in at least seven states have been hit, following an Iran-linked group’s hack in Minnesota. Experts urged operators to beef up operational technology cybersecurity.
Chinese telecom firms kept footholds in US networks despite federal crackdowns, House probe finds
China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom retained equipment, data center space and network ties after FCC restrictions, including a China Mobile-linked network that appeared in routes to Salt Typhoon servers.
Smart phones render Nevada privacy law vague and outdated, says attorney
“The burden has now become placed on us as humans. If we want to have a private conversation, we really need to take extra steps to have that private conversation,” an attorney said while arguing a case involving the statute.
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CISA urges water utilities to take exposed systems down after Minnesota hacks
A memo distributed to water industry members and obtained by Nextgov/FCW makes mention of Iran but does not directly present evidence attributing the latest Minnesota incident to the country.
Inside the World Cup security operation
A massive effort years in the planning at the federal, state and local level helped keep the tournament safe, even as it faced enormous threats of many kinds that all needed mitigating.
FCC blocks approval of new foreign-made robots, power inverters
National security agencies said the devices could create supply-chain vulnerabilities, threaten critical infrastructure and enable surveillance or remote manipulation.
Russian hackers can steal government emails without victims clicking a link, cyber agencies warn
The Russia-linked Laundry Bear group has compromised more than 10 Western organizations through malicious emails that can trigger an exploit when they are viewed or previewed.
AI, once relegated to helping hackers with certain tasks, can now power every stage of a cyberattack
Researchers determined that AI was used in steps across entire cyber operations to identify security flaws, generate commands and carry out parts of intrusions, sometimes with little human oversight. Both U.S. and Chinese AI models have been involved.
Virginia nonprofit launches mobile tech education bus for underserved students
The cyber education bus is the latest way the nonprofit organization RFK Outreach will fulfill its goal to help children and teens learn about technology.
A Puerto Rico government agency exposed 1M Social Security numbers
A cybersecurity loophole in an official government mapping service left private data easily accessible, Centro de Periodismo Investigativo and ProPublica learned.
Government groups call for $300M to fund cyber grant program
Various state and local organizations urged the Senate in an open letter to appropriate the money for Fiscal Year 2027 to the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
Texas investigates 2 major data breaches
Around 3 million hunting and fishing license customers in the state had their data exposed, according to a recent notification, while another 800,000 cruise line customers had their data breached.
Inside Indiana’s cybersecurity education expansion
The initiative is the first in the nation to also strive to connect students with military service, in addition to careers and higher education.
