VA data files on millions of veterans stolen
<font color="CC0000">(Updated)</font> The Veterans Affairs Department today revealed that personal, identifying data for as many as 26 million American veterans was stolen from a VA employee's home in May.
Senate delays border-crossing card because of privacy concerns
The Homeland Security Department's controversial new border-crossing identification card initiative would be postponed for 17 months under an amendment adopted by the Senate this week as part of the immigration reform package.
Commerce signs up for security training
The Commerce Department has awarded a task order to the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)2, to provide an expanded information security education program for the department's information security employees.
R. Fink | The Packet Rat: A pestilence of patches refuses to wear thin
Sure, the Rat is paranoid. But given the sheer number of new potential attack vectors on his agency's data security he finds out about every day, that paranoia is probably rational.
State to DHS: Take a pass on using long-range RFID
The State Department has learned the hard way over the past year that choosing long-range radio frequency identification for moving people across the border is fraught with peril. The hullabaloo over development of its electronic passport made that clear. Now, State officials are trying to pass those tough lessons on to the Homeland Security Department.
Too much for NSA to mine?
The commotion over allegations that the National Security Agency has been secretly compiling data on millions of telephone calls made by ordinary citizens raises an interesting question: With the technologies in place today, how well can NSA actually mine the information it gathers?
TSA pushes forward with worker ID plan
The Transportation Security Administration has supercharged its project to vet port workers and give them secure credentials. Homeland Security Department deputy secretary Michael P. Jackson told skeptical senators that TSA is launching two rulemakings and a procurement for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential.
FISMA from the inside out
In late April, federal officials convened at GCN's offices in Washington to discuss the role of FISMA and what agencies need to do to improve their grades.
DOD proposes oversight office for security clearance management
The Defense Department has proposed long-term measures, including a new internal oversight office, to prevent recurring problems that recently forced it to stop processing security clearances for industry.
GAO official cites privacy risk in data-mining efforts
Data mining and radio-frequency identification technologies raise privacy concerns for Linda Koontz, director of information management issues for GAO.
DLA to deploy RFID equipment at distribution centers
The Pentagon's objective to have all its distribution centers capable of receiving shipments with passive RFID tags has come closer to fruition with a newly awarded contract.
State Dept. to remove Chinese-made computers from classified networks
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Science, State, Justice and Commerce, and Related Agencies, announced today that the State Department has agreed that approximately 900 computers purchased from Lenovo Corp. will not be used on classified networks.
DHS privacy office slams RFID technology
The Homeland Security Department's Privacy Office has issued a draft report from a technology analysis group that strongly criticizes the personal privacy and security risks of using radio frequency identification device units for human identification and says the technology offers little performance benefit over competing methods.
GCN Lab Review | Virus killer in the palm of your hand
We were intrigued by a product called the VaccineDrive, a USB key drive with embedded virus protection. The drives are difficult to find, though a few online merchants are selling the 128MB version for around. We received one to try out.
DOD resumes security clearance investigations
The Defense Security Service has come up with funding to immediately resume processing initial secret level security clearances for industry.
Iris scans return to Registered Traveler
The scans once again are part of the biometric component to the Transportation Security Administration's Registered Traveler Program.
Tech brief | Extremely secure networks
Extreme Networks Inc. and StillSecure have combined technologies in Extreme's new Sentriant Access Guard network access control device.
Tech brief | Lenel get agencies OnGuard
Lenel Systems International last month unveiled OnGuard 2006, the latest version of its integrated physical/logical security suite.
William Jackson | Cybereye: Lack of definition for spyware can put security apps on trial
Recent reports on the status of IT security offer few surprises: more vulnerabilities, sneakier exploits and a growing focus on theft and fraud. Tom Leighton, chief scientist for Akamai Technologies Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., recently summed up the state of cybersecurity in four words: 'Bad, and getting worse.'
Jackson: TWIC procurement, reprogramming due soon
The Homeland Security Department plans to request proposals for a Transportation Worker Identity Credential systems integrator as early as today, according to deputy secretary Michael P. Jackson.
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