Cybersecurity
Hackers are already laying groundwork to disrupt the 2026 midterms, research says
The report from cybersecurity firm Check Point lands as the Trump administration pushes new voting rules and intelligence officials face questions about how they are handling foreign election threats.
Israeli researchers link Iran government to LA Metro cyberattack
Security company Gambit said the March hack could be traced to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, rather than a hacktivist group that had previously claimed responsibility.
State leaders renew call for cyber grant program’s renewal
The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program is facing down a September deadline for reauthorization. Without it, officials warned that current efforts would lose momentum.
Feds assign two officials to lead intelligence coordination on election threats
For months, it was unclear if ODNI ever named an election threats executive responsible for leading election security efforts in the 2026 midterm cycle.
Aligning state and local AI security investments with the Cyber Strategy for America
COMMENTARY | State and local leaders do not need to start from scratch to strengthen their cyber posture. The federal strategy offers a practical path forward.
‘No time to waste’ in prepping governments for AI cyber threats, top Dem lawmaker says
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the Department of Homeland Security to work closer with states and localities, and bemoaned the end of federal funding to an information-sharing center.
Canvas breach spotlights cybercriminal appetite for student data
Cyberattacks on widely used third-party services like Canvas can expose sensitive data that hackers can later weaponize. Higher education institutions are often a prime target.
Senator warns CISA election security pullback could leave midterms vulnerable
Mark Warner, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat, pressed DHS over reports that states are no longer receiving the same cybersecurity and protection support ahead of the 2026 elections.
CISA unveils CI Fortify to help secure critical infrastructure during conflicts
For years, U.S. officials have assessed that China is infiltrating non-military critical infrastructure to enable sabotage during a major conflict involving Taiwan.
State cyber officials’ confidence is down, survey finds
The study by NASCIO and Deloitte found that just 26% of respondents are extremely or very confident they can protect themselves from cyber threats, down from 48% in 2022.
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The new leadership playbook: What public sector CISOs need now
COMMENTARY | AI and quantum have changed the game and made threats faster and bigger. Leaders must invest in their teams, learn fast and not wait to migrate their tools and platforms.
Pro-Iran hackers appear to ramp up critical infrastructure cyberattacks
A group sympathetic to the regime claimed responsibility for a hack on the Los Angeles Metro, while the federal government is warning of ongoing vulnerabilities in some systems.
World needs to ‘get ready’ for more powerful AI, Anthropic co-founder says
The company’s powerful Mythos, unveiled earlier this month, won’t be the only supercharged AI system to hit the market, Jack Clark said.
Experts call for proactive, tech-driven approach to fraud prevention
State programs have been under federal scrutiny in recent times, and leaders said this moment must be a time for looking ahead and learning for the future, rather than recriminations.
How Iranian hackers pose a threat to US critical infrastructure
COMMENTARY | A cyberattack on a US corporation illustrates how state-aligned hackers operate, and how damage in war today isn’t always visible or geographically confined.
Why small municipalities have become cybercriminals' favorite prey
COMMENTARY | City and county managers can no longer see cybersecurity as an IT problem. They can take various practical steps before an incident occurs.
New Texas Cyber Command looks to ‘bind the state together’
The command went live in September, and must build an information-sharing and analysis center, a threat intelligence center, a digital forensics lab and an incident response unit.
Stryker hack could set stage for more pro-Iran cyber sabotage
Attacks like the one on the Michigan-based medical tech company could indicate that bad actors are expanding their targets to these shores.
Experts warn of coming ‘reprioritization’ for cyber funding
A popular federal grant program looks unlikely to be replenished, they said, so states must start thinking differently about how they want to fund their cybersecurity efforts.
Feds pledge beefed up information-sharing amid new cyber strategy
Administration officials also promised a stronger focus on protecting critical infrastructure and bolstering the cyber workforce during a series of talks at a summit this week.
