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AUTHOR ARCHIVES
Aliya Sternstein
Senior Correspondent
Aliya Sternstein reports on cybersecurity and homeland security systems. She’s covered technology for more than a decade at such publications as National Journal's Technology Daily, Federal Computer Week and Forbes. Before joining Government Executive, Sternstein covered agriculture and derivatives trading for Congressional Quarterly. She’s been a guest commentator on C-SPAN, MSNBC, WAMU and Federal News Radio. Sternstein is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
Annual Defense Bill Likely To Slip in Cyber Clampdown on Contractors
November 3, 2014
FROM NEXTGOV
After the midterm elections tomorrow, Congress is expected to act on the closest thing to cybersecurity legislation it can pass without running into gridlock. The National Defense Authorization Act, an annual must-pass package, typically includes several items intended to shore up federal computer systems. For the most part, the bill ...
Navy Launches ‘Task Force Cyber Awakening’
November 2, 2014 The Navy is embarking on a year-long effort to protect hardware and software servicewide, as the Internet of Things takes hold of everything from ship speakers to missile launchers. "Task Force Cyber Awakening" will draw from U.S. Cyber Command Commander Adm. Michael Rogers’ reaction strategy to a major Navy computer ...
Hackers Demand Bitcoin, Expose Silk Road Judge and Shellshock City of Mobile
October 31, 2014
FROM NEXTGOV
In case you missed our coverage this week in ThreatWatch, Nextgov’s regularly updated index of cyber breaches: Florida Clinic Refuses to Pay Computer Hostage-takers Hackers hijacked computers at a medical office in Zephyrhills, Florida, and held files containing sensitive patient information for ransom. Nonprofit Pays Hackers in Bitcoin to Regain ...
Navy Takes on Internet of Things with New Task Force
October 31, 2014
FROM NEXTGOV
The Navy is embarking on a year-long effort to protect hardware and software servicewide, as the Internet of Things takes hold of everything from ship speakers to missile launchers. "Task Force Cyber Awakening" will draw from U.S. Cyber Command Commander Adm. Michael Rogers’ reaction strategy to a major Navy computer ...
When Government is the Hacker, How Do You Protect Yourself?
October 31, 2014
FROM NEXTGOV
During October's National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, when industry and government are supposed to unite in solidarity against hackers, some companies are pointing the finger at the elephant hacker in the room -- the government itself. Leaks by ex-intelligence contractor Edward Snowden ignited awareness that U.S. authorities access U.S. citizens' private ...
Are the White House Hackers Gone?
October 30, 2014
FROM NEXTGOV
Efforts to suppress abnormal behavior on an unclassified White House network continue, according to Obama administration officials. "When we identified the activity of concern, we took immediate measures to evaluate and mitigate the activity," a senior administration official told Nextgov on Wednesday night. The official repeatedly declined to answer whether ...
Here Are Six Nearly Certified Cloud Services Waiting in the Wings
October 28, 2014
FROM NEXTGOV
The many agencies that skipped a June deadline to ensure their cloud services meet basic security controls now have a faster way to comply, according to government officials. The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, a cloud certification endeavor, has created a regularly updated list of "FedRAMP Ready Systems" that ...
600 Military Travelers Handed ‘Chip and PIN’ Hack-Resistant Credit Cards
October 28, 2014
FROM NEXTGOV
About 600 Defense Department travel cardholders are trying out new cards embedded with hack-resistant chips that require users to enter a passcode for purchases. The pilot program is part of a governmentwide effort to stanch rampant credit card theft. By the end of summer 2015, all military travelers will have ...
Why Some Agencies Want a One-Size-Fits-All Policy for Mobile Devices
October 27, 2014
FROM NEXTGOV
Various national security agencies would like the White House to provide guidance on how to handle mobile devices in the workplace. Employees are clamoring to use their personal smartphones and managers fear falling behind the technological curve. Currently, there is no governmentwide policy on mobile device security. Each agency has ...
DHS Expects to Outsource Employment Verification Checks to the Cloud
October 27, 2014
FROM NEXTGOV
The Department of Homeland Security plans to try a novel identity check model that lets citizens put a freeze on their Social Security numbers. That comes after lawmakers have pushed for a mechanism that locks down SSNs, so they can’t be used by immigrants to steal identities and fake work ...
