The Cybersecurity (CS) Digest is a curated bi-weekly news summary for cybersecurity professionals. It is transmitted in an HTML-formatted email and provides links to articles and news summaries across a spectrum of cybersecurity topics.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Cyberwarfare:

Cybercom Chief: Cyber Threats Blur Roles, Relationships - Official Wire

Over five years of U.S. Cyber Command operations, global movement of threat activity through cyberspace has blurred roles and relationships among government agencies, as well as between the public and private sectors and the real and virtual worlds, the Cybercom commander told a House panel.

Data Security:

Over 5.3 Million Upatre Infections Detected in the US Since January - Softpedia

Since the first month of the year, the country recording by far the largest number of infections with Upatre malware downloader is the United States, with 5,326,970 detections.

Malware Uses Windows Product IDs to Mix Mutex - The Register

Malware writers are using Windows unique product numbers to generate mutex values to evade researchers.

Yahoo Puts Email Encryption Plugin Source Code Up for Review - Computer World

Yahoo released the source code for a plugin that will enable end-to-end encryption of email messages, a planned data-security improvement prompted by disclosures of U.S. National Security Agency snooping.

Microsoft Windows Vulnerable to ‘FREAK’ Encryption Flaw Too - CNET

Previously thought limited to Apple and Google browsers, the flaw leaves communications between affected users and websites open to interception.

High Performance Computing:

U.S. Army Plans for a 100 Petaflop Supercomputer - IT World

HPC will play a vital role in future Army strategy planning.

Internet-of-Things:

Symantec Research Highlights Security Failures in the Connected Home - Zdnet

Research analyzing today's smart home devices has revealed disturbing security implications for consumers.

Legislation and Regulation:

FCC Releases Open Internet Order - FCC

The FCC's Open Internet rules protect and maintain open, uninhibited access to legal online content without broadband Internet access providers being allowed to block, impair, or establish fast/slow lanes to lawful content.

Senate Intel Committee’s Draft Cybersecurity Legislation Gets Panned by Privacy, Security Coalition - Fierce Government IT

Several dozen advocacy groups, security experts and academics sent a letter March 2 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, opposing the most recent version of a controversial bill that would encourage companies to voluntarily share information about cyberattacks with the federal government.

Obama’s ‘Privacy Bill of Rights’ Gets Bashed From All Sides - Next Gov

The White House unveiled an ambitious legislative proposal to restrict how companies, including Web giants like Facebook and Google, can handle private information.

F.C.C. Net Neutrality Rules Clear Hurdle as Republicans Concede to Obama - NY Times

Senior Republicans conceded that the grueling fight with President Obama over the regulation of Internet service appears over, with the president and an army of Internet activists victorious.

Mobile Security:

2,400 Unsafe Mobile Apps Found in Average Large Enterprise - Net-Security

The average global enterprise has approximately 2,400 unsafe applications installed in its mobile environment, according to Veracode.

Mass Infection Malware Attack Targets Android - Net-Security

AdaptiveMobile uncovered one of the single largest messaging-initiated mobile malware outbreaks.

Network Security:

Self-Deleting Malware Targets Home Routers to Gather Information - SC Magazine

Researchers with Trend Micro have analyzed malware that first connects to home routers and scans for connected devices, and then sends the information it gathers to a command-and-control (C&C) server before deleting itself without a trace.

D-Link Fixes Router Flaws Following Public Disclosure - Softpedia

D-Link has released firmware updates for its DIR-820L router in the wake of a report from an independent security researcher who found multiple security flaws in the device, amoung others, allowing a remote attacker complete takeover.

Private Sector:

Anthem Attribution to China: Useful? - Gov Info Security

New clues have emerged, further suggesting that the hack of health insurer Anthem was launched from China. Some information security experts say that attribution offers vital clues, but others question its applicability to the businesses that must defend themselves against APT attackers.

Public Sector:

State Says it Needs to Rebuild Classified Computer Networks After Hack - Next Gov

The State Department says it needs to reconstruct its classified computer systems after suffering a hack the agency has said only affected its unclassified networks.

CIA to Make Sweeping Structural Changes with Focus on Cyber Operations - The Guardian

Spy agency will incorporate digital innovations into intelligence gathering and follows major shifts in the CIA's role and operations in the years since 9/11.

6 Biggest Blunders in Government’s Annual Cyber Report Card - Next Gov

The White House has released its yearlyassessment of agency compliance with the governmentwide cyber law known as the Federal Information Security Management Act.

Quantum Computing:

Russia Adopts Quantum Computing to Counter Foreign Spyware and Sabotaged Cyber-Imports - SC Magazine

Russian government agencies have detected foreign-controlled spyware networks in the country, and a host of compromised devices, leading to moves to adopt quatum computing solutions.

Software Security:

Hacker Finds a Simple Way to Fool IRIS Biometric Security Systems - The Hacker News

Biometric security systems that involve person's unique identification (ID), such as Retinal, IRIS, Fingerprint or DNA, are still evolving to change our lives for the better even though the biometric scanning technology still has many concerns such as information privacy, and physical privacy.

Lossy Image Compression Can Hide Malicious Code in PDF Files: Researcher - Security Week

A researcher has demonstrated that lossy image compressors can be used to hide arbitrary code inside PDF documents. The method could be highly efficient for malicious actors because security products are designed to ignore such data.

The CS Digest provides links to third party Websites. The CSIAC is not responsible for the availability of, and content provided on, third party Websites. You should refer to the policies posted by other Websites regarding their privacy and other topics before you use them. The CSIAC is not responsible for third party content accessible through the CSIAC CS Digest, including opinions, advice, statements, advertisements and endorsements, and you bear all risks associated with the use of such content.