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.

CSIAC ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Coming Soon: Information Awareness Video Series - CSIAC

To assist organizations’ Information Awareness training programs, the CSIAC has created a series of videos designed to introduce several fundamental IA concepts. This fast, free, and easy-to-watch video series describes current information security threats and protections for government, industry and academia. Stay tuned for the release!

Free CSIAC Webinar: Deep Dive into the Dark Web - CSIAC

This presentation will focus on gaining an understanding of the current and future trends we have observed from the Deep & Dark Web which can offer illuminating insights into how to remain in front of future threats.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Big Data and Cloud Computing:

Security: It’s a Big Data Problem - Data Informed

Data breaches are occurring with greater frequency than ever before and have increasingly devastating effects on everyone from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies to the federal government.

Critical Infrastructure:

Keeping the World’s Lights On: The Urgent Need to Secure Critical Infrastructure from Cyber-Threat - Information Security Buzz

The world needs to wake up to the vulnerability of critical infrastructures to cyber-attack and to respond, emphatically, with Government regulation, industry-wide collaboration, education and deep, tailored protection.

Cyberwarfare:

Senate Bill Asks Obama Administration to Define Cyber War - SC Magazine

The Cyber Act of War Act of 2016 that asks the administration to define whether a specific cyberattack would and would or not be considered an act of war thus enabling the United States to respond appropriately.

Carter Says Cyber Warfare on DAESH Can Set Model - TRT World

Cyber attack techniques used by the US-led coalition against DAESH could also be used by other countries, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

Data Security:

IRS, Other Agencies Must Keep Moving To Keep Up With Data Security - Federal News Radio

The changing cyber landscape and the increasing amounts of data that need protection, creates a series of spinning plates that the federal government must constantly work to balance.

High Performance Computing:

Lincoln Laboratory Establishes a Supercomputing Center - MIT

New facility will enable interactive, high-performance computing for data analysis.

IBM’s Watson is Going to Cybersecurity School - Network World

IBM Security on Tuesday announced a new year-long research project through which it will collaborate with eight universities to help train its Watson artificial-intelligence system to tackle cybercrime.

Legislation and Regulation:

Obama Signs Trade Secrets Bill, Allowing Companies to Sue - USA Today

President Obama signed a bill Wednesday allowing companies to sue to defend their trade secrets.

Mobile Security:

Lawakers to Get Briefing on Cell Network Security Flaw - The Hill

The Energy and Commerce Committee next week will be briefed by U.S. wireless operators on a security vulnerability in the global cellphone network that experts say may have allowed other countries to eavesdrop on officials’ private conversations.

US Gov’t Probes Mobile Phone Industry Over the Sad State of Security Updates - Aars Technica UK

FCC and FTC coordinate probe of OS developers, hardware makers, and carriers.

Network Security:

Financial Messaging Service SWIFT Says Banks Responsible for Own Cybersecurity - NBC News

SWIFT has told its bank customers that they are responsible for securing computers used to send messages over its global network, which was used to steal some $81 million from a Bangladesh central bank account at the New York Fed in February.

Private Sector:

Gen. Hayden: Private Sector Must Lead Fight Against Cyber Threats - eWeek

Retired U.S. Gen. Michael Hayden says it's up to the private sector to defend against most cyber-threats because the government can only deal with a "thin slice" of the incidents.

Quantum Computing:

IBM Extends Open Invitation to Play With Its Quantum Computer - Tech News World

IBM last week announced that it would allow researchers and scientists to run experiments using its quantum processor.

How Toy Street Lamps Are Shedding New Light on Quantum Computing - PC Wrold

Three advances, three steps closer to quantum's potential.

Software Security:

Homeland Security Warns of Hackers Exploiting SAP Security Flaw - ZDnet

Homeland Security has warned that hackers are exploiting a security vulnerability in SAP business software -- a flaw that dates back to 2010.

FEEDBACK FROM PREVIOUS DIGEST:

Most Popular:

Critical Infrastructure Vulnerable to Attack, NSA Leader Says - DoD

Strong dependence on industrial control systems, or ICS, is a serious vulnerability for industry, the National Security Agency’s deputy director said here yesterday.

Intel CEO Talks Cloud and Internet of Things Strategy - Top Tech News

CEO Brian Krzanich outlined a set of core beliefs yesterday guiding the company's strategy for the future -- chief among them that the cloud is the single most important trend influencing the future of computing.

Multiple computer viruses have been discovered in this German nuclear plant - Science Alert

The potential dangers of USB sticks when it comes to transporting computer viruses are well known, but even workers in highly sensitive environments like nuclear facilities can't always seem to prevent themselves from exposing their PCs to malware.

CSIAC SUPPORTED COMMUNITIES:

Cyber Security of Critical Infrastructure - Department of Homeland Security

CSIAC serves on the EO 13636/PPD-21 Research & Development (R&D) Working Group (WG) run by DHS S&T. If you would like further information, contact Dr. Paul Losiewicz at plosiewicz@csiac.org

Cyber Community of Interest (COI) Group - CSIAC

The Cyber COI engages in multiple activities and forums for coordinating cyber S&T strategies, sharing innovative ideas and technical approaches, promoting technology transfer and upcoming business opportunities, and in jointly planning programs across the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Membership is based upon approval by the Cyber COI group administrator.

TECHNICAL RESOURCES, POLICY & GUIDANCE:

Opportunities Exist for DOD to Share Cybersecurity Resources with Small Businesses - GAO

DOD OSBP officials acknowledged that cybersecurity is an important and timely issue for small businesses -and therefore the office is considering incorporating cybersecurity into its existing outreach and education efforts. During the review, GAO identified 15 existing federal cybersecurity resources that DOD OSBP could disseminate to defense small businesses.

DHS S&T Collaboration Community - Ideascale

The National Conversation is intended to bring together everyone to play a role in shaping the future of homeland security technology. This means responders, operational users, citizens, academia, and industry.

The Department of Defense Cyber Strategy - Department of Defense

The purpose of this strategy is to guide the development of DoD's cyber forces and strengthen our cyber defense and cyber deterrence posture. It focuses on building cyber capabilities and organizations for DoD's three primary cyber missions.

Information Sharing Environment - ISE

The Information Sharing Environment (ISE) broadly refers to the people, projects, systems, and agencies that enable responsible information sharing for national security.

Standards & Reference Documents - CSIAC

View all Best Practices and Reference Documents on the CSIAC website.

The DoD Cybersecurity Policy Chart (Formerly the IA Policy Chart) - CSIAC

DoD Cyber Domain Resources - Department of Defense

DHS Cyber Security Strategy (“Blueprint for a Secure Cyber Future”, 2011) - Department of Homeland Defense

DIB CS/IA Voluntary Information Sharing Program - DoD DIBNet

DoD's DIB CS/IA program is a voluntary program to enhance and supplement DIB participants' capabilities to safeguard DoD information that resides on, or transits, DIB unclassified information systems.

US-CERT Bulletins - Department of Homeland Security

Bulletins provide weekly summaries of new vulnerabilities. Patch information is provided when available.

US-CERT Alerts - Department of Homeland Security

Alerts provide timely information about current security issues, vulnerabilities, and exploits.

National Vulnerability Database - NIST

NVD is the U.S. government repository of standards based vulnerability management data represented using the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP). This data enables automation of vulnerability management, security measurement, and compliance. NVD includes databases of security checklists, security related software flaws, misconfigurations, product names, and impact metrics.

Trustworthy CyberSpace: Strategic Plan For The Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Program - NITRD

Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) - Committee on National Security Systems

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