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:

Big Data and Cloud Computing:

DISA Expanding Scope, Price Tag Of MilCloud 2.0 - Federal News Radio

The Defense Information Systems Agency is tripling the contract time and quintupling the financial ceiling for the replacement of its government-operated MilCloud service.

Critical Infrastructure:

DOE Announces $15M to Protect Critical Infrastructure - The News

Money will enhance the culture of security within DOE’s utility members’ organizations.

Cyberwarfare:

China Accused of Launching ‘Cyber War’ Over Contested Islands - Fed Scoop

Security experts and former officials say the attacks on computer networks at airports and government ministries are designed to demonstrate China's cyber power and deter online retaliation.

Hackers Claim to Auction NSA Source Code - The Hill

Hackers calling themselves Shadow Brokers are auctioning off what they claim is the source code to a vaunted, likely state-sponsored hacking group many believe is affiliated with the National Security Agency.

Data Security:

U.S. Intelligence to Help Companies Thwart Supply-Chain Hacking - Insurance Journal

U.S. intelligence officials are planning to provide information including classified threat reports to companies about the risks of hacking and other crimes tied to the supplies and services they buy.

Healthcare Security:

Majority of Healthcare Leaders Elevating Cybersecurity As a Priority, According To HIMSS - Healthcare IT News

But many say lack of financial resources and personnel is hindering better security practices.

High Performance Computing:

All Phase-Change Neuromorphic Device Recognises Correlations - Nano Tech Web

Traditional programmable computers are facing fundamental limitations in terms of speed and size, inspiring increasing interest in alternative paradigms such as neuromorphic computing.

Internet-of-Things:

The Bandwidth Bottleneck That Is Throttling The Internet - Scientific American

Researchers are scrambling to repair and expand data pipes worldwide and to keep the information revolution from grinding to a halt.

Mobile Security:

Apple Removes Encryption From iOS 10 Kernel, Which Could Pay Off Big - PC Mag

Though Apple's move might seem to decrease iOS security at first, it will actually allow many more to try and poke holes in Apple's products and Apple, in turn, can patch them up faster.

Network Security:

Network security – Stick to the plan - SC Magazine

Will Embrey argues that, to maximise its budget and resources, determining a company's network security strategy should fall on the shoulders of its CEO.

Quantum Computing:

Quantum Computing Breakthrough: Oxford University Scientists Achieve Incredibly Accurate Logic Gate - IB Times

Computer scientists have reached the theoretical benchmark required to build a quantum computer.

Software Security:

New Malware Campaign Spreads Backdoors Instead of Ransomware - SC Magazine

One of the most active Trojans this year has changed tactics and now installing backdoors on target machines instead of ransomware.

FEEDBACK FROM PREVIOUS DIGEST:

Most Popular:

Cortana: The spy in Windows 10 - Computer World

Cortana, Windows 10’s built-in virtual assistant, is both really cool and really creepy.

End of SMS-based 2-Factor Authentication; Yes, It’s Insecure! - The Hacker News

Two-Factor Authentication or 2FA adds an extra step of entering a random passcode sent to you via an SMS or call when you log in to your account as an added layer of protection.

Bring Cyberwarfare Further Out Of The Shadows - Washington Post

Thousands of U.S. businesses and other institutions have been besieged by cyberattacks in recent years. But the penetration of the Democratic National Committee stands out.

Your Battery Status is Being Used to Track You Online - The Guardian

A little-known web standard that lets site owners tell how much battery life a mobile device has left has been found to enable tracking online, a year after privacy researchers warned that it had the potential to do just that.

CSIAC SUPPORTED COMMUNITIES:

Upcoming Events - CSIAC

View Upcoming Events around the world on the CSIAC website.

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.

The Cyber Shield Newsletter - New Mexico Counterintelligence Working Group (NMCIWG)

The Cyber Shield is a Cyber Newsletter for Counterintelligence, IT and Security Professionals associated with DoD and USG agencies. There are no distribution constraints. If you would like to subscribe, please contact Paul Losiewicz at plosiewicz@csiac.org

TECHNICAL RESOURCES:

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.

POLICY RESOURCES:

Presidential Policy Directive – United States Cyber Incident Coordination - The White House

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

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

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

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.

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.

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