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:

CSIAC Webinar – Certified Security by Design for the Internet of Things - CSIAC

Incorporating security into the design of components used in the Internet of Things (IoT) is essential for securing the operations of the IoT and the cyber-physical infrastructure upon which society depends. The pervasiveness of the IoT and its part in critical infrastructure requires incorporating security into the design of components from the start. Given the increasing functionality, interconnectedness, and use of the IoT within critical infrastructure, securing the integrity of command and control (C2) within the IoT is essential.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Critical Infrastructure:

Ukraine Investigates Possible Cyberattack on Power Grid in Kiev - International Business Times

Ukraine authorities are investigating a possible cyber attack on Kiev's power grid that may have caused the recent power outage that left the northern part of the capital and surrounding areas without electricity this weekend.

Cyber Crime:

Report: $3-5M in Ad Fraud Daily from ‘Methbot’ - Krebs on Security

New research suggests that an elaborate cybercrime ring is responsible for stealing between $3 million and $5 million worth of revenue from online publishers and video advertising networks each day.

Cyberwarfare:

Germany Sees Rise in Russian Propaganda, Cyber Attacks - Reuters

Germany's domestic intelligence agency on Thursday reported a striking increase in Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing German society and targeted cyber attacks against political parties.

Cybersecurity’s Next Phase: Cyber Deterrence - The Conversation

For decades, deterrence has effectively countered the threat of nuclear weapons. Can we achieve similar results against cyber weapons?

Pentagon: China Threatened to Bankrupt Defense Contractor - Washington Free Beacon

A U.S. defense contractor was threatened with bankruptcy by Chinese hackers seeking jet fighter logistics secrets, according to the Pentagon’s Joint Staff.

Data Security:

Yahoo Says One Billion Accounts Exposed in Newly Discovered Security Breach - Reuters

Yahoo Inc warned on Wednesday that it had uncovered yet another massive cyber attack, saying data from more than 1 billion user accounts was compromised in August 2013, making it the largest breach in history.

Brute-Force Botnet Attacks Now Elude Volumetric Detection - DarkReading

It just became harder to distinguish bot behavior from human behavior.

New Decryptor Unlocks CRYPTXXX V3 Files - Threat Post

Researchers have neutralized the threat of the latest strain of the CryptXXX v.3 ransomware, releasing a decryption tool for unlocking files, and have added it to the RannohDecryptor, a free utility hosted by Kaspersky Lab’s No Ransom Project.

Ransomware Gives Free Decryption Keys to Victims Who Infect Others - ThreatPost

Researchers say they have uncovered ransomware still under development that comes with a novel and nasty twist.

L.A. County: Major Breach Stemmed from Phishing Attack - HealthcareInfoSecurity

The County of Los Angeles is notifying 756,000 individuals of a breach that occurred five months ago stemming from a phishing scheme that tricked more than 100 county employees.

Emerging Technology:

IEEE Computer Society Predicts the Future of Tech for 2017 and Next Five Years - IEEE Computer Society

After grading itself on its 2016 vision, IEEE Computer Society has plunged into technology predictions for 2017 and for the next five years by 2022.

Internet-of-Things:

Rakos Malware Takes Over Embedded Linux Devices - SecurityWeek

A recently observed piece of malware targeting embedded Linux systems can provide attackers with full control over the infected devices, ESET security researchers warn.

Legislation and Regulation:

US Fails to Renegotiate Arms Control Rule for Hacking Tools - Associated Press

The Obama administration has failed to renegotiate portions of an international arms control arrangement so that it's simpler to export tools related to hacking and surveillance software — technologies that can be exploited by bad actors, but are also used to secure computer networks.

Network Security:

Explained: Domain-Generating Algorithms - Darkreading

Cybercriminals use domain-generating algorithms to prevent their servers from being blacklisted or taken down.

Neuromorphic Computing:

Memristors as Logic Gates and Memory Cells in Tomorrow’s Computing Devices - Newelectronics

As the last decade ended, ARM’s CTO Mike Muller warned the era of dark silicon was approaching.

Private Sector:

Rapid7 Appointed CVE Numbering Authority - SecurityWeek

Boston, Mass.-based Rapid7 can, effective immediately, assign CVE identifiers to vulnerabilities found in its own products and software from other vendors, regardless if the issues have been disclosed by Rapid7 employees or third-party experts.

Public Sector:

Microsoft Just Won This Giant Support Deal With the US Department of Defense - ZDNet

The US Department of Defense has signed a $927m, five-year deal for Microsoft's enterprise technical support services.

Quantum Computing:

Why Microsoft Believes We’re on the Threshold of Quantum Computing - Techradar

The time is right to make quantum computing real…

The Quantum Computers of the Future Will Work Equally Well With Encrypted and Unencrypted Inputs - PHYS.ORG

When future users of quantum computers need to analyze their data or run quantum algorithms, they will often have to send encrypted information to the computer.

FEEDBACK FROM PREVIOUS DIGEST:

Most Popular:

More Than One Million Google Accounts Hit by Malware - CBS News

More than one million Google accounts have been breached by malware that infiltrated older Android devices, cyber security firm Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. announced Wednesday.

Safer, Less Vulnerable Software Is the Goal of New NIST Computer Publication - NIST

We can create software with 100 times fewer vulnerabilities than we do today, according to computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). To get there, they recommend that coders adopt the approaches they have compiled in a new publication.

San Francisco Rail System Hacker Hacked - Krebs on Security

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) was hit with a ransomware attack on Friday, causing fare station terminals to carry the message, "You are Hacked. ALL Data Encrypted." Turns out, the miscreant behind this extortion attempt got hacked himself this past weekend, revealing details about other victims as well as tantalizing clues about his identity and location.

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:

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

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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