Category Archives: Senate Intelligence Committee

After 2016 election hacking, Illinois politicians pose cybersecurity questions to local officials

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Nearly a year after Illinois election boards were targeted in a monthlong cyberattack, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and state Sen. Michael E. Hastings want the state’s local election authorities to assess the state’s election-system cybersecurity. The two Democrats are asking questions about what might have been hacked and how local election officials responded. The letter not only dives into the specifics of Illinois cybersecurity but also asks how federal and state agencies can assist in protecting the election system at all levels. The inquiry comes as the the Senate Intelligence Committee will hold an open hearing June 21 to examine U.S. election security for the 2018 and 2020 elections and to assess Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections. Experts from the DHS, FBI, Illinois State Board of Elections, the National Association of State Election Directors and election cybersecurity expert J. Alex Halderman will testify. Last year, the personal information of as many as 90,000 voters […]

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Russia poses largest cybersecurity risk to U.S., Rep. Ruppersberger says

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Although all of America’s adversaries present serious cyberthreats, Russia’s hackers are the most dangerous right now, says the Maryland congressman whose district houses the National Security Agency. “Cyber issues [are] so important to what we do. And what’s kind of keeping me up a little bit right now, it’s not China,” Democratic Rep. Dutch Ruppersburger said at the 2017 Digital Nation Summit presented by SAP and FedScoop. “I mean, we have to always look at China, and you have to look at Iran, you have to look at North Korea … but I think right now, where we have to focus especially in this field, is Russia.” Russian President Vladimir Putin is shrewd, smart and motivated to reunite the Soviet Union, and he’s pouring the country’s funds into cybersecurity, military and space, said Ruppersberger, who has served on several key committees during his long tenure in Congress, including the House Intelligence panel. His suburban Baltimore […]

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U.S. intel officials slam Kaspersky while CEO calls fears of Russian influence ‘unfounded conspiracy theories’

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Eugene Kaspersky, the namesake and CEO of the famed cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, spent Thursday refuting accusations that his Moscow-based cybersecurity company could be used to spy on key U.S. systems, as the idea continued to circulate in Washington. At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Thursday morning, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, asked top American intelligence officials if any of them would use Kaspersky products, which are found on computers throughout the U.S., including those of major businesses. “A resounding no from me,” Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats testified. Every one of the witnesses, including acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe and Adm. Mike Rogers, who runs the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, agreed. Earlier this week, several outlets had reported increasing concerns about American officials that Russian spies could use Kaspersky Lab’s software or personnel against American interests. Kaspersky himself hosted a question-and-answer session on Reddit’s /r/IAmA forum Thursday, and all of the top questions addressed the […]

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Why Silicon Valley is worried about the new Senate encryption bill

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The bill could put tech companies in a bind, essentially asking them to protect consumers’ data with encryption but break that encryption on demand. Continue reading Why Silicon Valley is worried about the new Senate encryption bill→