Archive for March, 2016
Why Estonia’s Future Matters to the US
Mar 31st
From: The Patriot Post
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Although small in size and population, Estonia punches above its weight inside NATO and is an example for all of the Alliance to emulate. Estonia is only one of five countries (out of 28) to spend the NATO requirement of 2 percent of GDP on defense. While many European countries sent their troops to the safer parts of Afghanistan, Estonia deployed theirs to Helmand province — one of the country’s deadliest regions. After the Russian cyber-attack in 2007, Estonia led the debate inside NATO on the importance of cyber-security and is now home to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. Estonia even ranks second in the eurozone and 9th in the world in the 2016 Index of Economic Freedom, published by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.
EU Cracking Down on Bitcoin Anonymity Sparks a Debate About Privacy
Mar 28th
From: The Cointelegraph
Author: Iyke Aru
Despite Europol’s statement that anonymous currencies are hardly used by terrorists, the European Commission will propose stricter rules on encryption and payment privacy in a bid to curb the financing of terrorism.
Why are government officials afraid of Bitcoin?
Government officials explain that “there seems to be a risk that virtual currencies may be used by terrorist organizations to conceal financial transactions, as these can be carried out more anonymously.” By being able to track financial flows, authorities hope to cut off terrorists’ access to funds and thus prevent attacks such as those in Paris and Brussels.
China develops face-scanning police car to catch criminals
Mar 25th
From: India Today
From K J M Varma
Beijing, Mar 25 (PTI) A face-scanning police car with cameras on its roof-top has been developed by a Chinese university which could help in chasing and arresting wanted criminals.
The intelligent vehicles, developed by University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Sichuan Province, will be first tested in east Zhejiang Province in June, the university said.
Apple defends China moves amid FBI spat
Mar 21st
Editor’s Note: For more on this issue, see Skating on Stilts here.
From: The Hill
By Cory Bennett and Katie Bo Williams
Apple is battling claims that it has regularly made concessions to the Chinese government at the same time that it refuses to help the FBI unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s phone.
The U.S. government has been pushing the allegations in the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s first court hearing in the case, accusing Apple of making “special accommodations” for China that it will not provide for FBI investigators.
Consortium names NIST’s May top lab director, honors indoor air quality researchers
Mar 17th
From: National Institute of Standards and Technology
The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) has named Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Willie E. May as its Laboratory Director of the Year for 2016. Also recognized by the FLC with a 2016 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award is a NIST engineering team for its development of a computer simulation program that predicts air and contaminant movement within buildings.
Schumer: Dam cyberattack was ‘shot across the bow’ from Iran
Mar 14th
From: Fox5NY
By: FRANK ELTMAN, Associated Press
LAWRENCE, N.Y. (AP) — A cyberattack on a small dam in the suburbs outside of New York City was a “shot across the bow” of the United States and should be met with tougher sanctions against Iran, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Friday.
In 2013, hackers accessed the control system at the Bowman Avenue Dam, a small flood-control structure in Rye Brook, about 20 miles north of New York City. The intrusion prompted a federal investigation.
Feds readying indictments of Iranian hackers
Mar 11th
From: The Hill | Overnight Cybersecurity
By Cory Bennett and Katie Bo Williams
Implications for Britain’s tech sector of UK withdrawal from the EU
Mar 8th
From: ITProPortal
By Michael Fimin
Although no state has ever withdrawn from the EU yet, it seems that the United Kingdom may be about to make the leap. While the referendum is in just three months, now is the time to consider the implications of a possible Brexit decision for the entire UK tech sector and, particularly, for the state of IT security on the national level.
First, potential UK exit from the EU raises several questions regarding compliance with the new EU General Data Protection Regulation and whether any national cybersecurity policy and strategy that replaces it could be as effective.
Cmr. McSweeny will participate in discussion at New America – Cybersecurity for a New America 2016
Mar 7th
From: Federal Trade Commission
Mar 9, 2016 9:30AM
Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, DC
Event Description
FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeny will participate in a discussion at the New America – Cybersecurity for a New America 2016 on “How Much Regulation? Keeping the Public Safe in an Age of the Internet of Everything.” Ronald Reagan Building, Pavilion Room, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC, 9:30am EST
Time to Catch Up: The EU’s Cyber Security Strategy
Mar 4th
From: European Public Affairs
by
In recent years, cybersecurity has become a high ranking issue threatening stability worldwide. The age of mega-breaches has arrived, cybersecurity going hand in hand with fighting an almost invisible and unconventional enemy lurking in the shadows of an anarchic cyberspace. Cybercrimes are increasing because of global interconnectedness, coupled by inadequate protective measures exposing government and private organisations as well as infrastructures to cyber threats. The key solution is of course resilience, the necessity to build smarter and faster ways to detect attacks and to promptly counter them.