The U.S. government is proposing new regulations to counter major cybersecurity breaches. The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security said these rules, open for public comment until April 29, respond to a January 2021 executive order that outlines the national emergency that these malicious cyber-related activities pose. The proposal mandates U.S. infrastructure-as-a-service providers...
Category: Policy Updates
Tech Expert Warns of Cyberattack Risk to US Critical Infrastructure From China
A top official at the not-for-profit government organization Mitre warned that the United States has about three years to figure out a better way to protect critical infrastructure before China launches an all-out attack. On Feb. 6, Charles Clancy, chief technology officer at Mitre, told legislators during a House hearing on water sector security that the...
US Sanctions Procurement Network for Facilitating Export of Restricted Items to Iran
The United States has sanctioned a procurement network for facilitating the export of restricted items to end users in Iran. According to the Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, the sanctions target three individuals and four entities linked with the transfer of U.S. technology to the Central Bank of Iran, which the...
Pentagon Issues Cyber Defense Guidebook for US Allies, Partners
The U.S. Department of Defense has released a guidebook for international partners to share information on strengthening cybersecurity measures and command, control and communication modernization capabilities. “Standards Guide for Foreign Partners 2023,” issued on Wednesday, also covers the cloud structure and complementary domains, including artificial intelligence and data. The document’s contents are unclassified, readily available...
UN Experts Probe North Korea’s Alleged $3B Cyberattacks, Sanction Violations
A panel of experts from the United Nations said they are investigating 58 suspected cyberattacks by North Korea with an estimated value of $3 billion. The cyber operations were reportedly used to advance Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program, according to the Associated Press, citing a summary of the UN panel’s report. The UN panel, which monitors...
GAO Urges Better Coordination on Screening Federal Funding for Foreign Research Projects
A Government Accountability Office study has identified gaps in evaluating federal funding for foreign research projects that could bring risks to U.S. national security. While awarding agencies generally blacklist foreign terrorist groups and specially designated persons and entities, the GAO study showed that government databases on blacklisted groups and individuals lack standard identifying information, such...
US Updates Advisory on Cyberthreats From Chinese-Made Port Equipment
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has added Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries to its list of Chinese government-backed logistics management companies with platforms posing cyberattack risks to maritime stakeholders. According to the new MARAD advisory effective Feb. 21 to Aug. 19, Shanghai Zhenhua’s ship-to-shore cranes are vulnerable to cyberattacks as some of their configurations...