Security

Locking Down Administrative Rights

November 13, 2012 - Giving users control of their desktop means they'll introduce or change things that can cause compatibility issues, resulting in problematic devices or serious security breaches, all of which cost money and time.

Michigan Launches 'Cyber Range' to Enhance Cybersecurity

November 9, 2012 - The range, opened on Nov. 9, trains cybersecurity professionals in detecting and preventing cyberattacks in a real-world setting.

South Carolina Encrypts Records After Breach

November 5, 2012 - A breach of tax data for 3.6 million South Carolina residents dating back to 1998 could cause prolonged problems in the state, experts say.

DHS Wants to Develop ‘Cyber Reserve’ After Observing Sandy’s Impact

November 2, 2012 - Hurricane Sandy provides a look into what a successful cyberattack on U.S. infrastructure could be like.

South Carolina Breach Compromises Millions of Records

October 29, 2012 - The state's Department of Revenue reports that 3.6 million Social Security numbers were obtained by hackers.

Consolidation Strengthens Virginia’s Cybersecurity Efforts

October 24, 2012 - Virginia CIO Sam Nixon discusses cybersecurity challenges and new technology that is helping protect information.

New York City and Texas Honored for Cybersecurity Leadership

October 24, 2012 - The Center for Digital Government’s Cybersecurity Leadership and Innovation Awards recognize the efforts of government and education agencies to keep confidential data secure despite evolving threats.

Report: Hackers Want Easy Targets

October 23, 2012 - A 76 page report outlines new data about hacker attacks and data breaches against state and local governments, and offers recommendations on how to stop them.

Survey: States Struggle with Cybersecurity

October 23, 2012 - Only 24 percent of chief information security officers are very confident in their states’ ability to guard data against external threats.

New Spam Scam Uses .Gov Links

October 23, 2012 - Traditionally viewed as a symbol of trustworthiness, spammers have found a workaround to use .gov URLs as part of email scams.

Study: Email Encryption Concerns the Feds

October 11, 2012 - Following high-profile information leaks, federal agencies are looking to email encryption but finding that the technology isn't a silver bullet.

Government and Wireless Carriers Need to Partner on Cybersecurity, Survey Says

October 10, 2012 - A new survey of IT professionals indicates a majority feel government should allow information exchange between public entities and wireless providers to improve mobile cybersecurity.

The Center for Internet Security Boosts Government Cybersecurity (VIDEO)

October 9, 2012 - In the war on cybercrime, the nonprofit information sharing group may be state and local government’s secret weapon.

Report: U.S. Opposes Major Changes in Global Telecom Treaty

October 8, 2012 - A conference scheduled for this December was called by the UN to update global telecommunications regulations more than 20 years old, and the US has said the country is ready to cooperate, but doesn't want big changes.

7 Characteristics of Weak Passwords (Infographic)

October 5, 2012 - It might be obvious, but adding characters and complexity improves security.

Report: Google Warns Users of Possible Government Cyberattacks

October 5, 2012 - A new warning message issued by Google warns users of malicious, state-sponsored emails coming from countries that Google declined to identify.

Cybersecurity Resource Center Created to Help Governors

October 3, 2012 - A new organization aimed at helping states fight against cybersecurity threats was announced by the National Governors Association.

Report: False Alarm in Tulsa Puts CIO on Leave

October 2, 2012 - After a routine test was mistaken for a hacker attack, a mass-email was issued to tens of thousands of customers warning of leaked personal information, costing the city $20,000.

Rumor: White House Military Office Network Breached

October 1, 2012 - Cyberattackers operating from a Chinese network reportedly breached one of the U.S. government's most sensitive computer networks.

GovTech Innovators: Mark Russinovich, Thriller Writer and Microsoft Idea Machine (VIDEO)

September 28, 2012 - Meet the author / IT expert who thinks up fictional cyberthreats that mirror real life.