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Lucas Ropek

Staff Writer

Lucas Ropek is a former staff writer for Government Technology.

People and Careers

Michigan Government Veteran Brom Stibitz Named State CIO

Stibitz, who has spent the past five years with the state's technology department, was appointed to the position this week.

March 06, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Emerging Tech

Deepfakes: The Next Big Threat to American Democracy?

As anxieties about foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election grow, concerns about other vectors of misinformation are evident. Deepfakes, realistic video forgeries, have some of the most damaging potential.

March 04, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

Are Hackers Targeting Critical Infrastructure More Often?

Researchers at RSA 2020 discussed the growing trend of hackers harassing large industrial systems. In doing so, they aren't just shifting their targets — they're also exhibiting more insidious behavior.

March 03, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

RSA 2020: Cyber Pros Talk How to Track and Fight Hackers

Much funding and effort is spent on hardening cyberdefenses, but what about hunting down the people responsible and understanding their methods so as to prevent future attacks? At RSA 2020, experts weighed in.

February 28, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

RSA 2020: CISA Director Talks Prepping for Foreign Threats

As part of the massive cybersecurity event, Director Chris Krebs of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency discussed prominent issues related to state and local government.

February 27, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

RSA 2020: How the FBI Thinks About, Responds to Ransomware

At this year's RSA cybersecurity conference, one session looked at the ways in which the Bureau is attempting to work together with private industry to track and prosecute hackers who spread the malware.

February 25, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

DHS Publishes 2020 Strategic Plan for Election Security

With fears of foreign election interference on the rise, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a strategic road map ahead of the 2020 presidential elections.

February 21, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

Election Security Scandals in Georgia Heighten 2020 Concerns

Experts are voicing their concern about Georgia's election security practices and whether they will prove effective against myriad threats during the high-profile 2020 presidential race.

February 06, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

New Privacy Legislation Introduced in Washington State

A number of bills have been introduced that seek to transform the relationship between the state's consumers, data brokers and large tech companies, but lawmakers don't necessarily agree on the legislative fine print.

January 31, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

Cyberattack Hobbles Oregon County Network, Services

While the attack against Tillamook County has not officially been dubbed ransomware and local leaders haven't commented on a posted ransom, the incident has all the trappings of that style of attack.

January 24, 2020
· Lucas Ropek