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Lucas Ropek

Staff Writer

Lucas Ropek is a former staff writer for Government Technology.

Analytics

Cities Turn to Open Source Data to Fill Information Gaps

New technology platforms are helping governments access the power of data aggregation and analysis, which can tell officials what the public is thinking and how to better speak to their concerns.

July 01, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
People and Careers

Newark, N.J., CIO Steve Emanuel to Bow Out of City Service

The IT veteran and former New Jersey state CIO said a new private-sector role with a large technology company will have him working alongside state and local government on enterprise projects.

June 29, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

Federal Bill Aims to Harden Schools Against Cyberattacks

A new proposal at the federal level would create millions of dollars in new funding for cybersecurity protections for school districts. Schools have been an increasingly popular target for cybercriminals.

June 25, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

Keizer, Ore., Pays $48,000 to Hackers After Ransomware Attack

An Oregon city has paid out a ransom to hackers who took its computers hostage recently, becoming the latest in a recent string of communities to get caught in an apparent upsurge in cyberattacks.

June 23, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Justice & Public Safety

New Legislation Could Mean Oversight of NYPD Spy Tools

As attempts to reform police departments sweep the nation, a newly proposed bill in New York City would create new oversight mechanisms and give the public insight into the use of surveillance technologies.

June 17, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Health & Human Services

Three States Renew COVID-19 Contracts, Despite Slow Ramp-up

A collaboration between tech companies and several states got off the ground early in the pandemic using emergency contracts. As the programs enter their next phase, partners say they've worked out the kinks.

June 16, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

Anonymous Claims Responsibility for Atlanta PD Website Outage

The mysterious hacktivist group has claimed responsibility for the weekend outage of the city's police department website, saying that it was revenge for the recent killing of Rayshard Brooks.

June 15, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

Ransomware Attack Disrupts Network in Knoxville, Tenn.

The city was forced to take its network offline as a means of containing the malware attack after it was discovered Thursday morning. Officials say the incident is being investigated by state and federal authorities.

June 12, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

Mining for Secrets: Researchers ID Global Hacker-for-Hire Ring

The group, an alleged "cybermercenary" ring, has allegedly targeted people and organizations on six continents. Many of their targets were engaged in high-profile activism work against large corporations.

June 11, 2020
· Lucas Ropek
Cybersecurity

Popular Internet Voting Vendor Can Be Hacked, Researchers Warn

Seattle-based firm Democracy Live has contracts with governments across the country, but a new report from computer science researchers claims the platform is vulnerable to hackers who may want to intervene in elections.

June 09, 2020
· Lucas Ropek