Cybersecurity

Last year, fraudsters swindled thousands of dollars from Michigan’s unemployment insurance program using the celebrity names “Kimberly Kardashian” and “Kylie Jenner.” Michigan has since improved its fraud detection.

Sunset Beach, N.C., faced a series of ransomware attacks over a six-week period. Fortunately, the local IT team recovered most of the town’s documents and has taken multiple steps to improve security.

To increase Indiana’s cybersecurity stance, a recently enacted bill will require state agencies and political subdivisions to report all threats to the state’s Office of Technology within two business days.

Judson Independent School District has paid an undisclosed amount to regain access to its network and communications after a ransomware incident last month took them offline. Authorities are still investigating.

A zero-trust environment may suggest a hardened cybersecurity posture, but it’s important to keep the approach in check. Some definitions that go beyond questioning trust in data may be impractical.

Recently signed legislation will ramp up the state’s cybersecurity and legacy system upgrades through the newly created Technology Improvement and Modernization Fund. The new law takes effect Sept. 1.

Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives introduced a bill that would give Ohioans data privacy rights. Lawmakers point out, however, that another bill is needed to deflect future cyber attacks.

The U.S., along with the U.K. and other countries, have stated that individuals tied to China's government performed the Microsoft Exchange hack earlier in 2021. China vigorously denies the accusation.

Joplin’s mayor indicated Monday night that the city is still investigating how its computer and telephone systems were interrupted July 7, but he and the city manager continued to decline to discuss details.

A now-deactivated private website published the names, vaccination details and other personal information of almost 5,000 employees of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Firefighters have demanded an investigation.

The University of Wisconsin-Stout's CNIT (computer networking and information technology) program is training students like Brian Halbach, now a consultant with RedTeam Security in St. Paul, to help prevent cyber crime.

Global leaders want to carve out specific areas of critical infrastructure to be protected under international agreements from cyber attacks. But where does that leave others?

Through a new partnership, the 10,000-plus government members in the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center will be able to access Deloitte’s Cyber Detect and Respond Portal at no cost.

In light of an ongoing cyber crime epidemic that’s unlikely to end soon, federal agencies must take action to update policy definitions, increase spending caps and partner with school districts to defend their networks.

Virgin Islands CIO Rupert Ross has told legislators the time is now for the U.S. territory to invest more in cybersecurity staff and resources. Multiple territory departments have been hacked in recent years.

During an Illinois House committee hearing Thursday, expert Haywood Talcove urged the state to take action on cybersecurity. Talcove believes unemployment fraudsters have stolen $1 billion from Illinois.

Multiple sources have indicated that the Biden administration wants to apprehend ransomware criminals by tracing cryptocurrencies. Some members of Congress are reportedly unimpressed by the overall plan.

With a unanimous vote Monday, the city council of Jacksonville, Ala., approved cybersecurity recommendations, including one that focuses on employee training, from chief information officer Tim Smith.