Cybersecurity

Sophisticated social engineering attacks have led to hundreds of data breaches this year. What can be done? And what new resources can help?   

National Security Agency Director Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone has announced the creation of a new entity designed to oversee development of artificial intelligence in U.S. national security systems.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s new public safety campaign is trying to raise the national cyber posture by offering short, simple tips to all users.

Federal officials have released the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program notice of funding opportunity, and all federally recognized tribes can now apply for money to help improve their cyber postures.

The University of Maine at Augusta is working with the Maine Department of Labor on a cybersecurity and IT registered apprenticeship program to recruit, train or upskill employees for those fields.

A recent data breach at Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida exposed names, dates of birth, district student identification numbers, state identification or Social Security numbers of 254 students.

With the help of an outside firm investigating, the university learned in July that, as far back as 2021, a hacker accessed some 7 million Social Security numbers of applicants, students and employees dating to 1989.

South Florida is known as the fraud epicenter of the United States, and Fort Lauderdale certainly realized that last week when $1.2 million in taxpayer money fell into the hands of scammers.

Attackers exploited the Log4j vulnerability in spite of mitigation efforts, compromised several accounts and began reconnaissance. Three days and 5,000-plus password resets later, the court system was back on safe ground.

A public school district in Indiana confirmed that a staff member fell for a phishing email last November. The ensuing ransom payment, technology updates and legal costs amounted to $1 million.

As one way to develop new talent for jobs in artificial intelligence, Colby College in Maine created an intensive summer program that trains students in AI and has them pitch ideas for new products to a panel of judges.

Cyber attacks and natural disasters are serious threats to courts, and tabletop exercises can help prepare. For courts looking to try out tabletops, starting small can help.

The single sign-on portal for government benefits and services is set to be expanded to all 50 states. The program was initially piloted in Arkansas in 2022 and has since been adopted by more than 40 federal and state agencies.

Bridgewater State University CIO Steve Zuromski said the recent hack at MGM Resorts International is a reminder that there are too few experts in the field of cybersecurity, with 20,000 open jobs in Massachusetts alone.

The second annual report on education technology trends by the State Educational Technology Directors Association notes that the emergence of ChatGPT has given state education leaders new problems to worry about.

During the recent Florida Public Sector Cybersecurity Summit, several government and industry experts shared their perspectives on the state’s cyber landscape and how to mitigate risks.

Anyone looking to stock up on Clorox bleach or the brand's other products may have trouble finding them on store shelves for the next several months after a recent cyber attack upended the company's production.

The Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act and the Food and Agriculture Industry Cybersecurity Support Act would address vulnerabilities in agricultural systems and help farmers and ranchers prevent and respond to cyber threats.