ICD Brief 120.
04.02.2019.-10.02.2019.
Greetings from Washington DC, Canberra, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, New Delhi, Dublin, Jerusalem, Tokyo, Mons, Warsaw, Singapore, Bangkok, London.
These differing cultures and systems are producing strikingly similar responses and systems. Are we closer to international cooperation in cybersecurity? I’d like to hear and publish your thoughts.
USA
The US Military Is Quietly Launching Efforts to Deter Russian Meddling
“With little public fanfare, U.S. Cyber Command, the military’s new center for combating electronic attacks against the United States, has launched operations to deter and disrupt Russians who have been interfering with the U.S. political system.”
DHS Prioritizes Restart of Election Programs Post-Shutdown
“Since the shutdown ended, the Department of Homeland Security has prioritized the resumption of its election security programs, some of which were forced to go on hiatus during the lapse in government funding, according to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Chris Krebs.”
DHS Cyber Office Hosting Webinars with Company Stakeholders to Discuss Chinese Cyber Threats
“The Department of Homeland Security’s top cyber official is hosting a series of webinars with company stakeholders in an attempt to facilitate discussions about malicious Chinese cyber activity.”
“MIAMI, Feb. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The U.S. Minority Chamber of Commerce (USMCC) announces a partnership with the Federation of Central & Eastern European Chamber of Commerce (FCEECC) where over 2 million of businesses will be connected to exchange their opportunities, and facilitate international trade, public-private partnership and foreign direct investment in both platforms.”
Is Your Car Hackable? Cybersecurity Experts Say It Might Be
“If your vehicle is like most new ones, it’s basically a 2-ton connected, mobile computer on wheels – which is great if you want to enjoy the latest technological innovations during your commute.”
NSA Hasn’t Filled All Critical Cybersecurity Positions, IG Says
Podcast on the Federal News Network
“Secretive as it is, the National Security Agency is like most agencies. It awards contracts, spends money, has whistleblowers and it has management problems. The NSA’s Office of Inspector General recently released the unclassified version of its semi-annual report seen only by the congressional intelligence committees. It covers the six month period ending last September. To get a sense of it, Inspector General Robert Storch spoke with Federal Drive with Tom Temin. He discussed the NSA’s failure to fill several critical opening in its cybersecurity staff.”
Australia
Australian Security Services Investigate Attempted Cyber Attack on Parliament
“Australia’s security agencies are urgently investigating an attempt to hack the federal parliament’s computer network, with the parliament unable to rule out a foreign government being behind the attack.”
Health Sector Tops Latest OAIC Breach Report, Yet Again
“The health sector has topped the list of notifiable data breaches for the fourth consecutive quarter, as identified by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.”
EU
EU Weighs Sanctions Against Cyber Crimes Amid China Concerns
“The European Union is looking to get tough on cyber crimes. Technocrats representing the EU’s 28 governments will meet in Brussels on Friday to discuss expanding the bloc’s sanctions regime to punish companies, states and individuals involved in cyber crimes, adding to signs of increasing alarm about alleged Chinese and Russian activity targeting Western networks.”
France
France Latest Nation to Acknowledge Offensive Cyber Operations
“For years, cyber warfare has been a topic of concern for the world’s leading nations, all of which have outlined scenarios in which they are the victims of either a state or non-state actor using cyber weapons to carry out an attack to cripple their national power grids. As a result, a fundamental shift from defensive to offensive cyber operations is now underway in order to deter these attacks. The United States and its European ally France are at the forefront of this trend.”
Germany
German Authorities Probe Potential Huawei Security Risks – Funke
“Germany’s cybersecurity agency BSI is investigating whether China’s Huawei Technologies could be a security threat after warnings from other countries, Funke newspapers reported on Friday, citing Economy Minister Peter Altmaier.
India
About 21% Indian Computers and Phones Are Infected with Malware
“India ranked 15th among 60 countries for the worst cybersecurity with over 25% of its phones and 21% of its computers infected with malware.”
Ireland
Dr Eoin Byrne: Cyber Security Sector Set to Take Off
“A new cyber-security cluster has set its sights on more than doubling the size of the industry in Ireland in the coming years.”
Israel
Israel Views Global Partnerships as Key to Thwarting Cyber-Security Threats
“Everything today is vulnerable,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the 2019 CyberTech conference. “Every country can be subject to cyber attacks. And what they all need is a combination of cyber-defense efforts and a robust cyber-security industry.”
Japan
Japan Gears Up for Mega Hack of Its Own Citizens
“Last November, when Japan’s 68-year-old minister for cyber security admitted he had never used a computer and was “not very familiar” with cyber security issues it was, of course, hilarious.”
NATO
Inside NATO’s Cyber Defence Centre
“A few days before visiting NATO’s cyber defence centre, journalists were asked to submit their passport details and the serial numbers of every electronic device they planned to bring with them. The cyber defence centre is officially known as the NATO Communications and Information Agency, or NCIA. Militaries love acronyms. It is co-located at a military base in Casteau just north of the Belgian city of Mons SHAPE, or the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.”
Poland
Huawei Offers to Build Cybersecurity Center in Poland
“China’s Huawei has offered to build a cyber security center in Poland where last month authorities arrested a Chinese employee of the telecommunications firm along with a former Polish security official on spying charges.”
Singapore
Singapore Ranks 10th in Global Cybersecurity: Study
“The study revealed that Singapore is the best prepared country for cyberattacks. Singapore rounded off the top ten bestcybersecurity countries which was largely dominated by European countries with an overall score of 15.13, according to a study by consumer information provider Comparitech.”
Targeted Initiatives, Collaboration Needed in War on Cyber Crime
“With Singapore having gone from one data breach to another lately, observers are looking to the upcoming Budget to offer cyber security funding and to put in place additional protective measures.”
Thailand
Huawei Thrives and Dives in Trump and Thailand 5G Disagreement
“Thailand has launched a new 5G testbed using technology from the now regularly shunned Huawei, despite sustained pressure from the US to do the exact opposite.”
UK
Cybersecurity: Funding to Take Academic Ideas to Market
“Researchers based in UK academic institutions can apply for a share of up to £800,000 to support them in commercialising cyber security innovation.”
Tech Nation Launches the UK’s First National CybersecurityScale-Up Programme
“Tech Nation, the UK network for ambitious digital tech entrepreneurs, is seeking 20 startups with the potential to go head to head with some of the biggest players in the global cyber security market.