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Report: Russia Would Not Respond to US Sanctions on Election-Related Cyberattacks
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Report: Russia Would Not Respond to US Sanctions on Election-Related Cyberattacks


Report: Russia Would Not Respond to US Sanctions on Election-Related CyberattacksRussian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will not respond to sanctions that President Barack Obama imposed after Russia allegedly launched cyber attacks to help Donald Trump win the U.S. presidential election, The New York Times reported Friday.

Neil MacFarquhar writes Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov recommended to expel 35 American diplomats from the country and close a picnic area as well as a warehouse in Moscow to reciprocate U.S. sanctions.

Putin said Russia reserves the “right to take reciprocal measures” and will work with Trump’s administration to restore U.S.-Russia relations, MacFarquhar reported.

The Obama administration declared 35 suspected Russian intelligence operatives as “persona non grata”; announced sanctions on two Russian intelligence services; and penalized four leaders of one of those services called G.R.U.

U.S. intelligence agencies believe G.R.U. received support from the Russian government to launch attacks against the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations in an effort to influence the U.S. presidential election, the report stated.

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DHS: Russian Intell Services Conducted Spearphishing Attacks Against US Critical Infrastructure, Govt Agencies
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DHS: Russian Intell Services Conducted Spearphishing Attacks Against US Critical Infrastructure, Govt Agencies


DHS: Russian Intell Services Conducted Spearphishing Attacks Against US Critical Infrastructure, Govt AgenciesA Department of Homeland Security report says Russian intelligence services performed spearphishing attacks and other malicious cyber operations called Grizzly Steppe in order to gain access into networks of U.S. government agencies, critical infrastructure, companies and academic institutions.

Todd Breasseale, assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS, said in an executive summary published Friday that Russian cyber threat actors continued to perform spearphishing operations after the U.S. presidential elections in November.

The document also cited that DHS and the FBI also issued a joint analysis report that offers information on the tools that RIS used to hack networks related to the U.S. election.

DHS also listed several questions designed to help organizations assess their networks’ cybersecurity posture, such as queries on risk analysis, vulnerability patching, business continuity, staff training, critical information backups and incident response.

The White House on Thursday imposed sanctions against Russia in relation to its involvement in the U.S. presidential elections through an amended executive order.

 

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Secret Service Implements Cyber & IT Strategy to Boost Agent Mobility
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Secret Service Implements Cyber & IT Strategy to Boost Agent Mobility


Secret Service Implements Cyber & IT Strategy to Boost Agent MobilityThe U.S. Secret Service have begun to implement its first cyber and information technology strategic plan that covers agency goals to develop a network operations security center and bolster mobility for special agents and uniformed officers, Signal Magazine reported Sunday.

George Seffers writes Kevin Nally, chief information officer of the Secret Service, finalized the strategy nearly a year ago and currently manages the implementation effort.

Nally crafted the plan as part of efforts to ensure that agency personnel have access to communication and information technology devices as well as mobile equipment to collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

“We’re looking at becoming operating-system agnostic, so the applications we develop in-house can be used on any type of mobile device,” said Nally.

His office also plans to add voice, video and data capacities to the joint operations center and install ultra high frequency trunking system to offer the agency’s uniformed officers with communications services around Washington.

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Trey Hodgkins: Industry Seeks Collaboration With Incoming Administration to Address Govt IT, Cyber Challenges
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Trey Hodgkins: Industry Seeks Collaboration With Incoming Administration to Address Govt IT, Cyber Challenges


Trey Hodgkins: Industry Seeks Collaboration With Incoming Administration to Address Govt IT, Cyber ChallengesTrey Hodgkins, senior vice president of the Information Technology Alliance for Public Sector, said the technology industry wants to collaborate with the incoming administration to help address cybersecurity, IT modernization and procurement challenges in the federal government, Federal News Radio reported Friday.

Terry Wing writes that Hodgkins said there is a common understanding within the sector that more needs to be done to secure government networks and implement measures to  detect vulnerabilities.

“[ITAPS] executives began a conversation with the transition teams back during the campaign, talking about what technology might look like in the next administration,” he told Federal News Radio in an interview.

Hodgkins observed that current acquisition and procurement processes have become dysfunctional and said he believes such systems must be modified to facilitate the delivery of the most current cybersecurity and IT systems.

He added that the continuing resolution process contributes to the current state of IT in the federal government and the pace with which the acquisition process unfolds creates an issue for the technology industry and government IT leaders.

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Army’s Rapid Capabilities Office Moves Forward With EW Tech Prototype Devt Plans
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Army’s Rapid Capabilities Office Moves Forward With EW Tech Prototype Devt Plans


Army's Rapid Capabilities Office Moves Forward With EW Tech Prototype Devt PlansThe U.S. Army‘s Rapid Capabilities Office has obtained approval from the service branch to develop a prototype of an electronic warfare in a “phased” manner, Defense News reported Friday.

Jen Judson writes Maj. Gen. Walter Piatt, director of operations at the Army RCO, said the office aims to prototype existing technology that can be put through operational assessment and help the organization develop a long-term rapid prototyping program.

Piatt added the phased approach will use existing Army material to create the prototype within six months and boost training across the chain of command, according to the report.

The report said RCO visited Europe from November to December to explore the EW operational needs of the European theater.

The office seeks to prototype EW technology for limited fielding and operational assessments within a year then run assessments in Europe and U.S., Judson wrote.

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NARA Aims to Clarify Privileges Over Presidential Records via Proposed Rule
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NARA Aims to Clarify Privileges Over Presidential Records via Proposed Rule


NARA Aims to Clarify Privileges Over Presidential Records via Proposed RuleThe National Archives and Records Administration has released a proposed rule with the goal to clarify current and former presidents’ control over records during their terms, Federal News Radio reported Tuesday.

Meredith Somers writes the proposed rule would give the former and current president 60 days to claim privilege and stop the release of all or a portion of a presidential record that the NARA archivist intends to publish.

The president that seeks to prevent the release of a record should notify the archivist, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Somers reported.

The rule would also allow the current president to decide whether to uphold a former commander-in-chief’s claim or release the record within 90 days after the claim is received, according to the rule.

NARA said public access to presidential records often begins five years after the term has ended and a president can prevent access to their records for up to 12 years after they step down.

NARA will accept comments on the proposed rule until Jan. 27.

Report: China-Launched Earth-Imaging Satellites Reach Below-Planned Orbits Due to Rocket Failure
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Report: China-Launched Earth-Imaging Satellites Reach Below-Planned Orbits Due to Rocket Failure


Report: China-Launched Earth-Imaging Satellites Reach Below-Planned Orbits Due to Rocket FailureTwo recently launched Chinese commercial Earth-imaging satellites are currently orbiting below their intended altitude due to a suspected rocket mishap and might re-enter the atmosphere within months, Spaceflight Now reported Wednesday.

Stephen Clark writes the SuperView 1 satellites currently fly in “egg-shaped” orbits that range from 133 to 325 miles above the planet at an inclination of approximately 98 degrees because of issues with the Long March 2D booster during launch.

The Earth-observing spacecraft were designed to fly in a near-circular orbit at an altitude of 300 miles to perform an eight-year mission to collect Earth imagery for government-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology‘s Siwei Star subsidiary, the report said.

The report added Beijing Space View Technology has exclusive rights to distribute and sell color images from the SuperView 1 satellites globally to support agricultural, defense and intelligence, mapping, oil and gas exploration, maritime and urban planning activities.

Clark writes Siwei Star intends to launch two more SuperView satellites in mid-2017 in support of efforts to have a constellation of more than 24 Earth observation platforms in orbit by 2022.

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Incoming Administration Seeks to Re-Establish National Space Council
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Incoming Administration Seeks to Re-Establish National Space Council


Incoming Administration Seeks to Re-Establish National Space CouncilPresident-elect Donald Trump proposed to reintroduce during his presidential campaign a National Space Council that would manage the U.S. space policy and would likely be led by Vice President Mike Pence under the president’s executive office, Space.com reported Thursday.

Leonard David writes Pence said during a pre-election speech in Florida that the proposed NSC will focus on public-private partnerships and human space exploration.

Apollo astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt told Space.com that the proposed council “might add clear White House support for the program, but it also probably would add another layer of bureaucracy on top of the [Office of Management and Budget].”

James Vedda, a senior policy analyst at The Aerospace Corp.‘s center for space policy and strategy, said in a paper that if managed properly, an NSC could help address issues across the commercial, national security and commercial space sectors, such as acquisition reform and export control, space traffic and debris management, and condition of the space industrial base, David reports.

The proposed council “can be a boon if it works well — aligning policy and strategy across the civil, commercial and national security space sectors to serve national interests — or a wasteful exercise if it doesn’t,” Vedda added.

DOE, Oak Ridge City Enter Land Transfer Agreement; Ernest Moniz Comments
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DOE, Oak Ridge City Enter Land Transfer Agreement; Ernest Moniz Comments


DOE, Oak Ridge City Enter Land Transfer Agreement; Ernest Moniz Comments
Ernest Moniz

The Energy Department has signed an agreement to transfer the ownership and management of DOE’s American Museum of Science and Energy building and surrounding 17.12-acre land to the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, city government.

DOE said Friday it will occupy 18,000-square-foot space in exchange for the museum site to help the department continue public education and outreach programs focused on Oak Ridge history, national security and modern science.

“This agreement will ensure that Oak Ridge’s history is preserved and shared while providing the city a new opportunity to create jobs and strengthen the local economy,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

A University of Tennessee-Battelle joint venture helps the department manage AMSE, which was opened in 1975 to replace the American Museum of Atomic Energy.

DOE added the land transfer agreement allows for the local government to explore new development and economic stimulus opportunities.

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Professional Services Council Seeks Changes to Proposed DoD Technical Data Rule
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Professional Services Council Seeks Changes to Proposed DoD Technical Data Rule


Professional Services Council Seeks Changes to Proposed DoD Technical Data RuleThe Professional Services Council has suggested modifications on a proposed Defense Department rule to control disclosure of unclassified technical data to the public in order to address potential overlap or clashes with existing rules as well as unintended consequences.

Alan Chvotkin, a PSC executive vice president, said in the council’s comments submitted Tuesday to the directorate for oversight and compliance within DoD’s office of the deputy chief management officer that the proposed rule does not take into account existing regulations on controlled unclassified information as well as the State Department and Commerce Department export regimes.

“[We offer] recommendations for rule changes regarding the disqualification provisions and the effect on other government-established voluntary disclosure programs, for providing time for a contractor’s remedial action, and for requiring DoD to comply with the new government-wide requirements for ‘controlled unclassified information,'” Chvotkin wrote.

He added that the council has recommended DoD to modify the provisions on the rule that disqualify a contractor from receiving controlled unclassified information based on U.S. export control law.

He said DoD should utilize the procedures of the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security as basis for contractor disqualification, or disqualify only the contractors that both violated export control laws and do not have the capacity to prevent the unauthorized release of technical data.

Chvotkin noted that the current language in the proposed DoD rule could cause disruptions in government voluntary disclosure programs.

The PSC comment also included recommendations for an expansion of the allotted time for remedial action before disqualification, time limits for certification of contractor qualification to receive technical data as well as alignment with the National Archives and Records Administration‘s final rule on controlled unclassified information.

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