The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FBI and Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) have issued a joint advisory on cyber threats that target remote learning operations in the kindergarten through twelfth-grade category. Fifty-seven percent of MS-ISAC’s reported incidents represent K-12 schools in the August to September period, according to the advisory.
Read More »CISA, MS-ISAC Issue Alert on ‘Emotet’ Malware
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) have released an advisory on a new kind of malware called Emotet that spreads through phishing emails. CISA said in the alert published Tuesday that Emotet is a form of Trojan virus with “worm-like” elements that can impact an entire network.
Read More »Senators Call on DHS to Address Funding Gap Facing Two Cyber Threat Data Sharing Centers
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, have asked the Department of Homeland Security to address a possible funding shortfall facing the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
Read More »Information Security Organizations Provide Ransomware Mitigation Guidelines
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers joined the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and other organizations to recommend on network security against ransomware. NASCIO, CISA, the National Governors Association and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center advise federal, state and local government agencies consider three ransomware mitigation and prevention practices, NASCIO said Monday.
Read More »IT Alliance for Public Sector Issues Cybersecurity Recommendations for State Govt Agencies
A division of the Information Technology Industry Council has issued a document that details six recommendations to help state and local government agencies protect their digital infrastructure from cyber threats. The IT Alliance for Public Sector’s State Cybersecurity Principals and Best Practices document calls on state governments to establish partnerships with industry through …
Read More »CBO: DHS Cyber Assistance Bill Would Cost $65M Through Fiscal 2021
The Congressional Budget Office estimates a House bill requiring the Department of Homeland Security to offer cybersecurity support for state and local agencies would cost $65 million to implement for fiscal years 2016 through 2021. CBO said Wednesday the State and Local Cyber Protection Act calls for DHS to help …
Read More »DHS Offers Virtual Cybersecurity Training for State, Local Gov’t Employees
The Department of Homeland Security has opened its virtual cybersecurity training program to employees of state, local, tribal and territorial government units as part of efforts to bolster the U.S. cyber workforce, GCN reported Tuesday. The report said the Federal Virtual Training Environment will provide more than 800 hours of training materials, …
Read More »DHS 24-hour Cyber Warning Center Goes Live
The Department of Homeland Security launched a new 24-hour watch and warning center focused on combating the increasingly 24/7 cybersecurity threat. DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Michael Brown joined White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt and representatives of the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center on Nov. 18 to launch the …
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