Marine Corps Bans Twitter, Facebook, MySpace

Popular social networking sites including Twitter, MySpace and Facebook are banned from the U.S. Marine Corps for the next year, effective immediately. Other military branches are considering a similar ban.

The Marine Corps cited potential security breaches of government computers and malware attacks for the ban. Popular social networking sites have an increased potential for phising and malware attacks, a risk Marine officials are unwilling to take. However, internal networking programs within the U.S….

TNNI Interview With Dr.Herb Lin Of The National Research Council: What Every Executive Should Know

Dr. Herb Lin, chief scientist of the recent report “Toward a Safer and More Secure Cyberspace” at the National Research Council, spoke with The New New Internet on a variety of cybersecurity issues, including his definition of cyber deterrence. Dr. Lin said that the private sector must use current, readily available securities and acknowledged that most individuals see security as a ‘tension’ in work productivity. Dr….

Plan For Iraqi Cyber War In 2003: Not Executed For Fears Of Collateral Damage

The Bush Administration debated launching a direct cyber offenisve on Saddam Hussein before invaiding Iraq in 2003. The New York Times reports that if the highly classified cyber warfare was launched, it would mark the largest offensive cyber attack in history. The Pentagon, where the 2003 plan was developed, would have shut off all Iraqi government financial networks, crippling Hussein in ordering a military offensive or purchasing new weapons. 

The high-tech plan was never executed because Bush officials feared…

Highlights From BlackHat And DefCon: Glitches, Spies and Recruiters

DefCon 2009, a cybersecurity mecca for computer experts to show vulnerabilities in network infrastructures run by Black Hat’s Jeff Moss, ended its four-day Las Vegas, Nevada conference today.  For those of you who are not technology whiz kids, here are the most important takeaways from the conference.

IPhone Vulnerability 

Cybersecurity researchers Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner unveiled an SMS infrastructure that could hack into personal email, online banking, text message functions and camera options on…

White House Acting Cybersecurity Coordinator, Melissa Hathaway, Resigns

The Wall Street Journal reported late today that Melissa Hathaway, current acting Senior Director of Cyberspace for the National Security and Homeland Security Councils, is stepping down from her post. Hathaway said she took herself out of the running as President Obama’s first offical cyber coordinator over two weeks ago, citing personal reasons. A former cybersecurity specialist at Booz Allen Hamilton, Hathaway’s last day at the White House is…

Government Seeks Technology ‘Geeks’ Through Cyber Challenge

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) announced  a new initiative entitled the U.S. Cyber Security Challenge. With participation from the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center, the Air Force Association and the SANS Institute, 10,000 tech-savvy high school and college students will compete through a variety of exercises, including live competitions, that challenge their cyber defense skills and overall cyber knowledge.  Promising cyber ‘whiz kids’ will be asked to participate…