Two Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee Tuesday called for a hearing on how the global WannaCry ransomware attack (see 1705150008 and 1705120055) has hit sectors like telecom supporting the U.S. healthcare industry. Senators told us they, too, are concerned about vulnerability of government and private networks. One plans to introduce legislation soon that would codify the U.S. government’s vulnerabilities equities process (VEP) while a House member expects to introduce a cyber hygiene bill again. The attack also came up Tuesday at a National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity framework event (see 1705160072).
Two Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee Tuesday called for a hearing on how the global WannaCry ransomware attack (see 1705150008 and 1705120055) has hit sectors like telecom supporting the U.S. healthcare industry. Senators told us they, too, are concerned about vulnerability of government and private networks. One plans to introduce legislation soon that would codify the U.S. government’s vulnerabilities equities process (VEP) while a House member expects to introduce a cyber hygiene bill again. The attack also came up Tuesday at a National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity framework event (see 1705160072).
Two Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee Tuesday called for a hearing on how the global WannaCry ransomware attack (see 1705150008 and 1705120055) has hit sectors like telecom supporting the U.S. healthcare industry. Senators told us they, too, are concerned about vulnerability of government and private networks. One plans to introduce legislation soon that would codify the U.S. government’s vulnerabilities equities process (VEP) while a House member expects to introduce a cyber hygiene bill again. The attack also came up Tuesday at a National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity framework event (see 1705160072).
Testifying at the House Communications Subcommittee’s Wednesday hearing on emergency alerts will be NAB Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny; CGM Advisors CEO Chris Guttman-McCabe, a former CTIA official; and Qualcomm Director-Engineering Farrokh Khatibi. A GOP memo, dated Monday, said the hearing is part of a broader look at emergency communications: “Earlier this year, FirstNet established a public-private partnership for the deployment of a nationwide wireless broadband network for the Nation’s First Responders and steady progress is being made in the deployment of next generation 911 networks. This hearing will examine the third prong of public safety communications -- emergency alerting -- including its current state and its future against the backdrop of these and other evolving technologies.” It included sections detailing the emergency alert system, ATSC 3.0 and wireless emergency alerts. “In addition to EAS and WEA, social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have emerged as mechanisms for emergency communications,” the memo said. “Extensive work has been undertaken and continues in both academia and public safety to ascertain the impact and use of social media in times of emergency and as an alerting tool.”
Testifying at the House Communications Subcommittee’s Wednesday hearing on emergency alerts will be NAB Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny; CGM Advisors CEO Chris Guttman-McCabe, a former CTIA official; and Qualcomm Director-Engineering Farrokh Khatibi. A GOP memo, dated Monday, said the hearing is part of a broader look at emergency communications: “Earlier this year, FirstNet established a public-private partnership for the deployment of a nationwide wireless broadband network for the Nation’s First Responders and steady progress is being made in the deployment of next generation 911 networks. This hearing will examine the third prong of public safety communications -- emergency alerting -- including its current state and its future against the backdrop of these and other evolving technologies.” It included sections detailing the emergency alert system, ATSC 3.0 and wireless emergency alerts. “In addition to EAS and WEA, social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have emerged as mechanisms for emergency communications,” the memo said. “Extensive work has been undertaken and continues in both academia and public safety to ascertain the impact and use of social media in times of emergency and as an alerting tool.”
Testifying at the House Communications Subcommittee’s Wednesday hearing on emergency alerts will be NAB Chief Technology Officer Sam Matheny; CGM Advisors CEO Chris Guttman-McCabe, a former CTIA official; and Qualcomm Director-Engineering Farrokh Khatibi. A GOP memo, dated Monday, said the hearing is part of a broader look at emergency communications: “Earlier this year, FirstNet established a public-private partnership for the deployment of a nationwide wireless broadband network for the Nation’s First Responders and steady progress is being made in the deployment of next generation 911 networks. This hearing will examine the third prong of public safety communications -- emergency alerting -- including its current state and its future against the backdrop of these and other evolving technologies.” It included sections detailing the emergency alert system, ATSC 3.0 and wireless emergency alerts. “In addition to EAS and WEA, social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have emerged as mechanisms for emergency communications,” the memo said. “Extensive work has been undertaken and continues in both academia and public safety to ascertain the impact and use of social media in times of emergency and as an alerting tool.”
A massive worldwide ransomware attack called "WannaCry" resulted in more than 45,000 infections in 74 countries, mostly in Russia, said cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab in a Friday blog post. It said Spain's Computer Emergency Response Team CCN-CERT posted a notification that several organizations in that country were affected, plus 16 National Health Service organizations in the U.K., according to the post. Ukraine and India also were affected, but Kaspersky didn't mention the U.S. "It’s important to note that our visibility may be limited and incomplete and the range of targets and victims is likely much, much higher," said Kaspersky. It said the malware encrypts files and drops and executes a decryptor tool. "The request for $600 in Bitcoin is displayed along with the wallet," said the post. "It’s interesting that the initial request in this sample is for $600 USD, as the first five payments to that wallet is approximately $300 USD. It suggests that the group is increasing the ransom demands."
A massive worldwide ransomware attack called "WannaCry" resulted in more than 45,000 infections in 74 countries, mostly in Russia, said cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab in a Friday blog post. It said Spain's Computer Emergency Response Team CCN-CERT posted a notification that several organizations in that country were affected, plus 16 National Health Service organizations in the U.K., according to the post. Ukraine and India also were affected, but Kaspersky didn't mention the U.S. "It’s important to note that our visibility may be limited and incomplete and the range of targets and victims is likely much, much higher," said Kaspersky. It said the malware encrypts files and drops and executes a decryptor tool. "The request for $600 in Bitcoin is displayed along with the wallet," said the post. "It’s interesting that the initial request in this sample is for $600 USD, as the first five payments to that wallet is approximately $300 USD. It suggests that the group is increasing the ransom demands."
New to 21st Century Fox: Michael O’Leary, ex-O’Leary Global Solutions and MPAA, as senior vice president, in Global Public Affairs and Policy group ... Facebook hires Sandy Luff, ex-aide to then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as executive branch public policy director, and Nu Wexler, ex-Twitter, as policy communications manager ... Intel moves Gregory Bryant to general manager, Client Computing Group, and he joins Management Committee ... Hulu hires from AMC Networks Joel Stillerman as chief content officer, new position.
New to 21st Century Fox: Michael O’Leary, ex-O’Leary Global Solutions and MPAA, as senior vice president, in Global Public Affairs and Policy group ... Facebook hires Sandy Luff, ex-aide to then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as executive branch public policy director, and Nu Wexler, ex-Twitter, as policy communications manager ... Intel moves Gregory Bryant to general manager, Client Computing Group, and he joins Management Committee ... Hulu hires from AMC Networks Joel Stillerman as chief content officer, new position.