Category Archives: government data breach

Emergency Radio Signals Hacked. Pivot for Cyber Security Legislation.

When considering legislation to protect state infrastructure and emergency management systems, it has beeen revealed that the hack that led to the triggering of the Dallas emergency alarms was not a computer hack, but a hack of the radio signals.

State Tech | Dallas Reveals Radio Signals, Not Network Hack, Triggered Emergency Sirens

3 Procurement Opportunities from the Dallas Emergency Siren Hack

Background on the emergency system hack:

  • all 156 of Dallas’ emergency sirens were hacked and triggered to sound last weekend
  • The hack of the system exposed that the system had to be shut down 

Procurement Opportunities for Emergency IT:

  • Mayor Rawlings called it “evidence of a need to upgrade and safeguard the city’s technology infrastructure”
  • The hack was tracked down because of the ability to coordinate with other security professionals
  • The sirens triggered a heavy load on the city’s 911…

Lege Trend. There is No Place Like Home. There is No Place Like Home. Home has a new Executive Cybersecurity Agency.

State: Kansas

Details of the new Kansas agency on cybersecurity:

  •  centralizing cybersecurity operations of state government within a new Cabinet-level agency
    • Kansas Information Technology Enterprise Agency.
  • $10 M in annual funding just to combat hackers
  • Exempts:
    • Elected state officials
    • Board of Regents’ at Kansas’ colleges and universities
    • Will exempt pension systems based on federal investment standards

Kansas House Bills 2331 and 2359 (2017)

Hutchinson News | In effort to shore…

Lege Trend. Agencies + Outside Consortiums. For Local Governments. Procurement Opportunities.

The lawmakers: Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)

The legislative concept: Allow agencies, like Department of Homeland Security, to work with consortia

What could the private entities do for the agencies?

  • help train local law enforcement and other government
  • develop information sharing programs
  • plan local cybersecurity strategies

The Hill | Bipartisan bill would let DHS team with consortiums on cybersecurity

Lege Trend: State Agency on CyberSecurity. +1 More Western State.

Add Nevada to the list of states moving to create an Office of Cyber Defense. Governor Sandoval proposes funding it with $3.5 million.

The Office of Syber Defense will be within the Nevada Department of Public Safety and will offer assistance to local government agencies and private industry.

Las Vegas Review Journal | Marijuana, cybersecurity among debates to happen in Nevada Legislature

Ransomeware Hits TX Police Department. 3 Pieces Informed Intel.

Which police department? Cockrell Hill Police Department

What digital data was lost by way of a ransomware attack? video evidence & digital documents

How was the ransomware attack triggered?  “someone clicked on a cloned email made to look like it was sent from a department email address”

What did the police department do in response to the ransomeware? wiped their servers in lieu of paying the ransom

WFAA | Cockrell Hill police lose years worth of evidence in ransom hacking

LOCAL TREND. Ransomeware Hits City CCTV. 3 Bits Informed Intel.

A ransomware attack hit Washington D.C.’s closed circuit tv 8 days before inauguration. Here’s what you need to know to get up to speed:

  • 70% of storage devices recording data from D.C. police surveillance cameras were hit
  • Forced major city wide reinstallation
  • The city addressed the ransomeware without paying a ransom by:
    • taking devices offline
    • removing all software
    • restarting the system

Washington Post | Hackers hit D.C. police closed-circuit camera network, city officials disclose

Data Breaches By the Numbers. How Constituents are Impacted.

How constituents feel about data breach laws:

  • 68% of internet users believe current laws are not good enough
  • 64% believe the government should do more to regulate advertisers
  • Favor limits on how long the records of their activity are stored
  •  74% of Americans say it is “very important” to be in control of their personal information
  • 64% of Americans have personally experienced a major data breach
  • 49% feel that their personal information is less secure than it was 5 years ago
  •  41% of…