Black Hat 2015 is underway, and the corporate side of hacking has taken center stage. There are plenty of hot topics this year, but the mess at the OPM is something that is still generating buzz months after the fact. . Last month, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz disclosed that in addition to the 4.2 million records that were previously reported compromised in June, OPM discovered a second incident during that investigation that impacted 21.5 million people, and 19.5 million of them had applied for security clearance. The link for this article located at CSO Online is no longer available. . In light of the recent revelation regarding 21.5 million stolen records from OPM, there has been a considerable amount of discourse.. Black Hat 2015,Cybersecurity Innovations,OPM Data Breach Impact. . Dave Wreski
The technology exists to create a governmentwide smart card program, but cultural issues and a lack of top-level management support stand in the way of implementation, experts testified today. A single government smart card is possible, but managerial and policy . . . . The technology exists to create a governmentwide smart card program, but cultural issues and a lack of top-level management support stand in the way of implementation, experts testified today. A single government smart card is possible, but managerial and policy differences create difficulties, said Joel Willemssen, managing director of information technology issues at the General Accounting Office. "It would probably be very difficult to standardize it from a management and policy perspective," Willemssen testified today at a hearing of the House Government Reform subcommittee on technology, information policy, intergovernmental relations and the census. Agencies have different security clearances and access controls. GAO identified 62 smart card initiatives in varying stages at 18 agencies, Willemssen said. One of the next steps, he said, is establishing a governmentwide employee credentialing policy to streamline employee clearances. The link for this article located at FCW is no longer available. . The rollout of a thorough smart card program within government entities encounters challenges due to cultural resistance and lack of leadership support, hindering progress.. Government Smart Card, Management Support, Security Issues, Credentialing Policy, Cultural Barriers. . Anthony Pell
Following news reports that a senior official at the Homeland Security Department appears to have obtained her academic degrees from an unaccredited diploma mill, several members of Congress are seeking to learn how background checks and security clearances failed to flag . . . . Following news reports that a senior official at the Homeland Security Department appears to have obtained her academic degrees from an unaccredited diploma mill, several members of Congress are seeking to learn how background checks and security clearances failed to flag the questionable credentials. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the Democratic Caucus' Homeland Security task force, sent a letter June 4 to HSD secretary Tom Ridge asking for a full investigation. "What is troubling to me is that a senior official in the Department of Homeland Security in the office of the CIO would have a questionable degree in computer information systems from a university that has been denied accreditation by the U.S. Department of Education," Maloney's letter read. "If this press report is true, how could one of the highest senior officials in your Department make it through a background check while allegedly misleading the Department about her educational background?" The link for this article located at SecurityProtocals.com is no longer available. . Questions emerge regarding the qualifications of a key Homeland Security figure, particularly concerning their unverified academic credentials and the thoroughness of background evaluations.. Homeland Security Degrees, Diploma Mill Degrees, Background Check Issues, Credential Concerns. . Anthony Pell
An industrial dispute is brewing at the top secret Pine Gap surveillance facility over a security upgrade at the Northern Territory base. An Australian electrician has refused to undergo a high-level security check at the joint United States-Australian facility, in . . . . An industrial dispute is brewing at the top secret Pine Gap surveillance facility over a security upgrade at the Northern Territory base. An Australian electrician has refused to undergo a high-level security check at the joint United States-Australian facility, in a case that could challenge a foreign government's right to demand such checks, a union official said. The matter is listed for hearing in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in Sydney. Electrical Trades Union national secretary Peter Tighe said the dispute involved a maintenance electrician employed by Boeing Constructors Incorporated - which is contracted to provide maintenance at Pine Gap, near Alice Springs. The man, who has not been named, had worked at the facility for almost 10 years, but did not want to go through the "rigorous" process to be upgraded to Top Secret, Positive Vetting (TSPV) level, he said. The link for this article located at NZoom is no longer available. . An industrial dispute is brewing at the top secret Pine Gap surveillance facility over a security up. industrial, dispute, brewing, secret, surveillance, facility, security. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
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