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DOGE Cuts CISA ‘Red Team’ Staff Amid Federal Budget Reductions: What It Means for Cybersecurity
Elon Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has laid off over a hundred employees at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), including key members of the “red team” responsible for identifying vulnerabilities. The layoffs occurred unexpectedly in late February and early March, impacting more than 80 continuous monitoring staff and 30-50 from the Cyber Incident Response Team. CISA spokesperson Tess Hyre did not confirm the layoffs’ specifics but emphasized that the red team remains operational. The cuts, part of a trend since the Trump administration, raise concerns about the future of government cybersecurity initiatives.
Lee Enterprises Ransomware Attack Disrupts Payments to Freelancers and Contractors: What You Need to Know
Lee Enterprises has been significantly disrupted by a suspected ransomware attack that started on February 3, leading to operational challenges and delayed payments to freelancers and contractors. The attack has caused outages across multiple U.S. newspapers, affecting distribution, billing, collections, and vendor payments. Freelancers report anxiety over unpaid work, with some waiting over a month for payments totaling thousands of dollars. Lee Enterprises acknowledged that hackers encrypted critical applications, raising concerns about the company’s financial stability. The ransomware group Qilin has claimed responsibility, and the company is investigating the situation while no timeline for restoring payment systems has been provided.
UK Internet Watchdog Targets Storage and File-Sharing Services in Fight Against CSAM
The U.K. has begun implementing the Online Safety Act (OSA), which imposes new responsibilities on online platforms to combat illegal content, particularly focusing on file-sharing and storage services. Ofcom has launched an enforcement program to assess the effectiveness of safety measures against child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This program will evaluate existing measures, future safety plans, and require risk assessments from service providers. Ofcom has communicated with several services regarding compliance, with non-compliance potentially resulting in fines up to 10% of global annual turnover. Online platforms must prioritize safety to protect users from illegal content risks.
US Government to Launch Cyber Trust Mark: A Game-Changer for Cybersecurity Labels on Internet-Connected Devices in 2025
The U.S. government has announced the upcoming launch of its highly anticipated cybersecurity labeling program for consumer internet-connected devices, set to begin in 2025. This initiative, known as the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, aims to enhance device security and empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions. What is the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark? Introduced by…
Unlocking the Hidden Waymo Feature: Customize Your Robotaxi Experience with New Display Options
Jane Manchun Wong, a security researcher, discovered a hidden feature in the Waymo app that allowed her to customize the display on a Waymo robotaxi’s “dome.” This dome serves to identify the vehicle, communicate with pedestrians, and provide marketing opportunities. Wong showcased her modifications on X, revealing altered texts and emojis. She attributed this to insufficient validation of input by the app’s servers. In response, Waymo quickly updated the app to restrict access to this feature. This incident underscores ongoing security challenges in autonomous vehicle software, emphasizing the need for robust measures against unauthorized changes.