Obama urged to fast-track cybersecurity policy

Business continuity, not data breaches, among top concerns for tech firms; Typhoid adware is the newest cyberthreat

Cybersecurity Update – Tune in weekdays at 30 minutes past the hour for the latest cybersecurity news on The Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris (6-10 a.m.) and The DorobekInsider with Chris Dorobek (3-7 p.m.). Listen live at FederalNewsRadio.com or on the radio at 1500 and 820 AM in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

  • The Obama administration is coming under increasing pressure from industry professionals to fast-track cybersecurity policies announced a year ago. United Press International reports that the Cyberspace Policy Review, which was announced by the administration last year, isn’t so much a plan but the beginning of a plan. The Internet Security Alliance believes that should force the administration to rethink how it tackles the issue of cyber security. Experts say public and private sectors need to work more closely, and that federal agencies need to put new monitoring technology in place.
  • The nation’s 100 largest public technology firms rank data security and breach prevention low on their list of risk factors. That according to professional services firm BDO. The study looked at SEC filings for 2009. Computer World reports the filings placed natural disasters, wars, conflicts and terrorist attacks above data security, which ranked 23rd on the list.
  • As if real cyberthreats weren’t enough, there’s a new theoretical one to worry about. The University of Calgary is warning about potential dangers lurking in wi-fi hotspots. Researchers have proven the concept that a “carrier” computer could convince other computers to communicate with it instead of the access point. Then it inserts adware onto the victim laptops. SCMagazine reports the threat is called “typhoid adware” because it is transmitted through a seemingly healthy computer, much like Typhoid Mary experienced no symptoms of typhoid fever but was responsible for infecting scores of people.

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