Topic: National Security Agency

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Edward Snowden: NSA leaker reveals himself, expects retribution

The Guardian newspaper Sunday revealed the principal source for its reports on NSA telephone and Internet intelligence gathering. Edward Snowden is a hero to some, while others see him as a highly damaging leaker of important secrets that could harm US national security.
Another NSA leaker? More expected to come on spying revelations

Columnist Glenn Greenwald, who broke the NSA spying story, expects there'll be more whistle blowers and more stories based on leaks. The government is treating that as criminal activity.
PRISM: What’s behind this NSA surveillance tool lurking about your Facebook page?

The PRISM program has been sucking up what most people would think of as personal information on Google, Facebook, Skype, and other Internet providers. What’s up with the NSA's secret surveillance effort?
NSA data-mining 101: two 'top secret' programs and what they do

Two US surveillance programs – one scooping up records of Americans' phone calls and the other collecting information on Internet-based activities – came to public attention this week. The aim: data-mining to help the NSA thwart terrorism. But not everyone is cool with it.
Obama on NSA data-mining: ‘Nobody is listening to your telephone calls’ (+video)

President Obama defends once-secret counterterrorism programs, such as NSA data-mining, and decries leaks, even as he welcomes public debate over how to balance security with civil liberties.
Backchannels Is the price of 'security' worth it? (+video)

Or, how much terrorism is there, really?
Backchannels NSA's data flood, through the PRISM of US interests and freedom (+video)

Do revelations about the US government snooping on citizens' telephone and Internet records make it harder for the government to advocate for Internet freedom around the world?
Verizon phone-snooping flap: why Obama won't be harmed

News that Verizon has been forced to turn over millions of phone records to the US government feeds the narrative of Big Brother-ism in Washington. But concerns over national security are likely to mitigate political fallout.
NSA collects Verizon phone records under secret court order

At the FBI's request, a judge signed a court order requiring Verizon to release some telephone records. It is unclear what the National Security Agency and the FBI do with this data, but past practices indicate it may be mined for information about terrorism networks.
Global Viewpoint Google's Eric Schmidt: Internet will let Chinese rise up

In an interview, Google’s Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen say the connectivity of the digital age will empower individuals as never before. This will make revolutionary movements against autocratic regimes such as China easier to start – but harder to finish.
House passes CISPA bill

The US House of Representatives voted to approve CISPA, the much criticized legislation that aims to protect businesses from cyber attacks.
New cybersecurity bill: Privacy threat or crucial band-aid?

The cybersecurity bill was a flash point for privacy advocates a year ago. Now, changes have been made to the bill, which was the focus of a closed hearing Wednesday by the House Intelligence Committee.
Opinion 4 ways Chuck Hagel can improve cyber security

Newly sworn-in Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel must guide the Department of Defense through a few key challenges to better secure the nation’s cyber networks. His focus at the Pentagon should be on these four key areas.
Why Obama's executive order on cybersecurity doesn't satisfy most experts

An executive order can only set voluntary cybersecurity standards for firms running America's 'critical infrastructure,' such as power grids. But some say Obama should be doing more.
Cybersecurity: how preemptive cyberwar is entering the nation's arsenal

In addition to authorizing the use of cyberweapons, the White House is preparing an executive order to beef up cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, such as the electric grid, refineries, and telecommunications.
'Red October' malware found snooping on Russian state networks

Russian Internet security firm Kaspersky Labs reports that the newly discovered 'Red October' malware has infected servers worldwide, but Russia and other former Soviet states are the worst hit.
Focus Cyber security in 2013: How vulnerable to attack is US now? (+video)

Businesses, government, and individuals seek better cyber security measures, as cyberattacks mount in the US. One key focus is how to protect 'critical' systems such as power, water, and transportation.
Focus Cyberwar: Who's been attacked? Who are attackers?

The US is often a target of cyberattacks, but its government is also known to be an attacker. The Pentagon's Plan X, moreover, will bolster US capabilities to wage cyberwar.
Secret US cybersecurity program to protect power grid confirmed

The National Security Agency is spearheading a program, dubbed Perfect Citizen, to develop technology to protect the power grid from cyberattack. The project worries privacy rights groups.
'Cyber Pearl Harbor': Could future cyberattack really be that devastating?

Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure like the power grid ‘could be a cyber Pearl Harbor,’ Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned in October. Some others say the concept is overblown.
Unemployed and overlooked: Labor force rate of participation down drastically

Since 2007, 4 million people have left the labor force, in many cases because they have given up looking for jobs. If these 'discouraged jobseekers' were counted in the jobless rate, August's numbers would have been 10.5 percent.
Cybersecurity bill: Why senator is taking his case straight to top CEOs

Amid opposition from business groups to a cybersecurity bill, Sen. Jay Rockefeller is writing CEOs of the nation's top 500 companies for their views 'without the filter of Beltway lobbyists.'
Secret Flame: new evidence of mammoth cyberspying program against Iran

When digital sleuths found Flame – a massive cyberespionage campaign targeting Iran – they were astounded. Now, it seems, Flame was just the tip of the iceberg.
Does Obama need to step in to protect power grids from cyberattack?

Congress appears gridlocked on a cybersecurity bill to protect power grids and other critical infrastructure, so President Obama is considering an executive order.
Opinion Help wanted: Geek squads for US cybersecurity

The now-dead Cybersecurity Act of 2012 included provisions to beef up a federal workforce of experts to defend against cyberattacks. But it's not too late. Wisely, federal agencies are not waiting for legislation to build their cyber geek squads. Still, more steps must be taken.