Technology Law & Regulation – Page 2 – Computer Security Articles

Senate votes to kill FCC's broadband privacy rules

March 23, 2017 admin Data Privacy, internet, Security, Technology Law & Regulation

Credit to Author: Grant Gross| Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:13:00 -0700

The U.S. Senate has voted to kill broadband provider privacy regulations prohibiting them from selling customers’ web-browsing histories and other data without their permission.

The Senate’s 50-48 vote Thursday on a resolution of disapproval would roll back Federal Communications Commission rules requiring broadband providers to receive opt-in customer permission to share sensitive personal information, including web-browsing history, geolocation, and financial details with third parties. The FCC approved the regulations just five months ago.

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ComputerWorld Independent

U.S. bans electronics larger than smartphones in cabins on some flights

March 21, 2017 admin Security, Technology Law & Regulation

Credit to Author: John Ribeiro| Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2017 05:02:00 -0700

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has ordered that passengers on flights departing for the U.S from 10 airports in the Middle East and Africa will have to carry personal electronics larger than a smartphone as checked baggage, citing increased terror threats.

Giving the approximate size of a commonly available smartphone as a guideline for passengers, the DHS said that laptops, tablets, e-readers, cameras, portable DVD players, electronic game units larger than smartphones, and travel printers or scanners were the kind of personal electronics that would not be allowed in the cabin and would have to be carried as checked baggage.

Approved medical devices may be brought into the cabin after additional screening. The size of smartphones is well understood by most passengers who fly internationally, according to the DHS, which in any case asked passengers to check with their airline if they are unsure whether their smartphone is impacted.

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ComputerWorld Independent

Cobol plays major role in U.S. government breaches

March 16, 2017 admin Government IT, Security, Technology Law & Regulation

Credit to Author: Patrick Thibodeau| Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2017 13:21:00 -0700

New research is turning on its head the idea that legacy systems — such as Cobol and Fortran — are more secure because hackers are unfamiliar with the technology.

New research found that these outdated systems, which may not be encrypted or even documented, were more susceptible to threats.

By analyzing publicly available federal spending and security breach data, the researchers found that a 1% increase in the share of new IT development spending is associated with a 5% decrease in security breaches.

“In other words, federal agencies that spend more in maintenance of legacy systems experience more frequent security incidents, a result that contradicts a widespread notion that legacy systems are more secure,” the paper found. The research paper was written by Min-Seok Pang, an assistant professor of management information systems at Temple University, and Huseyin Tanriverdi, an associate professor in the Information, Risk and Operations Department at the University of Texas at Austin.

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ComputerWorld Independent

Senate resolution aims to roll back privacy rules for ISPs

March 8, 2017 admin Data Privacy, Security, Technology Law & Regulation

Credit to Author: John Ribeiro| Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2017 03:57:00 -0800

A resolution introduced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday aims to roll back privacy rules for broadband service providers that were approved by the Federal Communications Commission in October.

The rules include the requirement that internet service providers like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon obtain “opt-in” consent from consumers to use and share sensitive personal information such as geolocation and web browsing history and also give customers the choice to opt out from the sharing of non-sensitive information such as email addresses or service tier information.

The rules have been opposed by ISPs that argue that they are being treated differently from other Internet entities like search engines and social networking companies.

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ComputerWorld Independent

FCC halts data security rules

March 2, 2017 admin internet, Networking, Security, Technology Law & Regulation

Credit to Author: John Ribeiro| Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2017 03:59:00 -0800

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has halted new rules that would require high-speed internet providers to take ‘reasonable’ steps to protect customer data.

In a 2-1 vote that went along party lines, the FCC voted Wednesday to stay temporarily one part of privacy rules passed in October that would give consumers the right to decide how their data is used and shared by broadband providers.

The rules include the requirement that internet service providers should obtain “opt-in” consent from consumers to use and share sensitive information such as geolocation and web browsing history, and also give customers the option to opt out from the sharing of non-sensitive information such as email addresses or service tier information.

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ComputerWorld Independent

FCC puts the brakes on ISP privacy rules it passed in October

February 24, 2017 admin Data Privacy, internet, Security, Technology Law & Regulation

Credit to Author: Grant Gross| Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:43:00 -0800

The new chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission will seek a stay on privacy rules for broadband providers that the agency just passed in October.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will ask for either a full commission vote on the stay before parts of the rules take effect next Thursday or he will instruct FCC staff to delay part of the rules pending a commission vote, a spokesman said Friday.

The rules, passed when the FCC had a Democratic majority, require broadband providers to receive opt-in customer permission to share sensitive personal information, including web-browsing history, geolocation, and financial details, with third parties. Without the stay, the opt-in requirements were scheduled to take effect next week.

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ComputerWorld Independent

What to expect from the Trump administration on cybersecurity

February 22, 2017 admin cyberattacks, Data Privacy, Security, Technology Law & Regulation

Credit to Author: Grant Gross| Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:39:00 -0800

Look for President Donald Trump’s administration to push for increased cybersecurity spending in government, but also for increased digital surveillance and encryption workarounds.

That’s the view of some cybersecurity policy experts, who said they expect Trump to focus on improving cybersecurity at federal agencies while shying away from new cybersecurity regulations for businesses.

Trump is likely to look for ways for the National Security Agency and other agencies to assist the government and companies in defending against cyberattacks, said Jeffrey Eisenach, a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a tech adviser during Trump’s presidential transition.

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ComputerWorld Independent

Tech groups gear up for a big FISA surveillance fight

February 16, 2017 admin Data Privacy, Security, Technology Law & Regulation

Credit to Author: Grant Gross| Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2017 07:36:00 -0800

A controversial provision in U.S. law that gives the National Security Agency broad authority to spy on people overseas expires at the end of the year, and six major tech trade groups are gearing up for a fight over an extension.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires on Dec. 31, and Congress almost certain to extend it in some form.

The tech trade groups, including BSA, the Consumer Technology Association, and the Computer and Communications Industry Association, are asking lawmakers to build in new privacy protections for internet users.

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