National Security Zone

Week in Review

By Stephanie Kelly on February 27, 2017 Donald Trump, ean-Luc Melenchon, James Mattis, Mike Rogers, National Security Agency, Pentagon, russia, Sergei Shoigu, U.S. Cyber Command

Weekly review of national security news.

Cybersecurity Series

The Web of Vulnerabilities

By Ellen Shearer on February 15, 2017February 15, 2017 passcode, vulnerabilities

In a joint project between The Christian Science Monitor’s Passcode team and the Medill School of Journalism, we explore the growing arms race to discover software vulnerabilities – and what it means for national security and everyone’s digital privacy and safety.

Cybersecurity Week In Review

Week in Review

By Stephanie Kelly on February 14, 2017 clinton, cybersecurity, Federal Security Service, Germany, NATO, Treasury Department, Trident Capital, trump, Washington

Cybersecurity was in the news last week — with some Americans thinking they are smarter than the president while European leaders tried to beat a simulated cyberassault.

Cybersecurity The Web of Vulnerabilities

The unlikely suspects: Spies in the home

By Eunice Lee on February 10, 2017February 8, 2017 hacking

The democratization of hacking tools is making it cheaper and easier than ever for families and loved ones to spy on each other.

Cybersecurity The Web of Vulnerabilities

The deciders: How Washington evaluates vulnerabilities

By Darby Hopper and Dan Waldman on February 10, 2017February 8, 2017 cybersecurity, zero-day

It’s unknown how many zero-day vulnerabilities the NSA keeps for its digital espionage operations.

The Web of Vulnerabilities

The victims: The human cost of surveillance

By Rishika Dugyala and Vishakha Darbha on February 10, 2017February 8, 2017 cybersurveillance

“The first time I saw it, I was not 100 percent sure that somebody had hacked into my computer … Freaky things happen, you’ve seen basically computers act up.”

Cybersecurity The Web of Vulnerabilities

The best defense: How to improve your digital security

By Anna Waters on February 10, 2017February 8, 2017 apple, cybersecurity, duckduckgo, personal tech

Tech companies are working hard to protect their customers from attackers – whether they are snooping governments or criminals looking to steal personal information.

Cybersecurity The Web of Vulnerabilities

What is a zero-day? (VIDEO)

By Fallon Schlossman on February 10, 2017February 8, 2017 zero-day

Melanie Teplinsky, cybersecurity expert and adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, explains the lifecycle of a zero day: A previously unknown vulnerability in software that could allow hackers access to people’s data without them knowing.

CyLab at Carnegie Mellon University / Facebook

International Relations The Web of Vulnerabilities

Players in the Surveillance Industry

By Ross Krasner and David Gernon on February 10, 2017February 8, 2017 Booz Allen, Carnegie Mellon, surveillance

These organizations are big names in cybersecurity and surveillance.

Cybersecurity The Web of Vulnerabilities

Sen. Ron Wyden: A voice on digital privacy issues

By Isabella Alvarenga and Kelly Norris on February 10, 2017February 8, 2017 digital privacy, Ron Wyden

On Capitol Hill, Wyden is one of most active voices on digital privacy issues, specifically when it comes to protecting civil liberties. First elected to the Senate in 1996, the Democratic senator from Oregon has served on the Select Committee on Intelligence and worked on bills to reduce and regulate government surveillance and hacking.