Ideas

Cybersecurity’s Human Side: How Can We Solve Our People Problem?

First, stop undermining our own efforts to fill crucial jobs. Second, cast a wide net for useful lessons.

Science & Tech

US Army to Test Powerful New Truck-Mounted Laser ‘Within Months’

New solid-state lasers plus ever-more-powerful mobile generators brings directed energy weapons a big step closer to reality.

Science & Tech

Yahoo, Erectile Dysfunction Meds, and the Sloppy Future of Russian Spying

Two hackers hired by FSB agents started running side scams. Now Moscow has account data on half a billion Yahoo users.

Science & Tech

WikiLeaks Dump Shines Light on Government's Shadowy Zero-Day Policy

The documents shed little light on how many unknown vulnerabilities the intelligence agency retains and how well it vets the damage they might cause.

Science & Tech

As Missile Defense Technology Improves, So Do Odds of an Arms Race in the Pacific

Next year, the U.S. plans to deploy a shipboard interceptor to help protect Japan. China and Russia will not be amused.

Science & Tech

CIA Claims No Wrongdoing As Wikileaks Claims to Publish Thousands of Agency Files

The group says the 8,000-plus files detail the existence and function of key hacking tools.

Threats

Iraq Agreed to Share More Information With US to Avoid Travel Ban

Other countries will have a harder time pulling the same trick.

Science & Tech

The Government’s Intelligence Wiki Might Be a Lockbox for Russian-Hacking Secrets

Analysts reportedly tucked classified information about Russian election meddling inside Intellipedia for safekeeping.

Science & Tech

Air Force Wants to Test a Laser on an Attack Plane Within A Year

But the U.S. Special Operations Command still needs money for the test and policymakers need to figure out the rules of engagement.

Science & Tech

DARPA Tests Dirty-Bomb Hunting Ambulances

You may not have known it, but some D.C. ambulances were searching for radiation while they drove.

Science & Tech

Pentagon Advisers Want Cyber ‘Tiger Teams,’ More Authorities for Cyber Command

Pentagon advisers: We need more infrastructure cybersecurity. Congress: We want more election-hacking security.

Science & Tech

Counter-Terror Chief: Expect Terrorist Drone Swarms 'Soon'

An upcoming competition will spotlight systems for downing enemy UAVs attacking solo or in groups.

Science & Tech

US Air Force to Send F-35 to Fight ISIS … In a Few Years

The plane’s rotation schedule has the JSF making deployments to Europe and the Pacific before heading to the Middle East, a top Air Force general says.

Science & Tech

How Trump’s Immigrant Dragnet Might Catch Your Personal Data, Too

A DHS rule change aimed at undocumented immigrants could invade the personal privacy of fare more people than the ones they’re targeting.

Science & Tech

The Man who led the Syrian Train-and-Equip Effort Wants A Cultural Translation App

The complex, delicate missions of today and tomorrow need a better way to bring fused intelligence to operators.

Science & Tech

US Military Is Looking to Add AI to Its Cyber Defense

The Pentagon's outgoing chief information officer said the Pentagon has already looked into IBM’s Watson platform.

Science & Tech

For the US Army, 'Cyber War' Is Quickly Becoming Just 'War'

Combat brigades will soon head into firefights with cyber specialists…and possibly IT lawyers.

Science & Tech

Military-Grade Spy Gear Is Flooding into Local Police Departments

Major U.S. cities are spending millions of dollars on tools that track and extract data from people’s cellphones — but almost nothing on rules to guide their use.

Science & Tech

Did Russia’s Election Meddling Break International Law? Experts Can’t Agree

Right now, that’s a gray area — and it’s hindering the U.S. response to influence operations.

Science & Tech

VA's Patchwork System Eats Most of its $4B Tech Budget. Congress Wants That to Stop.

The agency’s CIO says there’s no clear plan for replacing custom-built systems, two of which are more than 50 years old.