05/17, 2:00pm
FIPS 14-2 certification, STIG approval opening DoD doors
Apple's iPhones, iPads and other devices running iOS 6 or higher are officially cleared for use on the US government's secure networks, the Department of Defence announced on Friday. The final approval, which we first reported on in March, also grants Samsung Android devices that are running the Korean company's Knox security lockdown, as well as BlackBerry devices running BB10 the ability to be used on secure networks. The move is expected to further hurt BlackBerry, as it faces competition in the military space for the first time.
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05/09, 10:06am
Founder Ren Zhengfei claims Huawei not connected to US security issues
The founder and president of Huawei has made a rare appearance in front of reporters to defend his company. Ren Zhengfei spoke out against claims made by the US government that it is a national security risk, due to apparent close ties with the Chinese government, and allegations that Huawei equipment could have allowed sensitive details to be passed to Chinese agencies.
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03/07, 5:05pm
Sources close to budget reveal $5 million savings with cancellation
With the US government sequester underway, many if not all, federal divisions are seeing budget reductions -- with the Department of Defense (DoD) seeing a mandatory 11 percent cut. Electronista has learned that the DoD testing program previously announced at the end of February will continue with Android and iOS devices, leaving BlackBerry 10 devices mostly out in the cold. The change in plan, and the near-complete cessation of the BlackBerry 10 testing is said to save the DoD millions in procurement and personnel costs.
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02/08, 5:52pm
Modifications made to secure devices, prevent data theft
Government contractor and security firm CACI International has modified thousands of iPads so that they meet US government security requirements, according to CACI CEO Dan Allen. The Arlington, VA company secures the devices by physically altering the hardware, rather than through software modifications. Federal iPad users include President Barack Obama, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI.
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11/01, 7:46pm
Search engine giant accused of antitrust violations with FRAND patents
A staff report from the Federal Trade Commission has reportedly recommended that the US government pursue legal remedies against Google for violating antitrust laws. The review sprung from fears that Google is demanding sales embargoes against products that use patents required to be licensed under fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms (FRAND) terms rather than engage in the required good-faith negotiations legally required by owners holding standards-essential patents.
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10/01, 7:30pm
Unclassified servers penetrated, isolated from rest of network
The US Government is attempting to cool down rumors that hackers linked to the Chinese government penetrated the White House Military Office's (WHMO) network. The WHMO is responsible for presidential travel arrangements, and all communications with military units from the White House. A White House source denies the allegation, claiming that the spear phishing attack hit an unclassified network associated with the military office, and there is no evidence any classified information was stolen.
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05/31, 6:50am
Claims company not served correctly and due process rights violated
Megaupload has filed a motion to dismiss all US Government charges, potentially bringing the case to an end. According to Torrent Freak, the legal team for the file repository argues that the US has violated Megaupload's due process rights by destroying the business while not properly serving the company. The motion comes a day after a New Zealand court demanded full disclosure of all evidence held by the US in a case seeking extradition of Kim “Dotcom” Schlitz and other executives.
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05/10, 2:34am
Apple 11th place among tech firms
Politico reports that Apple has spent only $500,000 on federal lobbying and associated governmental programs thus far in 2012. By contrast, political action committees (PAC) formed by Google have dropped $5 million, and a separate Microsoft PAC has doled out $1.8 million in the same time period. Sources within Washington suggest that Apple will have a rocky road with DC lawmakers unless they start building a "Washington brand."
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03/29, 11:15pm
Funding promises to help "pressing challenges"
The Obama administration has announced a "Big Data" research and development initiative. The endeavor aims to improve the ability to "extract knowledge and insights" from large data sets and help solve some of the nation's "most pressing challenges."
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12/14, 12:10am
Company apologizes for lack of warning
Verizon has apologized for the recent "civil emergency" alerts that were sent to cellphones used by New Jersey residents in several counties. The Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) had warned many users of a civil emergency "extreme alert" in their local counties. The warning was attributed to the US government and ordered individuals to "take shelter now."
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06/15, 7:55pm
Government site unresponsive
Hacker group LulzSec has claimed responsibility for problems at the US government's CIA website, which was briefly unreachable before service was restored late in the day. The group is also credited with hacking into the Senate website over the weekend and downloading information, though Martina Bradford, the deputy Senate sergeant at arms, told Reuters "they're getting nothing."
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10/19, 6:15am
House Bipartisan Privacy Caucus asks questions
Facebook has been asked to answer US Government questions regarding the way user data is handled through third-party apps. According to the Wall Street Journal, two members of the House Bipartisan Privacy Caucus have asked Facebook to explain the way that “third-party applications gathered and transmitted personally identifiable information about Facebook users and those users’ friends.”
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10/22, 6:00pm
iPhones may be on the Hill
US State Senator may have a trendy new gadget next year, as congress is considering the iPhone as its newest communication device. TheHill.com is reporting that Congress's Chief Administrative Office (CAO), the office in charge of congressional communications, is testing a set of iPhones among its ranks to see if the device will function within the needs of Capital Hill representatives and support staff.
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