U.S. Health Agency Suffers Cyber-Attack During Covid-19 Response

[Mrs. Overall]

Source: Bloomberg

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department suffered a cyber-attack on its computer system Sunday night during the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The attack appears to have been intended to slow the agency’s systems down, but didn’t do so in any meaningful way, said the people, who asked for anonymity to discuss an incident that was not public.

The National Security Council’s tweet on Sunday night was related to the hacking and the release of disinformation, according to the people. The government realized Sunday that there had been a cyber intrusion and false information was circulating.

NSC tweeted just before midnight: “Text message rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE. There is no national lockdown. @CDCgov has and will continue to post the latest guidance on #COVID19.” The tweet was in part meant to address the hacking, which involved multiple incidents. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and other Trump administration officials are aware of the incident, the person said.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-16/u-s-health-agency-suffers-cyber-attack-during-covid-9-response

[pecosbob]

1. This would be a pretty effective time for any number of cyber attacks on our infrastructure.

I was experiencing a lot of network problems on my credit and debit terminals last night and was thinking how screwed we'd be if our credit networks went down.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Trumpistas ("It's a Dem hoax!") or foreign actors ("fuck up USA with confusion any chance")?

[NBachers]

3. I've been wondering when malign nations or groups would attack our institutions or infrastructure.

This seems like a perfect time to introduce some really damaging cyber-sabotage.

[FM123]

4. Wow, at a time like this...

[IronLionZion]

5. America's cyber defense personnel are still working hard through this crisis

a good many of them still go in person to work in SCIFs and control rooms to monitor against threats.

[PSPS]

6. Under Trump, the Fight Against Cybercrime Has Waned

Wired - 06.20.2019

According to recent polling, Americans view malicious cyber activity as their top security concern—ahead of the economy, nuclear threats, and ISIL. This fear is well-justified. Within the last couple of years, there have been cyberattacks in the United States against the electoral system, the financial industry, the power grid, and hospitals.

Despite these events, the US government is simply not doing enough to combat the burgeoning threat of cybercrime. A recent report I coauthored estimated that for every 1,000 cyber incidents, just three see an enforcement response. Malicious cyber actors outside the US are acting with impunity, and, understandably, fear no consequences from the harm they impose on Americans.

Though the White House has not opposed specific legislation coming out of Congress—the president has signed all the cybersecurity bills sent to his desk—it also has not demonstrated an overarching strategy necessary to combat this pressing issue. In fact, the Trump administration is actively undoing the progressive cybersecurity policy of past administrations. The role of the White House Cyber Coordinator was eliminated by John Bolton in order to consolidate power at the National Security Council. Former secretary of state Rex Tillerson removed the Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues, which had served as an important diplomatic arm for US cyber diplomatic efforts. The White House’s 2018 budget zeroed out funding for the biggest digital evidence training center in the country.

All this leads me to conclude that for the president and his administration, cybersecurity is simply not a priority. As a result, Congress has been left to its own devices to enact a comprehensive strategy that aims to identify, stop, and punish malicious cyber actors. Congress has too often abdicated this role, relying on lobbyists to draft legislation. Some have complained that the depletion of resources has hindered them from doing their job properly. But even without leadership from the White House, there is a lot more Congress can do.

More at https://www.wired.com/story/under-trump-the-fight-against-cybercrime-has-waned/

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. The Russians?