Tech Security
In the 1,006 days because Donald Trump ended up being president, his administration has revealed little < a data-ga="[["Embedded Url","Internal link","https://gizmodo.com/trump-finally-signs-overdue-executive-order-about-the-c-1795135712",{"metric25":1}] ] href =" https://gizmodo.com/trump-finally-signs-overdue-executive-order-about-the-c -1795135712" > vigilance< a data-ga="[["Embedded Url","Internal link","https://gizmodo.com/heres-how-easy-it-is-to-get-trump-officials-to-click-on-1794963635",{"metric25":1}]] href=" https://gizmodo.com/heres-how-easy-it-is-to-get-trump-officials-to-click-on-1794963635” > when it< a data-ga="[["Embedded Url","Internal link","https://gizmodo.com/report-john-bolton-thinks-the-cyber-is-namby-pamby-ner-1825907563",{"metric25":1}]] href=" https://gizmodo.com/report-john-bolton-thinks-the-cyber-is-namby-pamby-ner-1825907563" > comes to its own< a data-ga="[["Embedded Url","Internal link","https://gizmodo.com/white-house-says-it-will-get-right-on-that-130-plus-sta-1823103700",{"metric25":1}]] href=" https://gizmodo.com/white-house-says-it-will-get-right-on-that- 130- plus-sta-1823103700" > security, and a brand-new internal memo suggests the White Home is working to weaken its own cybersecurity safeguards.
< a data-ga="[["Embedded Url","External link","https://www.axios.com/exclusive-white-house-cyber-memo-warns-of-new-network-risks-9aa19c6c-77a3-485b-919b-1dd9bd691514.html",{"metric25":1}]] href=" https://www.axios.com/exclusive-white-house-cyber-memo-warns-of-new-network-risks-9aa19 c6c-77 a3 -485 b-919 b-1dd9bd691514 html" > Axios has published a< a data-ga="[["Embedded Url","External link","https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6509666-Cyber-memo.html#document/p1",{"metric25":1}]] href=" https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6509666- Cyber-memo. html #document/ p1" > memo composed by the White House computer network defense branch chief Dimitrios Vastakis that warns “the White Home is posturing itself to be digitally jeopardized when again.”
The White Home did not immediately react to a Gizmodo demand for comment.
Vastakis submitted the memo as a letter of resignation last Thursday. As Axios reports, the letter comes after a minimum of twelve top authorities were dismissed or resigned from a cybersecurity team that safeguarded the White House from security hazards from Russia and other entities. This team– the Workplace of the Chief Information Security Officer (OCISO)— was developed after the Obama administration was attacked by < a data-ga ="[["Embedded Url","External link","https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/hackers-breach-some-white-house-computers/2014/10/28/2ddf2fa0-5ef7-11e4-91f7-5d89b5e8c251_story.html",{"metric25":1}]] href =" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/hackers-breach-some-white-house-computers/2014/10/28/ 2ddf2fa0-5ef7-11e4-91 f7-5d 89 b5e8c251 _ story.html "> Russian hackers in2014 As the memo states, the OCISO” was established to take on the duty of protecting the Presidential Infotech Community( PITC )network. “Since then, the group has” substantially matured the security posture of PITC and no significant compromise has actually occurred,” according to the memo.
Nevertheless, in July the OCISO was folded into the Workplace of the Chief Info Officer (OCIO)– an entity that is not covered under the Presidential Records Act, which mandates all records be protected.
” It is highly concerning that the entire cybersecurity device is being turned over to non-PRA entities,” the memo reads. “This is a significant shift in the top priorities of senior leadership, where company operations and quality of service take precedence over protecting the President’s network. As a profession cyber security expert, this is worrying.”
Vastakis adds that he believes OCISO staff are “methodically being targeted for elimination from the Office of the Administration (OA) through various ways,” including “revocation of rewards, minimizing the scope of tasks, lowering access to programs, withdrawing access to structures, and revoking positions with strategic and method choice making authorities.”
The security expert concludes his memo by predicting that history will repeat itself. Of course, the most significant question is why? Why hide this group’s actions from official records? Why weaken White Home cybersecurity and drive out specialists? When again, the White House did not instantly react to Gizmodo’s concerns and we’ll update this post when it