Archive for the ‘NSA’ Category

How the NSA is disrupting foreign hackers targeting COVID-19 vaccine research – TechCrunch

The headlines arent always kind to the National Security Agency, a spy agency that operates almost entirely in the shadows. But a year ago, the NSA launched its new Cybersecurity Directorate, which in the past year has emerged as one of the more visible divisions of the spy agency.

At its core, the directorate focuses on defending and securing critical national security systems that the government uses for its sensitive and classified communications. But the directorate has become best known for sharing some of the more emerging, large-scale cyber threats from foreign hackers. In the past year the directorate has warned against attacks targeting secure boot features in most modern computers, and doxxed a malware operation linked to Russian intelligence. By going public, NSA aims to make it harder for foreign hackers to reuse their tools and techniques, while helping to defend critical systems at home.

But six months after the directorate started its work, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and large swathes of the world and the U.S. went into lockdown, prompting hackers to shift gears and change tactics.

The threat landscape has changed, Anne Neuberger, NSAs director of cybersecurity, told TechCrunch at Disrupt 2020. Weve moved to telework, we move to new infrastructure, and weve watched cyber adversaries move to take advantage of that as well, she said.

Publicly, the NSA advised on which videoconferencing and collaboration software was secure, and warned about the risks associated with virtual private networks, of which usage boomed after lockdowns began.

But behind the scenes, the NSA is working with federal partners to help protect the efforts to produce and distribute a vaccine for COVID-19, a feat that the U.S. government called Operation Warp Speed. News of NSAs involvement in the operation was first reported by Cyberscoop. As the world races to develop a working COVID-19 vaccine, which experts say is the only long-term way to end the pandemic, NSA and its U.K. and Canadian partners went public with another Russian intelligence operation aimed at targeting COVID-19 research.

Were part of a partnership across the U.S. government, we each have different roles, said Neuberger. The role we play as part of Team America for Cyber is working to understand foreign actors, who are they, who are seeking to steal COVID-19 vaccine information or more importantly, disrupt vaccine information or shake confidence in a given vaccine.

Neuberger said that protecting the pharma companies developing a vaccine is just one part of the massive supply chain operation that goes into getting a vaccine out to millions of Americans. Ensuring the cybersecurity of the government agencies tasked with approving a vaccine is also a top priority.

Here are more takeaways from the talk, and you can watch the interview in full (embedded above).

TikTok is just days away from an app store ban, after the Trump administration earlier this year accused the Chinese-owned company of posing a threat to national security. But the government has been less than forthcoming about what specific risks the video sharing app poses, only alleging that the app could be compelled to spy for China. Beijing has long been accused of cyberattacks against the U.S., including the massive breach of classified government employee files from the Office of Personnel Management in 2014.

Neuberger said that the scope and scale of TikToks apps data collection makes it easier for Chinese spies to answer all kinds of different intelligence questions on U.S. nationals. Neuberger conceded that U.S. tech companies like Facebook and Google also collect large amounts of user data. But that there are greater concerns on how [China] in particular could use all that information collected against populations other than its own, she said.

The NSA is trying to be more open about the vulnerabilities it finds and discloses, Neuberger said. She told TechCrunch that the agency has shared a number of vulnerabilities with private companies this year, but those companies did not want to give attribution.

One exception was earlier this year when Microsoft confirmed NSA had found and privately reported a major cryptographic flaw in Windows 10, which could have allowed hackers to run malware masquerading as a legitimate file. The bug was so dangerous that NSA reported the vulnerability to Microsoft, which patched the bug.

Only two years earlier, the spy agency was criticized for finding and using a Windows vulnerability to conduct surveillance instead of alerting Microsoft to the flaw. The exploit was later leaked and was used to infect thousands of computers with the WannaCry ransomware, causing millions of dollars worth of damage.

As a spy agency, NSA exploits flaws and vulnerabilities in software to gather intelligence on the enemy. It has to run through a process called the Vulnerabilities Equities Process, which allows the government to retain bugs that it can use for spying.

Read the rest here:
How the NSA is disrupting foreign hackers targeting COVID-19 vaccine research - TechCrunch

What makes MP and UP invoke the National Security Act so often? – The Times of India Blog

Two states, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, accounted for most of the detentions under the National Security Act in 2017 and 2018. 66% or two-third of NSA detentions were in MP and 28% in UP. For these two states, these are worrying statistics. NSA allows preventive detention without trial for up to two years and several cases of misuse of this law have cropped up in these two states.

The most high profile case in recent times was Kafeel Khans detention for over six months just after he secured bail in a criminal case lodged against him. Similar instances of using NSA to keep people behind bars have also been reported in cow slaughter cases to prevent the accused from stepping out of prison after securing bail. Recently UP has mulled using NSA even in rape and murder cases.

Preventive detention laws like NSA are laws of last resort to detain those whom the state suspects are on the verge of breaching law and order. However, concerns about preventive detention militating against civil liberties makes it a grey area. This demands that states use this law sparingly. It is a good sign that most states in India havent followed the MP and UP example. Delhi, for instance, hasnt detained anyone under NSA even once in the past five years. UP and MP must review the tendency to invoke NSA frequently.

More here:
What makes MP and UP invoke the National Security Act so often? - The Times of India Blog

Wells Fargo Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on National Storage Affiliates (NSA) – Smarter Analyst

Wells Fargo analyst Todd Stender maintained a Buy rating on National Storage Affiliates (NSA) yesterday. The companys shares closed last Monday at $33.97.

According to TipRanks.com, Stender is a 3-star analyst with an average return of 5.3% and a 57.3% success rate. Stender covers the Financial sector, focusing on stocks such as Lexington Realty, Store Capital, and NETSTREIT.

The word on The Street in general, suggests a Moderate Buy analyst consensus rating for National Storage Affiliates with a $33.60 average price target.

See todays analyst top recommended stocks >>

National Storage Affiliates market cap is currently $2.36B and has a P/E ratio of 264.30. The company has a Price to Book ratio of 3.61.

TipRanks has tracked 36,000 company insiders and found that a few of them are better than others when it comes to timing their transactions. See which 3 stocks are most likely to make moves following their insider activities.

National Storage Affiliates Trust operates as a real estate investment trust. It focuses on the ownership, operation, and acquisition of self-storage properties located within the metropolitan statistical areas throughout the United States. The company was founded by Arlen D. Nordhagen in April 2013 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, CO.

Follow this link:
Wells Fargo Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on National Storage Affiliates (NSA) - Smarter Analyst

Exceeding All Expectations: A Journey of Adversity, Triumph and Eternal Optimism – Worth

We all have a role to play if we are to discover an effective means out of our collective global social crisis.

This is the story that I never wanted to tell and the article that I never thought I would write.

Although these are my experiences, too many of my colleagues have similar stories. Unfortunately, so do many of our friends, family members and kindred spirits around the world. This is an American story, and it is a global story.

As a former senior national security official retrospectively looking at life, I can say that it is a story of hopes, promises, courage, circumstance, disappointment and perseverance. Most importantly, it is ultimately a story of triumph.

It is difficult to write about the numerous obstacles that one might face in lifeespecially when these obstacles are based solely on superficial trivialities, such as ones melanin content or skin pigmentation, and not on deficiencies in a persons intellect, motivation, character, potential or loyalty to their nation.

I have never sought sympathy nor empty apologies, so I have avoided talking about:

My climb up the corporate mountainwas arduous, challenging and eventually rewarding. I welcomed the challenge of high expectations, but unlike many of my non-minority counterparts who were on similar climbs, I had few Sherpas, almost no time for acclimation at any level, no supplemental oxygen (i.e., sustained mentoring or assistance) and had to move along a steeper incline than most.

I worked at the National Security Agency (NSA), where only a gifted and blessed few ever make it to the top of operations. From that perch, you are entrusted to lead the United States global Signals Intelligence enterprise and arguably one of the worlds most capable spy organizations. The NSAs Operations Directorate has a storied history that includes contributing to breaking the World War II enigma code and still provides key input to the President of the United States daily intelligence briefing book. In the NSAs storied operations history, no minority had ever successfully reached its pinnacle.

I was promoted into the U.S. Senior Executive Service in my late 30s. Since the NSA is a Department of Defense (DoD) organization, I was a one-star general equivalent. This came at a time when minorities rarely achieved that rank and almost never until their early 50s. I began my career as an Air Force Russian linguist. My first assignment was in Japan, where it immediately became apparent that the words Black and Russian were more synonymous with a bar drink than an individual. I was never mistreated, just viewed as more of a curiosity. My 36-plus-year career climb was unlike most. This is my first capture of these experiences in writing.

The anecdotes that I have experienced during my life would literally fill a multi-volume book. Upon hearing brief snippets, most listeners shake their heads in disbelief. Although only a few incidents were done with malicious intent, they each spoke volumes about our culture and accepted behaviors.

A few examples of the adversity I faced included:

In spite of the many challenges, I eventually shattered a significant ceiling becoming NSAs Director of Global Operations. Entrusted with multi-billion-dollar budgets, I led tens of thousands of the worlds best engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, analysts and linguists. This was a far cry from the days when NSA minorities were relegated to the basement. However, when I departed the NSA, there was still much to be done.

The current pandemic has severely impacted much of our daily lives. This has also affected the economic, social and mental well-being of millions across the world.

However, there has also been a silent pandemic that has been ravaging our nation, and the world, for centuries. It has prevented citizens from attending schools and colleges, sporting and entertainment venues, visiting certain public places, joining various professions and being accepted into boardrooms. It has even interfered with places of worship. The side effects of this pandemic will likely linger for centuries to come. There are no daily casualty counts or comprehensive economic metrics, and although it is easy to identify, few want to acknowledge its existence. We shun the topic, ascribing it to days gone by, while ignoring the fact that if we only open our eyes, it stares back at us in our communities and workplaces. It is the pandemic of discrimination, bias and presumed privilege that knows no boundaries. This pandemic permeates every facet of our lives and is spawned in our homes, neighborhoods, communities and businesses. There appears to be no immunity for this silent plague and unfortunately few seem willing to help find a cure. But there is hope

The past six months have been a period of enlightenment for many. We have become semi-experts in the art of social distancing, living with some degree of depravity and adjusting to a new way of life. However, we have also seen an unprecedented social movement blossoming around the world. The movement has taken root in our homes, cities and businesses, and is being joined by those of goodwill and like minds daily. While this movement can be viewed with guarded optimism, many of us know that it is rooted in a fragile foundation that could crumble at any moment.

I applaud Worth for having the courage and social consciousness to allow me to tell part of my story. Mine is but a small link in a global chain of stories that should and must be told. I hope that in the coming months we can present the journeys of others who have triumphed in the face of overwhelming adversity. These authors stories should inspire us, while stirring our social and ethical consciousnesses to assist others in their journeys. We all have a role to play if we are to discover an effective means out of our collective global social crisis.

Writing this story has been cathartic. My reluctance has been overtaken by a sense of moral obligation to embolden others to come forward. We need your intellect, resourcefulness, ideas, prayers and active participation if we are to build a coalition of the willing and able. The journey will not be easymost worthy endeavors are usually laboriousbut we will achieve our goals. I look forward to serving with you. Keep the faith.

An indispensable guide to finance, investing and entrepreneurship.

Visit link:
Exceeding All Expectations: A Journey of Adversity, Triumph and Eternal Optimism - Worth

A New Program Will Help Independent Supermarkets Offer Online Ordering and Delivery – Abasto, Food and Beverage Industry News

Mercato has been selected by the City of New York to become the eCommerce marketplace that will connect underserved NYC communities to local independent supermarkets. Through this partnership, select stores in all five boroughs will begin offering their inventory online and via local delivery a functionality these stores werent previously equipped with.

According to a press release, the Citys arrangement with Mercato will allow customers to order from several stores at once within each neighborhood, replicating the experience of shopping in person from store to store.

The City of New York is waiving the set-up fee for these stores, typically valued at $1,500, to get them up and running faster and more cost-effectively.

As a native New Yorker and the son of an independent grocer in Brooklyn, I am excited to work with the City to support these neighborhood grocers and to announce Mercatos commitment to improving access to quality food for residents of areas that were impacted by the COVID crisis while also providing these local retailers with a new sales channel, said Bobby Brannigan, CEO and founder of Mercato. Its really great to be able to support grocers who would not have otherwise had the resources to get on our platform if it werent for the support of City Hall and the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

The pilot program, which is now underway, includes independent supermarkets located in neighborhoods, identified by the Mayors Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity, across the city including Harlem, Mott Haven, Brownsville, Hollis, Richmond Hill, Stapleton, and others, Mercato said in a statement.

Abasto Media reached out to the National Supermarkets Association (NSA), the largest Hispanic independent supermarket organization in New York, for their opinion on this pilot program that seeks to equip grocery stores with online ordering and delivery services. home shopping.

As an independent grocery store owner, I always like to give my customers all the options that are available to us and our communities, said NSA President William Rodriguez.

However, Rodrguez said that so far, his association has not been invited to participate in this program. As president of the NSA, the largest association of independent supermarkets in the New York metropolitan area, I would like to reach out to Mercato executives and offer a direct platform to more than 400 supermarkets.

Related Article: Expanding SNAP Online a Top Priority for Independent Grocers

A number of participating stores are members of both the New York City Economic Development Corporations (NYCEDC) FRESH program and its Public Markets network.

This partnership is designed to empower stores in more marginalized neighborhoods.

Putting equity at the center of the Citys recovery means ensuring New Yorkers have access to quality food that is healthy and affordable, said James Patchett, President and CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation.

The partnership with Mercato gives seniors and other groups at a higher-risk for COVID-19 a safer means to access food. At the same time, independent grocery stores and participating vendors at our public markets, which are serving hard-hit communities, can grow their business by building their digital presence. This effort, which invests in both people and local businesses, will create a stronger New York for all, added Patchett.

Mercato was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 2015 and the company currently operates in 45 states nationwide. Mercato facilitates online ordering and delivery for more than 225 independent grocery and specialty food stores across New York Citys five boroughs.

I am proud of the Taskforces work to expand and improve these important initiatives, and support local businesses in the process. Moreover, these options will help expand choice, including to culturally appropriate foods, so that New Yorkers can choose which foods they want to eat and feed their families, said Anusha Venkataraman, co-chair of the Taskforce subcommittee on Food Access & Insecurity and NYC Chief Service Officer.

Built upon a mission of supporting independent supermarkets, Mercato has been actively onboarding grocers during the COVID-19 crisis. The company, which equips stores with clean and seamless online ordering and delivery functionality, is committed to onboarding independent grocers in areas that need improved access to food.

Once on Mercatos platform, these newly added independent supermarkets will benefit from the companys ongoing consumer marketing campaigns which include digital advertising, email, and more. The average Mercato store sees a 100% increase in online sales within a few months of launch.

Read the original post:
A New Program Will Help Independent Supermarkets Offer Online Ordering and Delivery - Abasto, Food and Beverage Industry News