Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

Sean Plankey Abandons Bid After Yearlong Delay as CISA's Leadership Vacuum DeepensSean Plankey withdrew his nomination after a 13-month stalled process, leaving the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency without a Senate-confirmed director as political disputes, workforce cuts and budget pressure continue to hamper federal cyber operations.

US Cyber Defense Agency Slammed by Shutdown, Personnel Cuts and Resource CrisisFacing major turnover, partisan upheaval and a government shutdown, the U.S. cyber defense agency is now operating at a fraction of its strength, leaving states and other entities without federal cyber support or coordination, experts tell Information Security Media Group.

US Cyber Defense Agency Slammed by Shutdown, Personnel Cuts and Resource CrisisFacing major turnover, partisan upheaval and a government shutdown, the U.S. cyber defense agency is now operating at a fraction of its strength, leaving states and other entities without federal cyber support or coordination, experts tell Information Security Media Group.

CISA Staff Told to Prepare for Cuts and Crowded Work Locations Amid Growing TurmoilTop officials at the nation's cyber defense agency want to give President Donald Trump's pick to lead the agency time to assess major restructuring plans - a move that is reportedly delaying the timeline for reductions in force while causing growing concerns for job stability among staffers.

President's campaign continues against man he claims covered up evidence of electoral fraud in 2020 Chris Krebs, former CISA director and current political punching bag for the US President, says his Global Entry membership was revoked.…

Top voices warn that political retaliation puts democracy and national defense at risk The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and numerous infosec leaders are lobbying US President Donald Trump to drop his enduring investigation into Chris Krebs, claiming that targeting the former CISA boss amounts to bullying.…

CISA Recommends Strict Mobile Security Measures Following Salt Typhoon Telecom HackThe Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's latest guidance calls on top U.S. political and government officials to adopt stricter mobile security measures in response to the Salt Typhoon hacking campaign, a Chinese espionage effort that has infiltrated major telecom systems.

Today, CISA urged senior government and political officials to switch to end-to-end encrypted messaging apps like Signal following a wave of telecom breaches across dozens of countries, including eight carriers in the United States. [...]

CISA and FBI Warn of Iranian Hackers Targeting US Political Campaigns and OfficialsThe Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have issued new guidance to help U.S. political campaigns defend against increasing cyber threats from Iran, recommending stronger multi-factor authentication, phishing-resistant protocols, and vigilance against social engineering.

Also: Ransomware Surged in 2023, MoneyGram Back in Service After CyberattackThis week, advice on spotting North Korean staff; ransomware attacks rose; MoneyGram back online; FCC fined political operative; CISA warned of water system attacks; Ukraine restricted Telegram use; North Korean hackers used new malware; U.K. arrested alleged hacker; PSNI is in data leak talks.