Critical infrastructure depends on interconnected operational systems, where cyber incidents can disrupt essential services, safety, and availability.
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Critical infrastructure includes systems and assets vital for public health, safety, and economic stability, such as power grids, water treatment, transportation networks, and healthcare facilities. These systems often combine physical components with industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) that manage essential services in real time.
From an information-security perspective, critical infrastructure faces risks like unauthorized access to control systems, disruption of service availability, and manipulation of sensor data. Defending these assets requires specialized security measures tailored to ICS environments, including network segmentation, strict access controls, and continuous monitoring for anomalies. Ensuring resilience also involves coordinated efforts between operators and government agencies to address vulnerabilities unique to legacy systems and proprietary protocols.
Attackers Allege They Stole 2TBs of Patient Data, But Didn't Encrypt IT SystemRansomware group Anubis claimed it stole 2 terabytes of patient data in an attack this week on Signature Healthcare. The Massachusetts health system is still diverting ambulance patients from its hospital and using paper charts while it continues to recover.
DOD Official: AI Firm Wanted 'Approval Role in the Operational Decision Chain'Internal memos used by the Department of Defense to justify its decision to blacklist artificial intelligence firm Anthropic said the firm's models could not be reliably controlled for military use.
Operational Discipline and Judgment Are Critical in Managing Cyber RiskTransitioning from armed forces can feel like stepping into unfamiliar terrain. Nowhere is this perception stronger than in cybersecurity. The good news: Many of the skills veterans have already developed translate directly to cybersecurity roles.
Experts Warn of Faster and Higher Volume Attacks, Rising Patient Safety WorriesEmerging powerful AI tools - such as Anthropic's new Claude Mythos - that are capable of autonomously identifying and exploiting software bugs in a flash could reshape the healthcare cyber landscape by accelerating attacks and raising the risk of widespread operational disruption, experts said.
Former DoD CIO Beavers on Ethics, Reliability and AI as a National Security ToolAs AI is increasingly used in defense operations, a critical question emerges: Who controls the system - the military or the model? Former DoD CIO Leslie Beavers explores challenges related to ethics and reliability, vendor risk, and autonomy as AI tools become key combatants in modern warfare.
Defense of Democracies' Mark Montgomery on Warfare Trends, Geopolitical ThreatsCyber operations now support military strategy rather than just acting alone. Mark Montgomery of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warns that as militaries integrate cyber and kinetic action, private sector enterprises are facing greater exposure to geopolitical threats.
CISA: Iran-Linked Groups Actively Exploiting OT Exposure Risks, PLC ProgrammersFederal agencies are warning that Iranian-linked actors have begun actively exploiting internet-facing PLCs and misconfigured OT systems across U.S. critical infrastructure, enabling network access, lateral movement and potential disruption amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Signature Healthcare EHRs, Patient Portal Offline; Some Cancer Care CancelledA Massachusetts healthcare system is diverting ambulance patients and is operating under downtime procedures as it deals with a cyberattack. The organization has also canceled certain cancer treatments, taken its patient portal offline and is unable to fill prescriptions at its retail pharmacies.
Hijacking DNS Settings Helps Russian Hackers Decrypt TLS Traffic, Microsoft WarnsHackers tied to Russia's GRU military intelligence agency are compromising SOHO routers to hijack their DNS settings and spy on the cloud activities of high-value government, IT, telecommunications and energy organizations, Microsoft warns.
White House Criticizes Cyber Defense Agency - and Proposes a Steep $700 Million CutThe FY2027 proposal would cut roughly $707 million from CISA, reducing staffing, contractor support and coordination programs while shifting the agency toward a narrower focus on federal networks and critical infrastructure amid rising nation-state cyberthreats.