Our picksWhat would cyber-9/11 look like?; Chinese hackers; encryption compromise, and more

Published 20 July 2018

  The National Intelligence Director issued a warning about a cyber 9/11-like cyberattack

  EU slams Israeli government attempts to conflate terrorism and BDS

  Trump White House’s intelligence chief is leaving

  Trump administration to rule on special immigration status for Somalis

  FBI terrorism investigation leads to broader conspiracy

  Chinese hackers targeted internet-of-things during Trump-Putin summit

  Assets in the air provide high-value data for feds

  FBI director: Without compromise on encryption, legislation may be the ‘remedy’

The National Intelligence Director issued a warning about a cyber 9/11-like cyberattack (Josephine Wolff, Slate)
But what would that look like?

EU slams Israeli government attempts to conflate terrorism and BDS (Middle East Monitor)
European Union (EU) foreign minister Federica Mogherini sent a strongly-worded rebuke to Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan, slamming his ministry’s “vague and unsubstantiated” claims that Brussels is financing “terrorism” and the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign.

Trump White House’s intelligence chief is leaving (Kate Brannen and Spencer Ackerman, Just Security)
Michael Barry, the senior National Security Council director for intelligence programs, is leaving the White House, according to two government officials. Barry’s departure adds to the growing list of vacant senior NSC positions since the appointment of new National Security Adviser John Bolton, who is said to be restaffing the influential policymaking body with his own staff choices. In just the last few weeks, there have been a slew of departures from the NSC. They include Richard Hooker, senior director for Russia; Jennifer Arangio, senior director for international organizations; Michael Bell, the top Middle East adviser; and Joel Rayburn, senior director for Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. James Sindle, director for Lebanon, and Air Force Colonel Kris Bauman, senior director for Israeli-Palestinian issues, have also left since Bolton’s arrival. The senior director for counterterrorism is currently filled by Chris Miller, who is serving in an acting capacity since retired Col. Christopher Costa left months ago.

Trump administration to rule on special immigration status for Somalis (Chris Serres, Star-Tribune)
The decision could upend the lives of the Somali immigrants, with a majority of those affected in Minnesota.

FBI terrorism investigation leads to broader conspiracy (FBI)
Maryland Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Terrorism Planning, Financing Activities

Chinese hackers targeted internet-of-things during Trump-Putin summit (Patrick Tucker, Defense One)
A spike in attacks sought access to devices that might yield audio or visual intelligence.

Santa Rosa sues PG&E, seeking financial damages from October wildfires (J. D. Morris and Kevin McCallum, The Press Democrat)
While Cal Fire’s report on the deadly Tubbs fire is not out yet, the agency has determined that PG&E power equipment was responsible for causing 16 other major fires across Northern California in October.

Assets in the air provide high-value data for feds (Calvin Hennick, FedTech)
Agencies use drones to gather information, but must figure out how to manage the ever-growing mountains of data they collect.

FBI director: Without compromise on encryption, legislation may be the ‘remedy’ (Patrick Howell O’Neill)
FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday that unless the U.S. government and private industry are able to come to a compromise on the issue of default encryption on consumer devices, legislation may be how the debate is ultimately decided.