Overnight Cybersecurity: Ex-NSA contractor indicted over alleged theft | NATO’s new cyber guide | Senators move to … – The Hill

Welcome to OVERNIGHT CYBERSECURITY, your daily rundown of the biggest news in the world of hacking and data privacy. We're here to connect the dots as leaders in government, policy and industry try to counter the rise in cyber threats. What lies ahead for Congress, the administration and the latest company under siege? Whether you're a consumer, a techie or a D.C. lifer, we're here to give you ...

THE BIG STORIES:

--NSA CONTRACTOR INDICTED: A federal grand jury on Wednesday issued an indictment of a former National Security Agency contractor accused of stealing thousands of pages of classified documents. Herald Thomas Martin III, 52, was charged with 20 counts of "willful retention of national defense information," according to a statement released by the Justice Department shortly after the indictment was returned. Martin worked at the NSA between 2012 and 2015 while he was an employee at the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. The indictment alleges that Martin had been stealing and maintaining mounds of highly classified information starting as early as 1996, until his arrest last August.

To read the rest of our piece,click here.

--FBI NOT ANTICIPATING IMMEDIATE CHANGE ON ENCRYPTION: Donald TrumpDonald TrumpTrump pens letter to Chinese president New York Post reporter sues after being fired for critical Trump tweet: report Sessions urges respect in Senate farewell speech MORE's White House has discussed encryption policy with the FBI, a bureau official indicated Wednesday. James Baker, the FBI's general counsel, said he is unaware of any planned changes on encryption policy under the new administration. "There have been some discussions, obviously, about this," he said at an encryption policy at an event in Washington, D.C. "It is a big topic and one that people have discussed," he continued. "I am not aware of any policy change or even a determination at this point in time, given how soon we are into the new administration."

To read the rest of our piece,click here.

--NATO'S NEW CYBER GUIDE: NATO on Wednesday released the first major revision to the Tallinn Manual, the closest thing there is to a rulebook for nation-led cyber operations. Like the original 2013 manual, the new version is the result of a study by NATO to gauge consensus opinions from international law experts on what types of cyber statecraft are acceptable. "Let me assure you, the manual will sit on the desk of every legal advisor in every ministry of defense and every ministry of foreign affairs in the entire world," Director and General Editor Michael Schmitt said at a press briefing before its launch at the Atlantic Council headquarters in Washington. Both manuals pull together law originally developed to cover fields ranging from armed conflicts to outer space to extrapolate the likely legal consequences for cyber operations. But while the first draft covered war-like cyber attacks between nations, the new draft adds legal analysis of peacetime operations.

To read the rest of our piece,click here.

A POLICY UPDATE:

--SENATORS MAKE PLAY ON RUSSIAN SANCTIONS: A bipartisan group of senators is moving to check President Trump on Russia by bolstering congressional oversight before he can lift sanctions.

Sens. Lindsey GrahamLindsey GrahamOvernight Cybersecurity: Ex-NSA contractor indicted over alleged theft | NATO's new cyber guide | Senators move to limit Trump on Russia Lindsey Graham: Floor action to silence Warren long overdue Overnight Defense: McCain, Spicer spar over Yemen raid | Senate bill would limit Trump on Russia sanctions | Trump cozies up to military MORE (R-S.C.), Ben CardinBen CardinOvernight Cybersecurity: Ex-NSA contractor indicted over alleged theft | NATO's new cyber guide | Senators move to limit Trump on Russia Overnight Defense: McCain, Spicer spar over Yemen raid | Senate bill would limit Trump on Russia sanctions | Trump cozies up to military Senators move to limit Trump on Russia sanctions MORE (D-Md.), Marco RubioMarco RubioWarren seizes spotlight after GOP rebuke Overnight Cybersecurity: Ex-NSA contractor indicted over alleged theft | NATO's new cyber guide | Senators move to limit Trump on Russia Overnight Defense: McCain, Spicer spar over Yemen raid | Senate bill would limit Trump on Russia sanctions | Trump cozies up to military MORE (R-Fla.), Sherrod BrownSherrod BrownOvernight Cybersecurity: Ex-NSA contractor indicted over alleged theft | NATO's new cyber guide | Senators move to limit Trump on Russia Overnight Defense: McCain, Spicer spar over Yemen raid | Senate bill would limit Trump on Russia sanctions | Trump cozies up to military Sanders, Dems read Coretta Scott King's letter after Warren silenced MORE (D-Ohio), John McCainJohn McCainOvernight Cybersecurity: Ex-NSA contractor indicted over alleged theft | NATO's new cyber guide | Senators move to limit Trump on Russia Overnight Defense: McCain, Spicer spar over Yemen raid | Senate bill would limit Trump on Russia sanctions | Trump cozies up to military Navy's No. 2 on base closures: Don't give away 'waterfront property' MORE (R-Ariz.) and Claire McCaskillClaire McCaskillOvernight Cybersecurity: Ex-NSA contractor indicted over alleged theft | NATO's new cyber guide | Senators move to limit Trump on Russia Overnight Defense: McCain, Spicer spar over Yemen raid | Senate bill would limit Trump on Russia sanctions | Trump cozies up to military Senators move to limit Trump on Russia sanctions MORE (D-Mo.) introduced legislation Wednesday setting up a period of congressional oversight before Trump could roll back financial penalties.

The legislation, known as the Russia Sanctions Review Act, would require Trump to notify Congress before he lifts sanctions tied to the invasion of Ukraine or Russia's meddling in the White House race.

"To provide relief at this time would send the wrong signal to Russia and our allies who face Russian oppression. Sanctions relief must be earned, not given," said Graham, a frequent GOP critic of the president.

To read the rest of our piece,click here

A LIGHTER CLICK:

--FAR MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ALUMINUM CANS. A palate cleansinginformational videofor stressful times. (Via Boing Boing)

A REPORT IN FOCUS:

--ENCRYPTION CHALLENGES FOR FBI 'MANAGEABLE': The challenges that data encryption pose for law enforcement are manageable, according to a new analysis by a Washington, D.C., think tank, to be released later Thursday.

The research from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which was shared with The Hill, found no instances in which encryption played a "determinative role" in recent major terrorist attacks in Europe and the United States.

The think tank also concluded that encryption does not play a major role in terrorists' efforts to recruit followers over the internet.

The report comes at a moment of heightened concern over cybersecurity and a debate about encryption and federal authorities' access to secured communications.

To read the rest of our piece,click here.

WHO'S IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

--EVERYBODY: Here are16 people to watch in tech, including a bunch of cybersecurity folk.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Links from our blog, The Hill, and around the Web.

Most Americansthink they know more about cybersecuritythan Donald Trump or Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonKaine: Sometimes I feel like I live in 'alternate reality' Warren seizes spotlight after GOP rebuke Overnight Cybersecurity: Ex-NSA contractor indicted over alleged theft | NATO's new cyber guide | Senators move to limit Trump on Russia MORE. (The Hill)

A digital liberties group is pushing the EU toabandon its data transfer pactwith the U.S. (The Hill)

President Trump and Intel tout new$7 billion investmentto create 10K jobs. (The Hill)

FTC names a deregulation supporterhead ofits Bureau of Consumer Protection. (The Hill)

DHS is bringingmarket-ready techto the RSA conference. (The Hill)

ForcePoint Security Labs spots a reconnaissancehacking campaigntargeting U.S. based embassies. (ForcePoint blog)

Republicans flock to "Confide,"a secure messaging app, to avoid email breaches. (Axios)

Websites should let youcut and paste passwords.(Troy Hunt)

The Virginian cybersecurity firmInvincia is soldto the Brit behemoth Sophos. (Washington Post)

If you'd like to receive our newsletter in your inbox,please sign up here.

More here:
Overnight Cybersecurity: Ex-NSA contractor indicted over alleged theft | NATO's new cyber guide | Senators move to ... - The Hill