Insider espionage
President Donald Trump turned to social media again Sept. 10 to announced that had fired National Security Adviser John Bolton after months of policy differences. Bolton, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations who was Trump’s third NSA, says he resigned. [node:read-more:link]
A high-level source within the Russian government was successfully extracted in 2017 after the U.S. administration mishandled classified information which could have led to the spy’s exposure. This was after President Donald Trump had discussed intelligence issues with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his ambassador to the U.S. [node:read-more:link]
The fact that some 5.4 million Canadians living in remote areas have at best limited Internet has prompted a suggestion that Huawei technology could be a solution. Despite lingering concerns about security, the Chinese giant is already partnering with two northern companies to expand service to 70 communities. [node:read-more:link]
A Chinese academic has been charged with fraud for allegedly taking technology from an unnamed California company for the benefit an unnamed Chinese telecommunications company. Arrested in Texas, Bo Mao, an associate professor at Xiamen University, was released under bond after consenting to proceed with the case in New York, where he pleaded not guilty. [node:read-more:link]
Brad Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corp., says the Chinese tech giant Huawei should be permitted to purchase U.S. technology despite President Donald Trump’s ban. He says such decisions should be based on “fact, logic and the rule of law.” [node:read-more:link]
A new artificial intelligence centre in the U.S. Department of Defense is the foundation for a potential AI-powered cyberdefence suite. The Joint Artificial Intelligence Center is working with the National Security Agency, U.S. Cyber Command and dozens of civilian suppliers on standardiziang data collection. [node:read-more:link]
Environment Minister is being given added security protection in response to what she described as an escalating threat to her personal safety. She says the situation has deteriorated from on-line criticism to in-person verbal assaults against her and her children. [node:read-more:link]
A man with a teddy bear strapped to his chest has precipitated a review of British defence security after he gained access in broad daylight to a Royal Air Force base. Before he was intercepted 20 minutes later, when his car was pinned against an RAF CV-22 Osprey, he had gained access to the flightline. [node:read-more:link]
When the chief executive officer of an unnamed British subsidiary of a multinational company was asked to transfer €220,000, he readily complied. After all, the call had come from his boss whose voice he recognized. But it hadn’t. [node:read-more:link]
A New Jersey man who defrauded the U.S. Department of Defense and illegally shared sensitive technical information has been sentenced to three years in federal prison. Roger Sobrado also has been sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay more than $8 million in restitution. [node:read-more:link]
Anne Neuberger, recently appointed to head the new cybersecurity directorate within the National Security Agency, wants to improve information-sharing not only with other U.S. government bodies but also the private sector. She says this would enable the U.S. to get ahead of digital threats instead of mostly just reacting to them. [node:read-more:link]
Adm. Craig Faller, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, says there is growing urgency and complexity in the challenges facing the West. He says the “collective neighbourhood” is being attacked by a “vicious circle” of corruption, organized crime, violent extremism and foreign governments’ subversive activities. [node:read-more:link]
The Chinese technology giant Huawei is accusing the U.S. of “using every tool at its disposal” to disrupt the company’s global business. It offered no evidence to substantiate the allegation. [node:read-more:link]
Speculation that sabotage caused the explosion of a rocket at the Imam Khomeini Space Centre are being discounted by an Iranian government spokesman. Technical issues evidently resulted in the explosion as the rocket was being prepared to launch a satellite. [node:read-more:link]
Writer Yang Hengjun, a Chinese-Australian, has been formally arrested on espionage charges in China. He has been held in Beijing since January. [node:read-more:link]
