Federal cybersecurity defenses not strong enough to protect American data, Senate report warns
CBSN
Federal agencies responsible for safeguarding the security and personal data of millions of Americans have failed to implement basic defenses against cyberattacks, according to a report from Senate investigators released Tuesday. The agencies earned a C- report card for falling short of federally-mandated standards in the 47-page report by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
The report also concluded that Americans' personal information remains at risk in the wake of a slew of high-profile cyber attacks and evaluated two years of inspector general reports. The audit accuses eight critical agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the State Department and the Social Security Administration (SSA) of relying on outdated systems, ignoring mandatory security patches and failing to protect sensitive data such as names, date of birth, income, social security numbers and credit card numbers.President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were honored at a state dinner in Paris at the Presidential Elysee Palace on Saturday, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day two days prior and the strength of the countries' long alliance.
President Joe Biden said France was America's "first friend" at its founding and is one of its closest allies more than two centuries later as he was honored with a state visit Saturday by French President Emmanuel Macron aimed at showing off their partnership on global security issues and easing past trade tensions.
The Consumer Federal Protection Bureau last week launched an inquiry into what the agency is calling "junk fees in mortgage closing costs." These additional fees, involving home appraisal, title insurance and other services, have spiked in recent years and can add thousands of dollars to the final cost of buying a home.