On March 27, 2024, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) implementing the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA). For additional background on CIRCIA, see our prior advisory. CISA is required to issue a final rule by October 4, 2025. Who is required to report covered […]
FBI Develops Decryption Tool to Combat Blackcat Ransomware
On December 19, 2023, the Justice Department (“DOJ”) announced a disruption campaign against the Blackcat ransomware group. In the same press release, they also stated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) had developed a decryption tool to combat ALPHV/Blackcat’s ransomware variant. Over the last couple of years, Blackcat’s ransomware has risen in popularity and […]
Penn State University Hit With False Claims Act Suit for Alleged Cyber Security Deficiencies
On September 1, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania unsealed a qui tam False Claims Act (“FCA”) lawsuit (originally filed on October 5, 2022) alleging Penn State University failed to provide “adequate security” for Covered Defense Information, as contractually required by Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (“DFARS”) 252.204-7012. DFARS requires […]
Chinese Hackers Exploit Gap in Cloud Environment Used by U.S. Government
According to recent reports issued by Microsoft and U.S. government agencies, hackers recently exploited a gap in Microsoft’s cloud environment, enabling the malicious actors to access the email accounts of employees at the United States Commerce and State Departments. Including the U.S. government, around 10 organizations were victimized in the U.S. and about 25 were […]
CISA Issues Request for Information Prior to Required CIRCIA Rulemaking
On September 12, 2022, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input from stakeholders on the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA). Signed by President Biden in March, CIRCIA requires CISA to develop and implement regulations requiring covered entities to report information about covered […]