Article: GAO: Federal data at cyber risk

An interesting article by Tony Romm at Politico called “GAO: Federal data at cyber risk”

In the article Romm states:

Sensitive data housed by a number of federal agencies remains greatly at risk for theft and compromise — sometimes as a result of government workers — even as attempts to hack into federal computers and steal government data have risen more than 650 percent over the last five years.

That’s the finding of a new report from the Government Accountability Office, a draft of which was obtained by POLITICO. While agencies have long been faulted for shoddy data security efforts, the GAO finds the government generally has made only minor improvements recently in protecting its information.

“Weaknesses in information security policies and practices at 24 major federal agencies continue to place the confidentiality, integrity and availability of sensitive information and information systems at risk,” noted the GAO in a draft report”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/64991.html#ixzz1ZjDRPvhz

About Tony:

Tony Romm is a technology reporter for POLITICO Pro and is the lead author of Morning Tech. He closely follows tech topics and debates on Capitol Hill and before agencies like the Federal Trade Commission, keeping a close eye on issues such as online privacy, antitrust and competitiveness, tech industry lobbying and PAC spending, taxes and intellectual property.

Romm has previously worked as a tech and general assignment blogger at The Hill, and his writing has appeared in publications such as The Washington Post, Slate and Stateline.org. He graduated with highest honors from American University in 2009 and holds a B.A. in journalism. You can often find Romm on weekends screaming at any television on which the Philadelphia Eagles or Phillies are playing.