Fed Workers Greatest Cyber Threat
Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Leader’s owners or staff.
The greatest US cybersecurity threat may be federal employees, not China or other external hackers, reports Nextgov. Government workers, unwitting or not, account for at least half of all federal cyber breaches reported annually since 2010, according to a new AP analysis. Federal workers “have clicked links in bogus phishing emails, opened malware-laden websites and been tricked by scammers into sharing information.” The number of federal network breaches increased more than 40 percent between 2009 and 2013.
A reverse-engineered copy of the Lockheed RQ-170 Sentinel UAV captured in 2011 was flown by Iran, reports IHS Jane’s 360. When the captured UAV was first displayed, Iran said that it had ‘cracked the code’ of the aircraft’s workings and revealed details it extracted from the Sentinel’s onboard systems. However, while parts of the Sentinel’s design can be relatively easy to decipher and reverse-engineer such as its flight management computer, aerodynamics, and flight control systems, others, including its stealth technology and payload, are not.
The House will vote on the “Hire More Heroes Act” bill in the new Congress to help businesses hire more veterans by excluding them from the Obamacare employer mandate, according to The Hill. Under the healthcare law’s requirement set to go into effect in 2015, employers with 50 or more full-time workers must provide health insurance.
The DoD wants to base multiple UAVs aboard larger aircraft, from which they will depart and return after flying intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, reports USA Today. DARPA recently released an RFI that seeks UAVs that would fly from manned aircraft such as B-52 or B-1 bombers or C-130 transport planes, conduct their missions and then return to the aircraft.
China is now manufacturing the Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark carrier-borne, multirole fighter. At least eight planes are known to have deployed, according to USNI News. This is in addition to six J-15 prototypes, some of which conducted aircraft carrier trials on board China’s refurbished carrier, Liaoning. The Shenyang J-31, China’s F-35-like stealthy fighter, made its public debut at China’s tenth annual International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition as documented in a series of photos published by KINJA.
Military Times released its “Best for Vets: Colleges 2015” list which includes detailed information on two and four year colleges along with online and non-traditional schools.
Capt. James Fanell, a senior Navy intelligence leader, has been removed from his position after he made provocative comments about Chinese aggression, reports Navy Times.
A new study determined that companies made great strides in recruiting veterans in recent years but need to work harder on retaining them, according to Military Times. The report focused on firms in the 100,000 Jobs Mission and found enthusiasm for hiring veterans but insufficient support programs once they start work and not enough metrics to show just how they’re performing.
Several NAVAIR women were recognized for their leadership, technical skills and abilities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at the 2014 Women of Color STEM Conference, according to NAVAIR News. NAVAIR had three Women of Color Award winners: Deborah Baker of Patuxent River, for career achievement, LaTonya Bowles of North Island, California, for special recognition for managerial leadership and Tatonya Holman of Patuxent River for community service.
