Ransomware Nothing New – But Scope Significant
Over the weekend, businesses and critical services like banks, hospitals, telecommunications services and transportation hubs around the world were hit with a cyber attack that […] More
News & Analysis
Microsoft: NSA vulnerability leak “equivalent” to losing a Tomahawk Missile
In response to the massive Wannacry ransomware attack that infected over 200,000 computers around the world, Brad Smith, Microsoft’s President and Chief Legal Officer, wrote […] More
Fragile States Index Reveals Grievance in Unexpected Places
What is the most stable country in the world? Which is the most fragile? What determines those qualities? In 2017, South Sudan was ranked the most […] More
Worldwide Hacks Use NSA Zero-Day: Revisit Cyber Advisory Board’s Debate
On Friday, a massive cyber attack hit organizations across globe. The attacks crippled two hospitals in the United Kingdom, and hit a number of companies […] More
Comey Fallout: Trump Warns Former FBI Chief Over Leaks
President Donald Trump on Friday warned James Comey, the former FBI director he fired this week, against leaking to the media as he once again […] More
Cipher Brief Expert View: Trump's Cyber Executive Order
The long-awaited executive order on cybersecurity is out. It’s not dramatic or surprising (perhaps because drafts have been floating around Washington for weeks), but it […] More
Network Take: Steps Toward a Deterrence Strategy in Cyberspace
With a barrage of attacks regularly hammering the private sector and nearly every U.S. federal agency, there is a strong need for government policies within […] More
Will Moon Bring Back Sunshine Policy in South Korea?
From day one, South Korea’s new President, Moon Jae-in, has shown he will be a different type of leader. He confirmed a campaign promise that […] More
Will Moon Push for Engagement with Pyongyang?
In his first days in office, newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in has tried to reassure the governments of the United States, Japan, and […] More
South Korea Voters Mandate Reform
After months of uncertainty following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, South Korea has a new president. Moon Jae-in, a human rights lawyer and former […] More
Blockchain’s Potential Role in Constraining Future Cyber Conflict
At the RSA conference in February, Microsoft’s Chief Legal Officer called for a “digital Geneva Convention” to help provide parameters on offensive cyber operations and […] More
Is Sudan Still a State Sponsor of Terror?
Sudan, along with Iran and Syria, remains one of three countries listed as a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. State Department. However, after […] More
Sudan Has Improved, but Is it Enough?
The Cipher Brief’s Bennett Seftel spoke with retired Ambassador Phil Carter, former Senior Advisor, Acting Assistant Secretary, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the State […] More
The Timing is Right, Finally, for Sudan
As with comedy, timing is everything for the politics of being a state sponsor of terrorism. Political considerations, as much as supposed improvements in counterterrorism […] More
Investigators: Follow the [Russian] Money
President Trump’s unexpected firing of FBI Director James Comey came at the same time it became apparent that Bureau and Congressional investigators are focusing seriously […] More
Comey Firing Came Amid Calls for Wider Russia Probe
President Donald Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey coincides with the ramping up of multiple investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election […] More
Trump Faces Decision Point on Afghanistan
President Donald Trump has to make a decision soon: what will he do in Afghanistan? The U.S. is now in its 16th year in the […] More
Comey Firing a Big Deal, Cipher Brief Expert Tells CNBC
John Sipher, a former member of the CIA’s senior intelligence service, appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Wednesday morning to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s sudden […] More