AUF WIEDERSEHEN ACTING DNI GRENELL? While not exactly a lovefest, Tuesday’s Senate Intelligence Committee’s confirmation hearing for nominee Rep. John Ratcliffe gave the impression that the Congressman is on a fast track to becoming the next Director of National Intelligence. Socially distanced Senators did not rough up the nominee much at all and there was little attention devoted to reports that he had embellished a thin résumé, reports which caused him to pull his name for consideration for the post once before. If/when Ratcliffe is confirmed, Politico posed the question will Grenell be rewarded with another senior-level Trump administration post? Or will he head back to Germany where he is still the U.S. ambassador?
ZOOM TO GROW? A lot of people seem to be using video apps these days for telework and social gatherings. But are these apps safe? The folks at the National Security Agency, who know a thing or two about cybersecurity, have posted a guide to help federal workers choose between various telework options when necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic. Some toplines: Zoom offers end-to-end encryption while Microsoft Teams does not. Of course, NSA does not endorse any specific platform. They suggest users consider the “country of origin” of various teleworking services (that is to say: cough, cough, “China.”)
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