Overnight Cybersecurity: Trump thinks Russia likely behind hacks

Welcome to OVERNIGHT CYBERSECURITY, your daily rundown of the biggest news in the world of hacking and data privacy. We’re here to connect the dots as leaders in government, policy and industry try to counter the rise in cyber threats. What lies ahead for Congress, the administration and the latest company under siege? Whether you’re a consumer, a techie or a D.C. lifer, we’re here to give you …

THE BIG STORY:

–TRUMP NOW THINKS IT WAS RUSSIA. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday offered his first acknowledgment that hacks of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and other political targets were likely conducted by the Russian government.  “As far as hacking, I think it was Russia,” he said at his first news conference since last summer. Though the computer security and intelligence communities have been largely unified that Russia was behind the attacks, Trump had been skeptical. Throughout the campaign, he suggested that the breaches may have originated in China, Iran or the bedroom of a 400-pound hacker.

To read the rest of our piece, click here.

–“THAT’S PRETTY AMAZING:” At his confirmation hearing to be secretary of State, nominee Rex Tillerson claimed to have never spoken to President-elect Donald Trump about Russia.

Tillerson faced tough questions about his views on Russia and the election year hacks.
His claim drew surprise from a top Democrat.

{mosads}

“That’s pretty amazing,” said Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

The hearing comes amid sharp public debate over the role of Russia’s election hacks.

As the former CEO of Exxon, Tillerson had business dealings with Russia and is believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tillerson even received the Russian Order of Friendship from Putin’s regime.

But Tillerson also said that it was a “fair assumption” that Putin was behind the hacks at his hearing

To read about Tillerson’s questioning over Russia, click here.

For the big picture on his rocky confirmation hearing, click here.

A POLICY UPDATE:

–DO TRUMP’S REMARKS PUT SANCTIONS BACK ON THE TABLE?

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says that now that President-elect Donald Trump is pointing at Russia for political hacking, there’s no reason not to sanction the Kremlin.

“One thing we now all agree on is that Russia is behind the hacking of our election. Even the president-elect has now just said it,” Schumer said on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

“That makes it even more important that we not only keep the existing sanctions in place, we institute a new, tough sanctions regime in response so Russia can’t get away with what they did and other countries will know as well that they will suffer penalties if they try to interfere with our elections.”

A bipartisan sanctions bill announced Tuesday would codify sanctions President Obama made by executive order. It would also add sanctions against investments in Russian energy concerns and business with Russian intelligence agencies or hacking related personnel.

To read the rest of our piece, click here

A LIGHTER CLICK: 

–MEET THE MAN WHO HAS LIVED ALONE IN A COLORADO GHOST TOWN FOR 40 YEARS. In college, I once lived on a street more than a mile from campus, so I totally get it.  

WHO’S IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

–TOM PEREZ AND A CYBERSECURITY EXPERT TO BE NAMED LATER:

Labor Secretary Tom Perez, who is running to be head of the Democratic National Committee wants the DNC to have an in-house chief cybersecurity officer.

“I think this office should report directly to the chair,” Perez, a top candidate to become the next chairman of the DNC, told Politico on Wednesday.

“And, among other responsibilities, have them proactively monitor the DNC for attacks and breaches.”

To read the rest of our piece, click here.

CONFIRMATION HEARINGS:

THURSDAY

–James Mattis for Defense secretary, 9:30 a.m.

–Mike Pompeo for director of the CIA, 10 a.m.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Links from our blog, The Hill, and around the Web.

Obama hopes Trump takes Russia seriously. (The Hill)

House Intelligence will give all Reps access to the classified hacking report (The Hill)

Outgoing FCC chair says Verizon and ATT violated net neutrality (Ars Technica)

The dumb, ‘smart’ gear someone’s gonna hack in 2017 (Wired)

The EU is not sold on the U.S. explanations over Yahoo’s email scanning program. (Reuters).

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