Georgia Republicans Push to Exit Bipartisan Voter Data Group ERIC; Massive Brute-Force Attack Targets VPN Devices Across Multiple Companies and more

House Republicans Form Privacy Working Group Amid Legislative Reset

House Republicans have established a privacy-focused working group as part of a broader reset on comprehensive privacy legislation. The group, led by Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa., includes nine Republican members and aims to develop a unified stance on privacy issues. Energy and Commerce Democrats, led by Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., have raised concerns over government data access. The debate over privacy law pre-emption and AI regulation remains central. The working group signals potential legislative activity, but bipartisan cooperation is uncertain. Read more

US Lawmakers Oppose UK Demand for Apple Encrypted Data Access

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Or, and Congressman Andy Biggs, R-Az, have condemned the UK’s request for access to encrypted Apple iCloud data under the Investigatory Powers Act. They warn this move threatens U.S. cybersecurity and could set a global precedent for data access demands. The UK claims it seeks access only for national security cases, but Apple has stated it would rather remove encryption services than comply. The lawmakers urge national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard to pressure the UK to withdraw the demand or face consequences. Read more

Massive Brute-Force Attack Targets VPN Devices Across Multiple Companies

A large-scale brute-force password attack is attempting to compromise millions of VPN devices from companies including Palo Alto Networks, Ivanti, and SonicWall. The campaign, detected by the Shadowserver Foundation, involves 2.8 million IP addresses daily, primarily from Brazil, Turkey, and Russia, using compromised routers and IoT devices. Attackers likely aim to gain network access for espionage, data theft, or ransomware. Experts recommend strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and software updates to mitigate risks. The attack follows similar campaigns targeting VPN devices in 2024. Read more

Georgia Republicans Push to Exit Bipartisan Voter Data Group ERIC

Georgia House Republicans advanced a bill to withdraw from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a system used to maintain accurate voter rolls. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger supports ERIC, citing its effectiveness in identifying outdated registrations. Critics warn leaving could complicate voter list maintenance, while supporters argue the system is ineffective due to other state departures. ERIC, founded in 2012, has faced GOP scrutiny over privacy and funding concerns. If the bill passes the House, it is expected to succeed in the Senate. Read more

U.S. Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against CIA Over Alleged Assange-Related Spying

A U.S. judge dismissed a lawsuit against the CIA by journalists and lawyers who alleged the agency illegally spied on them while visiting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at Ecuador’s London embassy. The court ruled that forcing the CIA to confirm intelligence gathering in a foreign embassy could harm national security. The plaintiffs sought the destruction of allegedly collected data, but the CIA invoked the state secrets privilege. Assange, who spent years avoiding extradition, returned to Australia in 2024 after pleading guilty to a single charge related to classified leaks. Read more