Biden team lacks full U.S. cybersecurity support in transition fracas. When it comes to protecting sensitive information from foreign hackers, President-elect Joe Biden’s team is largely on its own, The Wall Street Journal reports. The federal government, which has some of the most sophisticated antihacking technologies in the world, is offering limited assistance to Mr. Biden’s transition operation in securing its email and other communications, despite concerns that the team is likely a top espionage target for Russia, China and other adversaries, according to people familiar with the transition. The transition team is relying on a standard, paid Google Workspace network and requires that staff
use Titan Security Keys, a physical device needed to log into their accounts, and it has limited access to internal information on a need-to-know basis in restricted shared drives, the people said.
Airbnb executive resigned last year over Chinese request for more data sharing. When it filed to go public last week, Airbnb Inc. said that its ability to continue doing business in China is a risk factor for its brand and profitability. Airbnb hired Sean Joyce, a former deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in May 2019 as its first “chief trust officer,” a role that entailed protecting users’ safety on the platform. He resigned six months later over concerns about how the company shares data on millions of its users with Chinese authorities, WSJ reports, citing people familiar with the company.
Alarm: Mr. Joyce grew alarmed during his tenure that the company wasn’t being fully transparent about the data it shares with the ruling Chinese Communist Party government, including for Americans traveling in the country, these people say. He also was concerned about what he viewed as Airbnb’s willingness to consider more expansive data requests from China, the people familiar said. Reached by The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Joyce said he had a “difference in values” with Airbnb. He declined to comment further.
Just like hotels: Nick Papas, a spokesman for Airbnb, said the company complies with applicable laws, regulations and requirements when responding to requests for data, similar to Western hotel chains operating in China.
Ohio health system still restoring tech after September attack. Ashtabula County Medical Center in Ashtabula, Ohio, said it has made substantial progress in recovering computers and networks shut down after it discovered a cyberattack two months ago. The effort includes re-imaging 1,000 computers and building a new internal network, the Star Beacon reports. Patient care has continued during the process. The facility estimates that all nonclinical systems will be up before the end of 2020. The hospital hasn't specified the kind of attack it experienced.
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