America's National Science Foundation workers fired in bulk by Trump reinstated
Judge slams 'significant chaos' that's now Uncle Sam's standard operating procedure
Science04 Mar 2025 |
Public Sector
Your Public Sector Pulse: Where Policy Meets Tech Innovation
There’s so much happening at The Register in our coverage of government tech, we've created a dedicated section for the public sector, which offers you a front-row seat to the intersection of governance and technology. From e-governance initiatives and cybersecurity protocols to digital transformation in public services, however fast (or slow) it happens, we bring you analyses, updates, and insights that matter.
US stocks slip as Trump pulls trigger on Canada, Mexico, China tariffs
With friends like these...
Public Sector03 Mar 2025 | 17
FBI officially fingers North Korea for $1.5B Bybit crypto-burglary
Federal agents, open up ... your browsers and see if you recognize any of these wallets
Cyber-crime27 Feb 2025 | 23
30-year-old NHS supply chain system hit by 35 major alerts in 11 months
Updated Thousands of order lines not picked, causing delays to hospital deliveries
Applications27 Feb 2025 | 28
FAA confirms it's testing Starlink, maybe for tasks Elon says Verizon is doing badly
Plus: Musk's biz empire reportedly pulled in $6B-plus from Uncle Sam last year
Networks27 Feb 2025 | 31
Incoming deputy boss of Homeland Security says America's top cyber-agency needs to be reined in
Plus: New figurehead of DOGE emerges and they aren't called Elon
Public Sector26 Feb 2025 | 37
Xi know what you did last summer: China was all up in Republicans' email, says book
Of course, Microsoft is in the mix, isn't it
Cyber-crime25 Feb 2025 | 30
Mega council officers had no idea what they were buying ahead of Oracle fiasco
Lack of skills left Birmingham officials unable to challenge suppliers and with a system incapable of managing finances
Databases25 Feb 2025 | 113
US Dept of Housing screens sabotaged to show deepfake of Trump sucking Elon's toes
'Appropriate action will be taken,' we're told – as federal HR email sparks uproar, ax falls on CISA staff
Public Sector24 Feb 2025 | 130
The software UK techies need to protect themselves now Apple's ADP won’t
No matter how deep you are in Apple's 'ecosystem,’ there are ways to stay encrypted in Blighty
Security24 Feb 2025 | 122
Trump administration threatens tariffs for any nation that dares to tax Big Tech
Digital services taxes, network build levies, touted as violations of US sovereignty
Public Sector24 Feb 2025 | 138
As China embraces Big Tech again, Alibaba plans vast spend to push for artificial general intelligence
Asia in Brief Plus: Samsung exec jailed for selling DRAM secrets; ASUS launches sweetly scented mouse; Toyota’s smart city nears opening; and more
AI + ML23 Feb 2025 | 2
National Science Foundation staff axed by Trump fear for US scientific future
Feature An inside tale: Probation extended, tenure revoked, a scramble to merge research portfolios, and more
Science21 Feb 2025 | 140
DXC paid 50% more than original contract value for disastrous public sector Oracle project
Updated Systems integrator secured 'variation' just before mega SAP migration put on hold
Databases20 Feb 2025 | 43
Trump’s DoD CISO pick previously faced security clearance suspension
Hey, at least Katie Arrington brings a solid resume
Public Sector19 Feb 2025 | 14
Trump teases 25% semiconductor tariffs that will go ‘substantially higher’
Envisions phased introduction dependent on manufacturing commitments
Public Sector19 Feb 2025 | 174
DeepSeek disappears from South Korean app stores over privacy concerns
Nation also orders thousands of GPUs to advance local AI smarts
Public Sector18 Feb 2025 | 8
Fujitsu worries US tariffs will see its clients slow digital spend
Asia In Brief PLUS: Pacific islands targeted by Chinese APT; China’s new rocket soars; DeepSeek puts Korea in a pickle; and more
Public Sector16 Feb 2025 | 1
UK's new thinking on AI: Unless it's causing serious bother, you can crack on
Comment Plus: Keep calm and plug Anthropic's Claude into public services
AI + ML15 Feb 2025 | 80
Critical PostgreSQL bug tied to zero-day attack on US Treasury
High-complexity bug unearthed by infoseccers, as Rapid7 probes exploit further
Research14 Feb 2025 | 21
Popular
C++ creator calls for help to defend programming language from 'serious attacks'
Bjarne Stroustrup wants standards body to respond to memory-safety push as Rust monsters lurk at the door
Mozilla flamed by Firefox fans after promises to not sell their data go up in smoke
Open source browser maker ties itself up in legalese and explanations
US Cyber Command reportedly pauses cyberattacks on Russia
Infosec In Brief PLUS: Phishing suspects used fishing gear as alibi; Apple's 'Find My' can track PCs and Androids; and more
Governments can't seem to stop asking for secret backdoors
Opinion Cut off one head and 100 grow back? Decapitation may not be the way to go
Ex-SAP CTO walks away with €7.1M payout after scandal
Criminal probe understood to have ended following settlement over 'inconsiderate' behavior
First private moon lander to touch down safely starts sending selfies
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost planned to work for 14 days, should be useful for years thanks to its reflector that improves on Apollo-era tech
Techie pulled an all-nighter that one mistake turned into an all-weekender
Who, Me? Don’t trust your tired self to do rm -rf right
Microsoft unveils finalized EU Data Boundary as European doubt over US grows
Some may have second thoughts about going all-in with an American vendor, no matter where their data is stored
Altnets told to stop digging and start stuffing fiber through abandoned pipes
Why churn up roads when there's thousands of miles of disused infrastructure underfoot?
Cybersecurity not the hiring-'em-like-hotcakes role it once was
Analysis Ghost positions, HR AI no help – biz should talk to infosec staff and create 'realistic' job outline, say experts
STORIES
Chinese spies suspected of 'moonlighting' as tawdry ransomware crooks
Some employees steal sticky notes, others 'borrow' malicious code
Ransomware in Focus14 Feb 2025 | 11
Cisco says it’s already dug in to protect itself – and customers – if trade war breaks out
Also reckons it can dodge DOGE
Networks13 Feb 2025 | 4
Larry Ellison wants to put all America's data, including DNA, in one big Oracle system for AI to study
From the billionaire who said real-time surveillance is good for keeping us in check
AI + ML12 Feb 2025 | 69
Trump’s cyber chief pick has little experience in The Cyber
GOP lawyer Sean Cairncross will be learning on the fly, as we also say hi to new intelligence boss Tulsi Gabbard
Public Sector12 Feb 2025 | 54
EU plans to 'mobilize' €200B to invest in AI to catch up with US and China
Captain's Log, Stardate 3529.7 – oh yeah, Commish also withdrawing law that would help folks sue over AI harms
AI + ML12 Feb 2025 | 15
UK government insiders say AI datacenters may be a pricey white elephant
Economy-boosting bit barn? Not in my back yard, some locals expected to say
On-Prem12 Feb 2025 | 119
Microsoft wants to quit building Army VR goggles, hand contract to Anduril
Will the Pentagon get Luckey with a new IVAS vendor?
Public Sector12 Feb 2025 | 10
Probe finds US Coast Guard has left maritime cybersecurity adrift
Numerous systemic vulnerabilities could scuttle $5.4T industry
Public Sector11 Feb 2025 | 13
Legacy systems running UK's collector are taxing – in more ways than one
Updated Costs for fixing them and keeping them working up by 390%, NAO report reveals
Public Sector10 Feb 2025 | 67
UK armed forces fast-tracking cyber warriors to defend digital front lines
High starting salaries promised after public sector infosec pay criticized
Security10 Feb 2025 | 29
Judge says US Treasury ‘more vulnerable to hacking’ since Trump let the DOGE out
Order requires destruction of departmental data accessed by Musky men
Public Sector10 Feb 2025 | 56
India's banking on the bank.in domain cleaning up its financial services sector
With over 2,000 banks in operation, a domain only they can use has potential to make life harder for fraudsters
Security10 Feb 2025 | 16
Does DOGE have what it takes to actually tackle billions in US govt IT spending?
Comment (updated) Tesla’s DIY ERP legend meets the messy reality of entrenched federal contracts
Public Sector08 Feb 2025 | 274
Amazon, Google asked to explain why they were serving ads on sites hosting CSAM
Updated And US government adverts at that, say senators
Personal Tech08 Feb 2025 | 42
Trump's Dept of Transport hits brakes on Biden’s EV charger build-out
Funding freeze while Feds review priorities
Science07 Feb 2025 | 64
Musk's move fast and break things mantra won't work in US.gov
Opinion 248-year-old democracy is not a tech startup
Public Sector07 Feb 2025 | 264
DOGE geek with Treasury payment system access now quits amid racist tweet claims
Final update We did Nazi see that coming
Public Sector07 Feb 2025 | 222
Federal judge tightens DOGE leash over critical Treasury payment system access
Final update Lawsuit: 'Scale of intrusion into individuals' privacy is massive and unprecedented'
Public Sector06 Feb 2025 | 28
Dems want answers on national security risks posed by hiring freeze, DOGE probes
Updated Are cybersecurity roles included? Are Elon's enforcers vetted? Inquiring minds want to know
Security06 Feb 2025 | 35
Veterans Affairs reboots Oracle health records project for $330M
Concerns around unfixed problems remain after system resulted in harm to some 150 patients
Databases06 Feb 2025 | 12
Democrats demand to know WTF is up with that DOGE server on OPM's network
Are you trying to make this easy for China and Russia?
Public Sector06 Feb 2025 | 153
Robocallers who phoned the FCC pretending to be from the FCC land telco in trouble
Don't laugh: The $4.5m fine proposed for carrier Telnyx shows how the Trump administration will run its comms regulator
Networks06 Feb 2025 | 30
DOGE latest: Citrix supremo has 'read-only' access to US Treasury payment system
CEO of Cloud Software a 'special government employee' probing for Team Elon
Public Sector05 Feb 2025 | 26
Trump admin seeks to reclassify federal CIOs, opening door to political appointees
Fall in line with executive policy or you're gone, acting OPM chief insists
CxO05 Feb 2025 | 48
Boeing, Boeing, burned: Over half a billion dollars by Starliner in 2024
More Catastrophic Capsule than Calamity Capsule for Boeing's beancounters
Public Sector05 Feb 2025 | 31
DeepSeek rated too dodgy down under: Banned from Australian government devices
As American big tech companies lashed for their slow efforts to prevent harms
AI + ML05 Feb 2025 | 10
China sticks antitrust probe into Google amid retaliation for Trump import tariffs
Updated Plus, Middle Kingdom announces levies and export controls of its own
Software04 Feb 2025 | 14
FBI's secret UFO hunters fear Trump's January 6 purge will send them into orbit
Maybe Musk just wants the alien space tech that definitely doesn't exist?
Public Sector04 Feb 2025 | 53
UK govt must learn fast and let failing projects die young
Tackle longstanding issues around productivity, cyber resilience and public sector culture, advises spending watchdog
Public Sector04 Feb 2025 | 11
Musk’s DOGE ship gets ‘full’ access to Treasury payment system, sinks USAID
Who better to trust trillions of dollars, SSNs and other sensitive info with than Elon
Public Sector03 Feb 2025 | 275
Trump scrubs all mention of DEI, gender, climate change from federal websites
Meanwhile, the Internet Archive races to save what it can – again
Public Sector03 Feb 2025 | 124
2 officers bailed as anti-corruption unit probes data payouts to N Irish cops
Investigating compensation to police whose sensitive info was leaked in 2023
Security03 Feb 2025 | 19
Motorola appeal over £200M price cap for Airwave service rejected
Profiteering from emergency services comms network in Britain? Not anymore, says CMA
Networks03 Feb 2025 | 19
UK biz dept overspent by £208M prepping to pay workers hurt in Post Office IT scandal
Updated Auditor offers qualified opinion as financial fallout from historic miscarriage of justice remains unclear
Public Sector03 Feb 2025 | 46
Privacy Commissioner warns the ‘John Smiths’ of the world can acquire ‘digital doppelgangers’
Australian government staff mixed medical info for folk who share names and birthdays
Public Sector03 Feb 2025 | 44
As Trump slugs Canada, Mexico and China with tariffs, industry groups hope trade war weapon isn’t pointed at their feet
Updated Tech lobby isn't at the negotiating table, fears unintended consequences
Public Sector03 Feb 2025 | 141
Singapore says Nvidia's astounding local sales don't mean it's the source of DeepSeek's GPUs
Asia In Brief PLUS: Chinese bus lanes put Tesla in a tangle; India drops electronics tariffs; Samsung worries about soft demand
AI + ML03 Feb 2025 | 15
Trump’s tariffs, cuts may well put tech in a chokehold, say analysts
Forrester's take on President's economic agenda offers little optimism for the industry
On-Prem31 Jan 2025 | 231
What better place to inject OpenAI's o1 than Los Alamos national lab, right?
Tackling disease, tick. High-energy physics, tick. Nuke security, also tick
HPC30 Jan 2025 | 8
Trump admin's purge of US cyber advisory boards was 'foolish,' says ex-Navy admiral
interview ‘No one was kicked off the NTSB in the middle of investigating a crash’
Security30 Jan 2025 | 116
White House asks millions of govt workers if they would be so kind as to fork right off
Unions fear federal staff purge and RTO will spark chaos for Americans
Public Sector29 Jan 2025 | 106
Spending watchdog blasts UK govt over sloth-like progress to shore up IT defenses
Think government cybersecurity is bad? Guess again. It’s alarmingly so
Public Sector29 Jan 2025 | 13
The curious story of Uncle Sam's HR dept, a hastily set up email server, and fears of another cyber disaster
Lawsuit challenges effort to create federal-wide centralized inbox expected to be used for mass firings
CSO29 Jan 2025 | 57
You probably have more CIO experience than the incoming White House CIO
From AI startup CISO to running federal IT - sure, why not?
Public Sector28 Jan 2025 | 30
OpenAI cozies up to Uncle Sam with ChatGPT government edition
Pay no attention to the DeepSeek behind the headlines
AI + ML28 Jan 2025 | 8
Why does the UK keep getting beaten up by IT suppliers?
Tech and commercial functions need to get in shape for the challenges ahead
Public Sector28 Jan 2025 | 78
US freezes foreign aid, halting cybersecurity defense and policy funds for allies
Updated Uncle Sam will 'no longer blindly dole out money,' State Dept says
Public Sector27 Jan 2025 | 86
Court rules FISA Section 702 surveillance of US resident was unconstitutional
'Public interest alone does not justify warrantless querying' says judge
Security24 Jan 2025 | 19
Beijing picking up some of the bill for iPhones sold in China
What? Why? Xi wants people spending, so has extended a subsidy scheme to phones, tabs, and smartwatches
Personal Tech23 Jan 2025 | 7
Trump 'waved a white flag to Chinese hackers' as Homeland Security axed cyber advisory boards
And: America 'has never been less secure,' retired rear admiral tells Congress
Security22 Jan 2025 | 94
Trump nukes 60 years of anti-discrimination rules for federal contractors
The (good old) boys are back in town
Offbeat22 Jan 2025 | 317
Infosec was literally the last item in Trump's policy plan, yet major changes are likely on his watch
Feature Everyone agrees defense matters. How to do it is up for debate
CSO22 Jan 2025 | 20
UK tax collector's phone service 'deliberately' bad to push users online, say MPs
Cut off nearly 44k peeps who had been waiting 70 minutes for advice on unavoidable chore
Public Sector22 Jan 2025 | 82
Trump hits undo on Biden AI safety order, EV mandate, emissions standards, and more
Also, prepare for paused wind projects and the Gulf of America from Trump 2.0 – and that's just day 1
Public Sector21 Jan 2025 | 147
UK aims to fix government IT with help from AI Humphrey
Ring a bell? Suite of tools named after Yes Minister's master of manipulation
Public Sector21 Jan 2025 | 76
This is how Elon's Department of Government Efficiency will work – overwriting the US Digital Service
Tycoon's auditors to probe Uncle Sam's IT with full access to unclassified data
Public Sector21 Jan 2025 | 171
China ever-so slightly softens stance on possible US TikTok sale
Updated President Trump allows vid app to keep running for 75 days while he reviews security concerns and develops a policy
Public Sector21 Jan 2025 | 10
Hackers game out infowar against China with the US Navy
Taipei invites infosec bods to come and play on its home turf
Public Sector20 Jan 2025 | 5
How to leave the submarine cable cutters all at sea – go Swedish
Opinion Clear rules and guaranteed consequences concentrate the mind wonderfully. Just ask a Russian
Networks20 Jan 2025 | 111
Ransomware attack forces Brit high school to shut doors
Students have work to complete at home in the meantime
Cyber-crime20 Jan 2025 | 103
Donald Trump proposes US govt acquire half of TikTok, which thanks him and restores service
The same Florida Man who wanted to ban the app in the first place
Public Sector20 Jan 2025 | 124
CISA: Wow, that election had a lot of foreign trolling. Trump's Homeland Sec pick: And that's none of your concern
Cyber agency too 'far off mission,' says incoming boss Kristi Noem
Public Sector18 Jan 2025 | 81
FCC to telcos: By law you must secure your networks from foreign spies. Get on it
Plus: Uncle Sam is cross with this one Chinese biz over Salt Typhoon mega-snooping
CSO17 Jan 2025 | 29
Biden signs sweeping cybersecurity order, just in time for Trump to gut it
Analysis Ransomware, AI, secure software, digital IDs – there's something for everyone in the presidential directive
Public Sector17 Jan 2025 | 40
Medusa ransomware group claims attack on UK's Gateshead Council
Pastes allegedly stolen documents on leak site with £600K demand
Cyber-crime17 Jan 2025 | 13
Brit government contractor CloudKubed enters administration
Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions supplier in hands of FRP Advisory
Public Sector17 Jan 2025 | 10
GoDaddy slapped with wet lettuce for years of lax security and 'several major breaches'
Watchdog alleged it had no SIEM or MFA, orders rapid adoption of basic infosec tools
CSO15 Jan 2025 | 13
Oh, Deere! FTC sues tractor maker, alleging decades of monopolized repairs
Updated Incoming Trump-picked watchdog boss dissents, calls suit 'hasty' and 'deeply imprudent,' so will it stick?
Public Sector15 Jan 2025 | 36
China's Salt Typhoon spies spotted on US govt networks before telcos, CISA boss says
We are only seeing 'the tip of the iceberg,' Easterly warns
Security15 Jan 2025 | 11
Four plead guilty in US government tech procurement fraud case
Scheme involving bribes, bid rigging and insider info may have cost US taxpayers $1.3M
Public Sector15 Jan 2025 | 7
The bell tolls for TikTok as lifelines to avoid January 19 US ban vanish
Comment SCOTUS unlikely to save it, no time to find a buyer. So, hi, Xiaohongshu!
Personal Tech14 Jan 2025 | 78
FBI wipes Chinese PlugX malware from thousands of Windows PCs in America
Hey, Xi: Zài jiàn!
Cyber-crime14 Jan 2025 | 31
Biden opens federal land to power-hungry AI datacenters
Watt's the problem? Not enough energy to win the arms race?
The Future of the Datacenter - 2025 and Beyond14 Jan 2025 | 6
It's not just Big Tech: The UK's Online Safety Act applies across the board
Analysis That niche forum running for 20 years – get ready, there's work to do
Security14 Jan 2025 | 150
Is it really the plan to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal? It's been a weird week
Opinion Meanwhile, tech titans are falling over themselves to help Trump
Public Sector11 Jan 2025 | 335
Biden said to weigh global limits on AI exports in 11th-hour trade war blitz
updated China faces outright ban while others vie for Uncle Sam's favor
Public Sector09 Jan 2025 | 8
Trump China tariffs to 'overshadow' the 'progress' of AI PCs
Already inflated costs of NPU-based boxes set to jump on import tax
AI + ML09 Jan 2025 | 25
£3.8B later, old tech supplier flames still burning for HMRC
Deal supposed to end in 2017 continues to haunt tax collector procurement
Software09 Jan 2025 | 10
UK government pledges law against sexually explicit deepfakes
Not just making them, but sharing them too
Public Sector09 Jan 2025 | 29
Japanese police claim China ran five-year cyberattack campaign targeting local orgs
‘MirrorFace’ group found ways to run malware in the Windows sandbox, which may be worrying
Security09 Jan 2025 | 6
Biting the hand that feeds IT
