The U.S. Defense Department is crafting a new cyber strategy that will better align with the Trump administration’s plans to more aggressively combat digital adversaries, a senior official said on Tuesday. therecord.media/defense-cybe...

My daily affirmation.

ICYMI: The CIA's chief late last year lifted the status of his agency's cyber division. It also aligns with his vision to unshackle the spy agency, including in cyberspace due to the increasing significance of foreign digital threats.

The technical term for this kind of activity is “HUMINT-enabled cyber” or “blended” operations

Fun fact: a few years ago, while writing on the US cyber apparatus, a peer-reviewer lectured me on the fact that CIA’s cyber was “a bunch of analysts not doing anything operational”. Vault 7 notwithstanding, that tells you how little is known on Langley’s cyber capabilities (compared to the NSA’s).

NEW: The CIA late last year raised the status of its elite cyber espionage division, providing it more resources to analyze and disrupt digital threats, as well as amp up the agency’s own technological innovation efforts. therecord.media/cia-director...

At RSAC Conference —> Google’s threat intelligence arm officially launched its anticipated disruptive cyber unit on Monday, which comes as the Trump admin seeks to create a more offensive, proactive US culture against hackers. www.nextgov.com/cybersecurit...

U.S. intelligence leaders on Thursday presented a united public front in favor of extending a key national security surveillance power without changes, providing momentum to backers of such an approach before a crucial week in Congress. therecord.media/us-intel-chi...

The top U.S. intelligence official on Wednesday defended omitting foreign threats to elections from the latest assessment of global dangers, as well as her presence during a FBI raid of a Georgia election office earlier this year. therecord.media/us-intel-chi...

EXCLUSIVE: The number of searches about Americans conducted by the FBI in a controversial foreign intelligence database rose by roughly 35 percent in 2025, according to a letter by a senior agency official obtained by Recorded Future News. therecord.media/new-data-sho...

NEW: U.S. Cyber Command’s elite Cyber National Mission Force will get a new commander on Friday, completing a leadership overhaul atop the military’s digital warfighting organization. therecord.media/cyber-nation...

This post appeared under this Techmeme headline:

Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday to be the next leader of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the NSA, ending an almost year-long leadership vacuum atop the military's digital warfare organization and the nation’s largest spy agency. therecord.media/rudd-confirm...

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency is one step away from Senate confirmation, as lawmakers on Monday approved one last procedural measure and teed up the nominee for a final floor vote. therecord.media/trump-nomine...

Every day when I look in the mirror.

The FBI and European law enforcement agencies carried out a global crackdown on cybercrime forum Leakbase, a subscription-based marketplace that has operated since 2021 therecord.media/leakbase-cyb... From @martinmatishak.bsky.social

The FBI and European law enforcement agencies carried out a global crackdown on a cybercrime forum where criminals bought and sold stolen credentials and exploits of software vulnerabilities. On @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/leakbase-cyb...

U.S. Cyber Command conducted online attacks against Iranian communications that the country’s top general said set the stage for America’s historic joint bombing campaign with Israel. therecord.media/iran-cyber-u...

@wyden.senate.gov this week pledged to block a vote confirming Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd as the new head of both U.S. Cyber Command & the National Security Agency, citing his lack of digital warfare & intelligence experience. therecord.media/wyden-blocks...

The FBI Director, everyone. You paid for it.

The website of the Director of National Intelligence says “the DNI selects articles for the PDB based on their ability to help the President avoid tactical surprises, manage ongoing crises, or craft policies to advance US strategic interests.”

The acting head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on Wednesday painted a bleak picture of how the organization would be impacted by even a temporary interruption in funding to the Homeland Security Department. therecord.media/interim-cisa...

NEWS: Top Trump administration officials will meet with key Republican lawmakers later today about a possible path forward to renewing a major U.S. national security surveillance power that is slated to go dark in April. therecord.media/white-house-...

Unit 42 said it saw an APT breach critical gov't agencies in 37 countries in 2025 The company said its an espionage campaign but the “methods, targets and scale of operations are alarming." Glad to be back from pat leave to work with @martinmatishak.bsky.social therecord.media/research-cyb...

News: A cyberespionage group based in Asia breached the systems of 37 governments and conducted reconnaissance in 155 countries, according to a report from @paloaltonetworks.com This thing is MASSIVE . By @jgreig.bsky.social & me on @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/research-cyb...

You can always reach me on Signal.

ICYMI: The cyberattack on a separate military system connected to the nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan helped to prevent Iran from launching surface-to-air missiles at American warplanes that had entered Iranian airspace. therecord.media/iran-nuclear...

@martinmatishak.bsky.social has been doing great work on the Cyber Command/NSA beat. This is a remarkable story about "some of the most sophisticated action Cyber Command has taken against Iran in its nearly 16-year history." therecord.media/iran-nuclear...

The @washingtonpost.com laid off a living legend today.

The U.S. military last year digitally disrupted Iranian air missile defense systems as part of a coordinated operation to destroy the country’s nuclear program, according to several U.S. officials, showing U.S. growing comfort using cyber weapons in warfare. 🔥 scoop from @martinmatishak.bsky.social

Exclusive: The U.S. military last year digitally disrupted Iranian air missile defense systems as part of a coordinated operation to destroy the country’s nuclear program, another sign of America’s growing comfort with employing cyber weapons in warfare. therecord.media/iran-nuclear...

Little scoop: British authorities have opened their first investigation into a suspected breach of the country’s cyber sanctions regime since the measures took effect more than five years ago, according to information obtained by Recorded Future News under freedom of information laws.

I forgot there is straight-up, on-screen murder in Pixar's "Cars 2."

President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the National Security Agency on Thursday repeatedly defended a mass foreign surveillance power that is weeks away from expiring without congressional action. On @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/nsa-pick-cha...

Notorious Russia-based RAMP cybercrime forum apparently seized by FBI therecord.media/notorious-ru...

Lawmakers move to extend two cyber programs (again) in funding proposal therecord.media/lawmakers-mo... On @therecordmedia.bsky.social

The Trump administration’s nominee to lead U.S. Cyber Command and the NSA pushed aside questions about his lack of digital warfare and intelligence experience, saying he would draw on his unique military background and insights from current officials. therecord.media/nsa-cyber-co...

NEW: A senior U.S. military cyber operator responsible for overseeing efforts against Russia was dismissed from duty last week by the head of U.S. Cyber Command’s elite digital warfighting unit. On @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/senior-milit...

Tim Kosiba has started work as the new No. 2 at the National Security Agency. On @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/timothy-kosi...

The 1st confirmation hearing for Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd to be the next chief of U.S. Cyber Command & the NSA is slated for next week before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Intelligence panel expected to hold its hearing the week of the 26th. www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/to-...

NEW: The National Security Agency has a new leadership roster for its cybersecurity directorate as the agency waits for its first Senate-confirmed chief in more than nine months. therecord.media/nsa-cyber-di...

PA Supreme Court allows police to use Google searches in rape case w/o warrant. Authorities asked Google to check whether anyone had searched for the victim's address. Google found a hit, leading police to suspect. Court: There is no expectation of privacy on internet therecord.media/google-searc...

ICYMI: After more than eight months, there is a nominee to lead U.S. Cyber Command & the National Security Agency. There is also a nom for CYBERCOM deputy chief. Meanwhile, the pick for NSA deputy is on a glide path. therecord.media/joshua-rudd-...

Surprising moment this morning at McCrary Institute event w/ House Homeland Security Chair Andrew Garbarino, as he broke w/ FCC over elimination of telecom cyber regs. “I'm not sure I would have voted to get rid of some of the rules," Garbarino said in response to @martinmatishak.bsky.social's Q.

NEW: President Donald Trump has taken steps to nominate Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, the deputy chief of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to head the military's Cyber Command and the National Security Agency. ON @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/joshua-rudd-...

ICYMI: There's been a switch as to who will be the next deputy chief at the National Security Agency.

EXCLUSIVE: The Trump administration has changed its mind about who will be the new No. 2 at the National Security Agency, amid internal White House opposition to the pick and attacks from far-right conservatives. Only on @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/announced-ns...

🎵I've got nothing up my sleeve Except a heart and a chip on my shoulder🎵

Exclusive: A bipartisan pair of U.S. senators on Wednesday reintroduced legislation meant to help commercial satellite providers defend their networks against digital threats. On @therecordmedia.bsky.social therecord.media/commercial-s...