The NPR Politics Podcast Weekly Roundup: December 18th
Dec 18, 2020
A major cybersecurity breach believed to be state-sponsored raises alarms over U.S. national security. The discussion pivots to Joe Biden's cabinet picks and their potential impact on climate policy and representation. As political dynamics shift in a divided Congress, reflections on past elections and Russian interference set the stage for future challenges. The podcast also touches on personal connections to history, including a moving tribute to a distinguished Congress member and Major League Baseball's acknowledgment of the Negro Leagues.
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Supply Chain Attack
- The SolarWinds hack was a supply chain attack, starting several steps removed from the ultimate target.
- Attackers compromised SolarWinds' systems, spreading malware through software updates to government agencies and businesses.
Cybersecurity Asymmetry
- The government's failure to detect the SolarWinds hack highlights the asymmetry between cyber offense and defense.
- Determined attackers with resources can likely penetrate targets, despite cybersecurity spending.
Scope of the Hack
- The SolarWinds hack affected numerous government agencies, including Commerce, Homeland Security, Defense, Treasury, and others.
- The attack appears limited to unclassified networks, but the full scope is still unknown.