Homeland Security’s Einstein Gets Smarter, FTC Files Charges Over Peeping Laptops, and More

Here is today’s federal cybersecurity and information technology news:

The Federal Trade Commission has charged several rent-to-own companies and a software maker over rental computers that illegally used spyware that took “pictures of children, individuals not fully clothed, and couples engaged in sexual activities.” More here.
United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice stated that social media has been an effective social outreach tool for the State Department. More here.
A federal appeals court gave the Transportation Security Administration until the end of March to comply with orders to hold public hearings and take public comment on body scanners. More here.
Through Einstein 3-Accelerated, the Department of Homeland Security has changed their Einstein intrusion prevention and intrusion detection program from a hardware-based to a software-based platform so that it can stay relevant and be used broadly by other federal agencies. More here.
David L. DeVries, the Defense Department’s deputy chief information officer for joint information enterprise, reaffirmed the Pentagon’s commitment to cybersecurity. More here.
Autonomous vehicles are now legal in California, the third state to enact autonomous vehicle legislation after Nevada and Florida. More here.