News

The State Department is facing cybersecurity vulnerabilities due to its use of outdated software at embassies and missions around the world. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), a government watchdog, has raised concerns about the department’s ability to secure critical networks and protect sensitive communications.

According to the GAO report, many U.S. embassies and missions rely on legacy systems, including Windows XP, an operating system that Microsoft stopped providing updates for almost a decade ago. With the lack of automatic updates, these systems are susceptible to security holes that hackers could exploit to gain unauthorized access.

The GAO also discovered that a significant number of State Department posts lack a chief information security officer and any cybersecurity personnel. This is particularly concerning when it comes to missions located at international organizations rather than capital cities. The exact number of foreign posts using outdated software remains unknown.

The State Department acknowledges the constant targeting of its networks by malicious actors and claims to maintain a robust platform for identifying cyber threats. However, the department is working on strengthening the cybersecurity posture of U.S. posts abroad in collaboration with diplomatic security.

The GAO report, which is still being finalized, will likely put additional pressure on the State Department to enhance its cybersecurity protocols. The recent breach of agency emails by Chinese hackers has sparked further scrutiny, with lawmakers investigating the incident. The State Department’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy is taking steps to increase the number of diplomats receiving cybersecurity training and aims to have trained staff members focusing on cyber and digital policy in every significant mission worldwide in the next few years.

Experts believe that the State Department’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities stem from financial constraints and a lack of urgency to upgrade systems. Recognizing this problem, the agency has taken steps to address vulnerabilities and has submitted a report to Capitol Hill outlining efforts to patch over 500 vulnerabilities in the past two years.

While the GAO report is not yet complete, it is expected to highlight the need for the State Department to prioritize and invest in strengthening its cybersecurity defenses.

The post The State Department’s Outdated Software and Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities appeared first on satProviders.