4 min
Public Policy
Expanded Protections for Security Researchers Under DMCA Sec. 1201
The Library of Congress announced that it would renew and expand legal protections for security testing under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
5 min
Public Policy
Prioritizing the Fundamentals of Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure
In this post, we aim to distinguish between three broad flavors of CVD processes based on authorization, incentives, and resources required. We also urge wider adoption of foundational processes before moving to more advanced and resource-intensive processes.
3 min
Public Policy
Georgia should not authorize "hack back"
Update 05/09/18: Georgia Governor Deal vetoed SB 315. In a thoughtful veto
statement, the Governor noted that the legislation raised "concerns regarding
national security implications and other potential ramifications," and that "SB
315 may inadvertently hinder the ability of government and private industries"
to protect against breaches. The statement expressed interest in working with
the cybersecurity and law enforcement communities on a new policy.
The Georgia state legislature recently pas
2 min
Public Policy
Welcome transparency on US government's process for disclosing vulnerabilities
The White House recently released details on the US government's process for disclosing - or retaining - zero-day vulnerabilities. The new VEP charter provides answers to several key questions, but it remains to be seen how it will operate in practice.
5 min
Public Policy
Copyright Office Calls For New Cybersecurity Researcher Protections
On Jun. 22, the US Copyright Office released
[https://www.copyright.gov/policy/1201/section-1201-full-report.pdf] its
long-awaited study on Sec. 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA),
and it has important implications for independent cybersecurity researchers.
Mostly the news is very positive. Rapid7 advocated extensively for researcher
protections to be built into this report, submitting two sets of detailed
comments—see here
[/2016/03/15/rapid7-bugcrowd-and-hackerone-file-pro-res
2 min
Public Policy
Legislation to Strengthen IoT Marketplace Transparency
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) is poised to introduce legislation to develop a
voluntary cybersecurity standards program for the Internet of Things (IoT). The
legislation, called the Cyber Shield Act, would enable IoT products that comply
with the standards to display a label indicating a strong level of security to
consumers – like an Energy Star rating for IoT. Rapid7 supports this legislation
and believes greater transparency in the marketplace will enhance cybersecurity
and protect consumers.
The
4 min
Public Policy
Rapid7 issues comments on NAFTA renegotiation
In April 2017, President Trump issued an executive order directing a review of
all trade agreements. This process is now underway: The United States Trade
Representative (USTR) – the nation's lead trade agreement negotiator – formally
requested [https://www.regulations.gov/docket/USTR-2017-0006] public input on
objectives for the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA). NAFTA is a trade agreement between the US, Canada, and Mexico, that
covers a huge range of topics, fr
4 min
Public Policy
White House Cybersecurity Executive Order Summary
Yesterday President Trump issued an Executive Order on cybersecurity:
“Strengthening the Cybersecurity of Federal Networks and Critical
Infrastructure.”
[https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/16/2017-10004/strengthening-the-cybersecurity-of-federal-networks-and-critical-infrastructure]
The Executive Order (EO) appears broadly positive and well thought out, though
it is just the beginning of a long process and not a sea change in itself. The
EO directs agencies to come up with plans
4 min
Research
NCSAM: The Danger of Criminalizing Curiosity
This is a guest post from Kurt Opsahl [https://twitter.com/kurtopsahl], Deputy
Executive Director and General Counsel of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
[https://twitter.com/EFF].
October is National Cyber Security Awareness month and Rapid7 is taking this
time to celebrate security research. This year, NCSAM coincides with new legal
protections for security research under the DMCA
[/2016/10/03/cybersecurity-awareness-month-2016-this-ones-for-the-researchers]
and the 30th anniversary of the
2 min
Public Policy
I've joined Rapid7!
Hello! My name is Harley Geiger and I joined Rapid7 as director of public
policy, based out of our Washington, DC-area office. I actually joined a little
more than a month ago, but there's been a lot going on! I'm excited to be a part
of a team dedicated to making our interconnected world a safer place.
Rapid7 has demonstrated a commitment to helping promote legal protections for
the security research community. I am a lawyer, not a technologist, and part of
the value I hope to add is as a repr
1 min
Legal
Rapid7's Comments on the Wassenaar Arrangement Proposed Rule
For the past two months, the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and
Security (BIS) has been running a public consultation to solicit feedback on its
proposal for implementing export controls for intrusion software under the
Wassenaar Arrangement. You can read about the proposal and Rapid7's initial
thoughts here
[/2015/06/13/response-to-the-us-proposal-for-implementing-the-wassenaar-arrangement-export-controls-for-intrusion-software]
. The consultation window closed on Monday, July 20th
8 min
Metasploit
Wassenaar Arrangement - Frequently Asked Questions
The purpose of this post is to help answer questions about the Wassenaar
Arrangement. You can find the US proposal for implementing the Arrangement here
[https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-11642.pdf],
and an accompanying FAQ from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) here
[http://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/policy-guidance/faqs#subcat200]. For Rapid7's
take on Wassenaar, and information on the comments we intend to submit to BIS,
please read this companion pie
3 min
Public Policy
Petition for Reform of the DMCA and CFAA
Here's the TL;DR:
Software now runs everything and all software has flaws, which means that we, as
consumers, are at risk. This includes YOU, and can impact your safety or quality
of life. Sign this petition to protect your right to information on how you are
exposed to risk:
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/unlock-public-access-research-software
-safety-through-dmca-and-cfaa-reform/DHzwhzLD
The petition
Last weekend a petition
[https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/unlock-public