Author Description

This is a compilation of two vital and unique government reports issued in 2018 about cyber security issues: Cybercrime and the Darknet: Effects on Cybersecurity Practices (Homeland Security) and the Multiyear Plan for Energy Sector Cybersecurity (Energy Department). DARKNET: Darknet platforms and their growing popularity present unique challenges to cybersecurity. Blocking all Darknet traffic is difficult and often unduly burdensome for many system operators. Command-and-Control (C2) servers hosted on the Darknet are difficult to uncover and shutdown, making the Darknet an attractive haven. The proliferation of stolen credentials on Dark Web markets leave systems vulnerable, even if systems have secure networks. Tor, often called The Onion Router, is a Darknet platform that anonymizes users' Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Tor is primarily used in two ways: to access the Open Web (the portion of the Web accessible with traditional Web Browsers) or to access the hidden services of the Dark Web (which is only accessible via Darknet platforms). In 2017, Tor use grew more than 50 percent, rising steadily from 2 million daily users at the end of 2016 to 3 million daily users by December 2017. Tor and other Darknet platforms present unique challenges for cybersecurity. ENERGY SECTOR: Protecting America's energy systems from cyber attacks and other risks is a top national priority. Reliable energy and power is the cornerstone of our advanced digital economy and is essential for critical operations in transportation, water, communications, finance, food and agriculture, emergency services, and more. Today, any cyber incident has the potential to disrupt energy services, damage highly specialized equipment, and threaten human health and safety. As nation-states and criminals increasingly target energy networks, the federal government must help reduce cyber risks that could trigger a large-scale or prolonged energy disruption. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Elec