Day archives: December 22nd, 2014

Exploring the Ecosystem of Third-party Security Seals

Clubbing Seals – Exploring the Ecosystem of Third-party Security Seals – Tom Van Goethem, Frank Piessens, Wouter Joosen, Nick Nikiforaki in Proceedings of the 21st ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS 2014), Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. “In the current web of distrust, malware, and server compromises, convincing an online consumer that a website is secure, can make the difference between a visitor and …

Subjects: Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, E-Commerce, Internet

EPA Announces First National Regulations to Safeguard Disposal of Coal Ash

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) … announced [December 19, 2014] the first national regulations to provide for the safe disposal of coal combustion residuals (coal ash) from coal-fired power plants. The final rule establishes safeguards to protect communities from coal ash impoundment failures, like the catastrophic Kingston, Tenn., spill in 2008, and establishes safeguards to …

Subjects: Energy, Environmental Law, Government Documents

The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11

CRS – The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11, Amy Belasco, Specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget. December 8, 2014. “With enactment of the FY2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act on January 1, 2014 (H.R. 3547/P.L. 113-73), Congress has approved appropriations for the past 13 years of war that total $1.6 trillion for military operations, …

Subjects: Congress, Defense, Economy, Government Documents

U.S. Immigration Policy: Chart Book of Key Trends

CRS – U.S. Immigration Policy: Chart Book of Key Trends. William A. Kandel, Analyst in Immigration Policy, December 17, 2014 “This report is a chart book of selected immigration trends that touch on the main elements of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Most policymakers agree that the main issues in CIR include increased border security and immigration enforcement, improved employment …

Subjects: Congress, Economy, Education, Government Documents, Legal Research

FOIA Suits Jump In 2014

“More freedom of information lawsuits were brought against the federal government in fiscal year 2014 than in any year since at least 2001, according to a new analysis of court records by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). A total of 422 Freedom of Information Act suits were filed in federal district court last year compared …

Subjects: Courts, Freedom of Information, Government Documents, Legal Research

New GAO Reports – Federal Subcontracting, Higher Education, 401(k) Plans, Government Mobile Devices

Federal Subcontracting: Further Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Pass-through Contracts, GAO-15-200: Published: Dec 22, 2014. Publicly Released: Dec 22, 2014. Higher Education: Education Should Strengthen Oversight of Schools and Accreditors, GAO-15-59: Published: Dec 22, 2014. Publicly Released: Dec 22, 2014. 401(K) Plans: Greater Protections Needed for Forced Transfers and Inactive Accounts, GAO-15-73: Published: Nov 21, 2014. Publicly …

Subjects: E-Government, Economy, Education, Government Documents, Wireless Web