The Latest in IT Security

General Keith Alexander was in charge of the National Security Agency when all hell broke loose and former security contractor Edward Snowden leaked documents showing the organization was spying far beyond the extent to which most people were aware (or comfortable with). As Bloomberg first reported last week, Alexander has spent the last few months since his retirement as NSA head in March giving paid talks on cybersecurity to banks and other large financial institutions. Bloomberg also noted that Alexander has charged up to $1 million a month for his services, and even co-founded his own private security firm, IronNet Cybersecurity, Inc. In a more recent interview with Foreign Policy, Alexander admitted that his firm has developed unique technology for detecting and fighting so-called advanced persistent threats — cyber attacks that can extend for months or years at a time without being noticed, and are directed against specific targets like big companies or governments. Beyond the somewhat uncomfortable optics created by Americas leading spymaster turning his skill-set to the private security sector, there are other problems with Alexanders new job.