Reporter

Derek B. Johnson

CyberScoop

Derek B. Johnson is a reporter at CyberScoop, where his beat includes cybersecurity, elections and the federal government. Prior to that, he has provided award-winning coverage of cybersecurity news across the public and private sectors for various publications since 2017. Derek has a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from Hofstra University in New York and a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University in Virginia.

Articles by Author

Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 11, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Top House E&C Republicans query public for ideas on data privacy law

Policy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 02: Attendees gather at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference at the Moscone West center on June 2, 2014 in San Francisco, California. Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the annual WWDC which is typically a showcase for upcoming updates to Apple hardware and software. The conference runs through June 6. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Apple pulls end-to-end encryption feature from UK after demands for law enforcement access

Cybersecurity

The headquarters of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen in Washington, DC, January 28, 2021. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

SEC rebrands cryptocurrency unit to focus on emerging technologies

Government

Department of Energy CISO Paul Selby speaks during CyberScoop’s Zero Trust Summit on Feb. 19, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Scoop News Group Photo)

Energy CISO: Agencies can’t implement zero trust alone

Cybersecurity

US vice-president J.D. Vance attends a plenary session at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, at the Grand Palais, in Paris, on February 11, 2025. (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)

In Paris, U.S. signals shift from AI safety to deregulation

AI

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 28: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivers remarks to staff at the Department of Homeland Security headquarters on January 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Manuel Balce Ceneta-Pool/Getty Images)

CISA election, disinformation officials placed on administrative leave, sources say

Cybersecurity

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 5: U.S. President Donald Trump and newly sworn-in U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi pose with a document in the Oval Office at the White House on February 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Senate confirmed Bondi as Attorney General with a 54-46 vote on Tuesday. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

DOJ disbands foreign influence task force, limits scope of FARA prosecutions

Government

Pickle files – python-based modules that allow a developer to serialize and deserialize code – are commonly used by legitimate AI developers and threat actors. (Image Source: Getty Images)

Hugging Face platform continues to be plagued by vulnerable ‘pickles’

Technology

Tesla Founder Elon Musk walks on stage with his son, X, beside President-elect Donald Trump during a rally at Capital One Arena in Washington, on January 19, 2025. (Photo by Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Cybersecurity, government experts are aghast at security failures in DOGE takeover

Government