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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

Graphika’s investigation identified at least 10,000 AI chatbots that were directly advertised as sexualized, minor-presenting personas, including ones that called to APIs for OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Google’s Gemini LLMs. (Image Credit: Carol Yepes via Getty Images)

Anorexia coaches, self-harm buddies and sexualized minors: How online communities are using AI chatbots for harmful behavior

AI

A sign for the National Security Agency, U.S Cyber Command and Central Security Service, is seen near the visitor’s entrance to the headquarters of the National Security Agency on February 14, 2018. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Former top NSA cyber official: Probationary firings ‘devastating’ to cyber, national security

Government

(Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)

SolarWinds CISO says security execs are ‘nervous’ about individual liability for data breaches

Cybersecurity

(Photo by Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Microsoft IDs developers behind alleged generative AI hacking-for-hire scheme

AI

Attacks on industrial organizations soared by 87% last year, while the number of ransomware groups impacting the OT/ICS space jumped 60%, according to cybersecurity firm Dragos. (Image Source: Getty Images)

Dragos: Surge of new hacking groups enter ICS space as states collaborate with private actors

Government

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

Government

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

Cybercrime

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

Government