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

Telecommunication tower during sunset. (Getty Images)

Officials worry Salt Typhoon apathy is killing momentum for tougher telecom security rules

Cybersecurity

HONG KONG, CHINA – 2025/03/01: In this photo illustration, A new web browser ‘Comet’ by perplexity is seen on a computer. Perplexity have announced on Monday, Feb 24th, 2025, their plans to release ‘Comet’, a new web browser that aims to revolutionise browsing. (Photo Illustration by May James/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Federal judge blocks Perplexity’s AI browser from making Amazon purchases

Privacy

DHS CISO, deputy CISO exit amid reported IT leadership overhaul

Government

Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce committee, 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)

Congress looks to revive critical cyber program for rural electric utilities

Government

The author of a new study told CyberScoop “I’m very worried” as he described deanonymization capabilities of AI as a “large scale invasion of privacy.”

LLMs are getting better at unmasking people online

Privacy

Researchers at Zenity Labs discovered flaws affecting multiple AI browsers, including Perplexity’s Comet. Before being patched, an attacker could exploit them via a legitimate calendar invite, using a prompt injection to force the AI browser to act against its user. (Image via Getty)

Researchers discover suite of agentic AI browser vulnerabilities

Cybersecurity

In an aerial view, artist Gustavo Zermeño Jr. hangs from a ladder as he paints a mural of Olympic figure-skating gold medalist Alysa Liu on February 26, 2026 in Gardena, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

From fake nudes to fake quotes: AI deepfakes plagued Olympic athletes

Government

Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), is one of four Senators to sponsor the Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act, which passed through the Senate HELP Committee 22-1. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Senate moves one step closer to passing health care cyber reforms

Government

A photo taken on March 31, 2023 in Manta, near Turin, shows a computer screen with the home page of the artificial intelligence OpenAI web site, displaying its chatGPT robot. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese group’s ChatGPT use reveals worldwide harassment campaign against critics

AI