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Apple updates Spotlight to take actions on your Mac

Apple updates Spotlight to take actions on your Mac

Apple announced some of its biggest updates ever to Spotlight, the Mac’s on-device search feature, during WWDC 2025 on Monday. In macOS Tahoe, Spotlight can be used to run shortcuts and take hundreds of actions, such as writing emails, setting reminders, and playing podcasts.

Apple is upgrading Spotlight as chat applications, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, are rising in popularity. People around the world are using command line interfaces to complete more of their tasks, and it seems Apple is updating Spotlight to be part of that shift. The company says Spotlight is becoming the fastest way to browse all the content on your Mac.

Spotlight is getting a visual redesign, allowing users to browse more easily through apps, files, clipboard history, and more. All these results are now listed together, and are ranked “intelligently” based on relevance to users.

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple also introduced quick keys: short strings of characters that take users directly to certain apps or actions. Mac users can type “SM” to send a message, or “AR” to add a new reminder. Users can also assign quick keys to custom functions in Spotlight. Developers can also make their apps discoverable in Spotlight using the App Intents API.

In one demo, an Apple executive showed how users could send an entire email from Spotlight, filling out parameters such as the recipient, subject line, and message, and even clicking “send” without going to another app. Whether users will truly send emails through macOS Tahoe’s revamped Spotlight remains to be seen.

Apple says that Spotlight is now integrated with Apple Intelligence to be contextually aware. The on-device search feature will now suggest actions that users commonly take, and based on what users are currently working on.

The Spotlight upgrade was one of many updates to macOS revealed at Apple’s WWDC. Apple also said macOS was getting a new live-tracking feature that integrates with the iPhone, as well as a “liquid glass” software redesign.

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#Apple #updates #Spotlight #actions #Mac

Hot showers, like electricity, are a luxury that’s easy to take for granted. That all changes after a few nights camping at a music festival, a week toiling at a backcountry job site, or overlanding all summer in the great unknown. An itchy scalp and the vague smell of warm clams suddenly make the idea of spending hundreds on a portable shower seem less absurd.

I’ve been testing the Hottap Go from Australia-based Joolca while vanlifing to shower after surfing and to wash up after cooking. It features a 12L integrated water tank which is an improvement on other portable showers that require an external container and long, cumbersome hose that’s easy to trip over. The Hottap Go also recirculates the water until it reaches your chosen temperature. This slows things down a bit, compared to “instant” portable showers, but it doesn’t waste water since it won’t produce an initial shock of cold water that’s usually sprayed into the ground.

The $554 Hottap Go requires an external 12V power source, but in the US Joolca sells a 12V / 5A $165 power bank that attaches magnetically to the case. In Europe I had to roll my own with an €85 (about $100) power bank found on Amazon. The result is a true, fully self-contained hot water system that can be taken anywhere.

$554

The Good

  • All-in-one solution for hot showers anywhere
  • Water tank large enough for two showers
  • All accessories and attachments store inside the unit
  • No water wasted unlike competitors
  • Temperature remains steady

The Bad

  • Very expensive
  • Battery is optional and attaches to the outside of the case
  • Have to wait a few minutes to heat up
  • Water pressure is just okay

To clear up any confusion right away: the Hottap Go requires electricity to power the integrated water pump and display but it heats the water with propane gas. It works with standard 1lb propane canisters out of the box, and larger tanks with a hose and regulator you must provide.

One thing I love about the Hottap Go is that the hoses, battery, showerhead, and gas canister can all be stored inside the water tank when not in use for easy portability and storage. I also like that the flow-adjustable showerhead comes with a magnetic holder. Taken together with its approach to preheating the water through recirculation, it’s clear that Joolca’s product designers have learned from the shortcomings of the current crop of portable propane showers.

To shower, you first attach the quick-release hoses for the gas and showerhead, plug the shower into a 12V power source (power bank, power station, or the cigarette plug inside your car), set your desired temperature and wait. The unit will begin heating and recirculating the water until a series of beeps indicates that the target temperature is reached. I brought tap water up to a hot 47C / 117F (per the display) in exactly four minutes, which was just enough time to gather everything I needed to shower outside my van with my modesty preserved.

My makeshift shower stall between the rear doors of my van. The Hottap Go is hot and ready to go by the time I hang the towel.

It also serves as an outdoor cleaning station to keep the messy dishes outside my living space.

The magnetic showerhead holder is super convenient. It attaches to the body of the Hottap Go or pretty much anywhere and any angle on my van.

The on/off button on the showerhead lets you conserve water as you lather. The grey dial adjusts the flow rate.

On one windy day at the beach, I noticed the Hottap Go had to keep reigniting, despite its leeward venting. It failed so often that I saw an E3 error message on the display. Repositioning the shower out of the wind kept the flame lit. The handle on top makes it easy to move, and the seal around the lid ensures that water won’t slosh onto the ground or your power bank. Otherwise, the Hottap Go always lit and stayed lit without issue during my testing.

Joolca says the Hottap Go is good for two “great showers” or a single “long, luxurious one.” I was able to take two functional yet satisfying showers from its full 12L (3.2 gal) water tank, making liberal use of the on/off switch on the showerhead to conserve water while lathering.

1/11

The hoses, gas canister, showerhead, and battery all fit inside for convenient transport and storage.

Water flow is just okay, even at maximum setting. It’s strong enough to penetrate long, thick hair when shampooing but it’s not going to jettison grime from my mountain bike, for example. The magnetic holder is strong and the showerhead feels good in the hand with a nicely positioned on/off switch. Adjusting the flow rate dial is a two-handed operation, but mostly I just left it on max.

If you’ll only use it once or twice a year, then spending over $554 for the Hottap Go portable shower doesn’t make much sense, especially when tankless portable showers like BougeRV’s cost half that. I much prefer the Hottap Go’s recirculating water tank, performance, and overall convenience, though I do wish the optional $165 magnetic power bank was included in that price. Still, for vanlifers like me or anyone who regularly spends days away from plumbing, $719 can be easily justified for what could be the best portable hot water shower available.

  • Tank: 12L (3.2 gal), ~2 showers
  • Water flow rate: 1.5 – 3.5 L/min (0.4 – 0.9 gal/min)
  • Shower hose: 3m (9.8 ft)
  • Showerhead has an integrated magnetic mount and controls to turn off the water and adjust its flow
  • Two-stage filter lets you use creek water
  • Cigarette socket power cable: 5m (16.4 ft), 12V DC
  • Power draw: 45W
  • Max temp: 60°C (140°F), pre-heats in ~5 min
  • Gas: 0.45 kg (1 lb) canister, ~15 showers
  • Gas flow rate: 20MJ/hr (18,956 BTU/hr)
  • Weight: 9.5 kg (20.9 lb) without water
  • Size: 495 x 359 x 180 mm (19.5 x 14.1 x 7.1 in), designed to fit most jerry can holders

Photos by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
#filthy #portable #showerAccessory Reviews,Reviews,Tech,Work anywhere">Are you filthy enough for a 0 portable shower? Hot showers, like electricity, are a luxury that’s easy to take for granted. That all changes after a few nights camping at a music festival, a week toiling at a backcountry job site, or overlanding all summer in the great unknown. An itchy scalp and the vague smell of warm clams suddenly make the idea of spending hundreds on a portable shower seem less absurd.I’ve been testing the Hottap Go from Australia-based Joolca while vanlifing to shower after surfing and to wash up after cooking. It features a 12L integrated water tank which is an improvement on other portable showers that require an external container and long, cumbersome hose that’s easy to trip over. The Hottap Go also recirculates the water until it reaches your chosen temperature. This slows things down a bit, compared to “instant” portable showers, but it doesn’t waste water since it won’t produce an initial shock of cold water that’s usually sprayed into the ground.The 4 Hottap Go requires an external 12V power source, but in the US Joolca sells a 12V / 5A 5 power bank that attaches magnetically to the case. In Europe I had to roll my own with an €85 (about 0) power bank found on Amazon. The result is a true, fully self-contained hot water system that can be taken anywhere.4The GoodAll-in-one solution for hot showers anywhereWater tank large enough for two showersAll accessories and attachments store inside the unitNo water wasted unlike competitorsTemperature remains steadyThe BadVery expensiveBattery is optional and attaches to the outside of the caseHave to wait a few minutes to heat upWater pressure is just okayTo clear up any confusion right away: the Hottap Go requires electricity to power the integrated water pump and display but it heats the water with propane gas. It works with standard 1lb propane canisters out of the box, and larger tanks with a hose and regulator you must provide.One thing I love about the Hottap Go is that the hoses, battery, showerhead, and gas canister can all be stored inside the water tank when not in use for easy portability and storage. I also like that the flow-adjustable showerhead comes with a magnetic holder. Taken together with its approach to preheating the water through recirculation, it’s clear that Joolca’s product designers have learned from the shortcomings of the current crop of portable propane showers.To shower, you first attach the quick-release hoses for the gas and showerhead, plug the shower into a 12V power source (power bank, power station, or the cigarette plug inside your car), set your desired temperature and wait. The unit will begin heating and recirculating the water until a series of beeps indicates that the target temperature is reached. I brought tap water up to a hot 47C / 117F (per the display) in exactly four minutes, which was just enough time to gather everything I needed to shower outside my van with my modesty preserved.My makeshift shower stall between the rear doors of my van. The Hottap Go is hot and ready to go by the time I hang the towel.It also serves as an outdoor cleaning station to keep the messy dishes outside my living space.The magnetic showerhead holder is super convenient. It attaches to the body of the Hottap Go or pretty much anywhere and any angle on my van.The on/off button on the showerhead lets you conserve water as you lather. The grey dial adjusts the flow rate.On one windy day at the beach, I noticed the Hottap Go had to keep reigniting, despite its leeward venting. It failed so often that I saw an E3 error message on the display. Repositioning the shower out of the wind kept the flame lit. The handle on top makes it easy to move, and the seal around the lid ensures that water won’t slosh onto the ground or your power bank. Otherwise, the Hottap Go always lit and stayed lit without issue during my testing.Joolca says the Hottap Go is good for two “great showers” or a single “long, luxurious one.” I was able to take two functional yet satisfying showers from its full 12L (3.2 gal) water tank, making liberal use of the on/off switch on the showerhead to conserve water while lathering.1/11The hoses, gas canister, showerhead, and battery all fit inside for convenient transport and storage.Water flow is just okay, even at maximum setting. It’s strong enough to penetrate long, thick hair when shampooing but it’s not going to jettison grime from my mountain bike, for example. The magnetic holder is strong and the showerhead feels good in the hand with a nicely positioned on/off switch. Adjusting the flow rate dial is a two-handed operation, but mostly I just left it on max.If you’ll only use it once or twice a year, then spending over 4 for the Hottap Go portable shower doesn’t make much sense, especially when tankless portable showers like BougeRV’s cost half that. I much prefer the Hottap Go’s recirculating water tank, performance, and overall convenience, though I do wish the optional 5 magnetic power bank was included in that price. Still, for vanlifers like me or anyone who regularly spends days away from plumbing, 9 can be easily justified for what could be the best portable hot water shower available.Tank: 12L (3.2 gal), ~2 showersWater flow rate: 1.5 – 3.5 L/min (0.4 – 0.9 gal/min)Shower hose: 3m (9.8 ft)Showerhead has an integrated magnetic mount and controls to turn off the water and adjust its flowTwo-stage filter lets you use creek waterCigarette socket power cable: 5m (16.4 ft), 12V DCPower draw: 45WMax temp: 60°C (140°F), pre-heats in ~5 minGas: 0.45 kg (1 lb) canister, ~15 showersGas flow rate: 20MJ/hr (18,956 BTU/hr)Weight: 9.5 kg (20.9 lb) without waterSize: 495 x 359 x 180 mm (19.5 x 14.1 x 7.1 in), designed to fit most jerry can holdersPhotos by Thomas Ricker / The VergeFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Thomas RickerCloseThomas RickerPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Thomas RickerAccessory ReviewsCloseAccessory ReviewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Accessory ReviewsReviewsCloseReviewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ReviewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechWork anywhereCloseWork anywherePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Work anywhere#filthy #portable #showerAccessory Reviews,Reviews,Tech,Work anywhere

Hottap Go from Australia-based Joolca while vanlifing to shower after surfing and to wash up after cooking. It features a 12L integrated water tank which is an improvement on other portable showers that require an external container and long, cumbersome hose that’s easy to trip over. The Hottap Go also recirculates the water until it reaches your chosen temperature. This slows things down a bit, compared to “instant” portable showers, but it doesn’t waste water since it won’t produce an initial shock of cold water that’s usually sprayed into the ground.

The $554 Hottap Go requires an external 12V power source, but in the US Joolca sells a 12V / 5A $165 power bank that attaches magnetically to the case. In Europe I had to roll my own with an €85 (about $100) power bank found on Amazon. The result is a true, fully self-contained hot water system that can be taken anywhere.

$554

The Good

  • All-in-one solution for hot showers anywhere
  • Water tank large enough for two showers
  • All accessories and attachments store inside the unit
  • No water wasted unlike competitors
  • Temperature remains steady

The Bad

  • Very expensive
  • Battery is optional and attaches to the outside of the case
  • Have to wait a few minutes to heat up
  • Water pressure is just okay

To clear up any confusion right away: the Hottap Go requires electricity to power the integrated water pump and display but it heats the water with propane gas. It works with standard 1lb propane canisters out of the box, and larger tanks with a hose and regulator you must provide.

One thing I love about the Hottap Go is that the hoses, battery, showerhead, and gas canister can all be stored inside the water tank when not in use for easy portability and storage. I also like that the flow-adjustable showerhead comes with a magnetic holder. Taken together with its approach to preheating the water through recirculation, it’s clear that Joolca’s product designers have learned from the shortcomings of the current crop of portable propane showers.

To shower, you first attach the quick-release hoses for the gas and showerhead, plug the shower into a 12V power source (power bank, power station, or the cigarette plug inside your car), set your desired temperature and wait. The unit will begin heating and recirculating the water until a series of beeps indicates that the target temperature is reached. I brought tap water up to a hot 47C / 117F (per the display) in exactly four minutes, which was just enough time to gather everything I needed to shower outside my van with my modesty preserved.

My makeshift shower stall between the rear doors of my van. The Hottap Go is hot and ready to go by the time I hang the towel.

It also serves as an outdoor cleaning station to keep the messy dishes outside my living space.

The magnetic showerhead holder is super convenient. It attaches to the body of the Hottap Go or pretty much anywhere and any angle on my van.

The on/off button on the showerhead lets you conserve water as you lather. The grey dial adjusts the flow rate.

On one windy day at the beach, I noticed the Hottap Go had to keep reigniting, despite its leeward venting. It failed so often that I saw an E3 error message on the display. Repositioning the shower out of the wind kept the flame lit. The handle on top makes it easy to move, and the seal around the lid ensures that water won’t slosh onto the ground or your power bank. Otherwise, the Hottap Go always lit and stayed lit without issue during my testing.

Joolca says the Hottap Go is good for two “great showers” or a single “long, luxurious one.” I was able to take two functional yet satisfying showers from its full 12L (3.2 gal) water tank, making liberal use of the on/off switch on the showerhead to conserve water while lathering.

1/11

The hoses, gas canister, showerhead, and battery all fit inside for convenient transport and storage.

Water flow is just okay, even at maximum setting. It’s strong enough to penetrate long, thick hair when shampooing but it’s not going to jettison grime from my mountain bike, for example. The magnetic holder is strong and the showerhead feels good in the hand with a nicely positioned on/off switch. Adjusting the flow rate dial is a two-handed operation, but mostly I just left it on max.

If you’ll only use it once or twice a year, then spending over $554 for the Hottap Go portable shower doesn’t make much sense, especially when tankless portable showers like BougeRV’s cost half that. I much prefer the Hottap Go’s recirculating water tank, performance, and overall convenience, though I do wish the optional $165 magnetic power bank was included in that price. Still, for vanlifers like me or anyone who regularly spends days away from plumbing, $719 can be easily justified for what could be the best portable hot water shower available.

  • Tank: 12L (3.2 gal), ~2 showers
  • Water flow rate: 1.5 – 3.5 L/min (0.4 – 0.9 gal/min)
  • Shower hose: 3m (9.8 ft)
  • Showerhead has an integrated magnetic mount and controls to turn off the water and adjust its flow
  • Two-stage filter lets you use creek water
  • Cigarette socket power cable: 5m (16.4 ft), 12V DC
  • Power draw: 45W
  • Max temp: 60°C (140°F), pre-heats in ~5 min
  • Gas: 0.45 kg (1 lb) canister, ~15 showers
  • Gas flow rate: 20MJ/hr (18,956 BTU/hr)
  • Weight: 9.5 kg (20.9 lb) without water
  • Size: 495 x 359 x 180 mm (19.5 x 14.1 x 7.1 in), designed to fit most jerry can holders

Photos by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

#filthy #portable #showerAccessory Reviews,Reviews,Tech,Work anywhere">Are you filthy enough for a $700 portable shower? 

Hot showers, like electricity, are a luxury that’s easy to take for granted. That all changes after a few nights camping at a music festival, a week toiling at a backcountry job site, or overlanding all summer in the great unknown. An itchy scalp and the vague smell of warm clams suddenly make the idea of spending hundreds on a portable shower seem less absurd.

I’ve been testing the Hottap Go from Australia-based Joolca while vanlifing to shower after surfing and to wash up after cooking. It features a 12L integrated water tank which is an improvement on other portable showers that require an external container and long, cumbersome hose that’s easy to trip over. The Hottap Go also recirculates the water until it reaches your chosen temperature. This slows things down a bit, compared to “instant” portable showers, but it doesn’t waste water since it won’t produce an initial shock of cold water that’s usually sprayed into the ground.

The $554 Hottap Go requires an external 12V power source, but in the US Joolca sells a 12V / 5A $165 power bank that attaches magnetically to the case. In Europe I had to roll my own with an €85 (about $100) power bank found on Amazon. The result is a true, fully self-contained hot water system that can be taken anywhere.

$554

The Good

  • All-in-one solution for hot showers anywhere
  • Water tank large enough for two showers
  • All accessories and attachments store inside the unit
  • No water wasted unlike competitors
  • Temperature remains steady

The Bad

  • Very expensive
  • Battery is optional and attaches to the outside of the case
  • Have to wait a few minutes to heat up
  • Water pressure is just okay

To clear up any confusion right away: the Hottap Go requires electricity to power the integrated water pump and display but it heats the water with propane gas. It works with standard 1lb propane canisters out of the box, and larger tanks with a hose and regulator you must provide.

One thing I love about the Hottap Go is that the hoses, battery, showerhead, and gas canister can all be stored inside the water tank when not in use for easy portability and storage. I also like that the flow-adjustable showerhead comes with a magnetic holder. Taken together with its approach to preheating the water through recirculation, it’s clear that Joolca’s product designers have learned from the shortcomings of the current crop of portable propane showers.

To shower, you first attach the quick-release hoses for the gas and showerhead, plug the shower into a 12V power source (power bank, power station, or the cigarette plug inside your car), set your desired temperature and wait. The unit will begin heating and recirculating the water until a series of beeps indicates that the target temperature is reached. I brought tap water up to a hot 47C / 117F (per the display) in exactly four minutes, which was just enough time to gather everything I needed to shower outside my van with my modesty preserved.

My makeshift shower stall between the rear doors of my van. The Hottap Go is hot and ready to go by the time I hang the towel.

It also serves as an outdoor cleaning station to keep the messy dishes outside my living space.

The magnetic showerhead holder is super convenient. It attaches to the body of the Hottap Go or pretty much anywhere and any angle on my van.

The on/off button on the showerhead lets you conserve water as you lather. The grey dial adjusts the flow rate.

On one windy day at the beach, I noticed the Hottap Go had to keep reigniting, despite its leeward venting. It failed so often that I saw an E3 error message on the display. Repositioning the shower out of the wind kept the flame lit. The handle on top makes it easy to move, and the seal around the lid ensures that water won’t slosh onto the ground or your power bank. Otherwise, the Hottap Go always lit and stayed lit without issue during my testing.

Joolca says the Hottap Go is good for two “great showers” or a single “long, luxurious one.” I was able to take two functional yet satisfying showers from its full 12L (3.2 gal) water tank, making liberal use of the on/off switch on the showerhead to conserve water while lathering.

1/11

The hoses, gas canister, showerhead, and battery all fit inside for convenient transport and storage.

Water flow is just okay, even at maximum setting. It’s strong enough to penetrate long, thick hair when shampooing but it’s not going to jettison grime from my mountain bike, for example. The magnetic holder is strong and the showerhead feels good in the hand with a nicely positioned on/off switch. Adjusting the flow rate dial is a two-handed operation, but mostly I just left it on max.

If you’ll only use it once or twice a year, then spending over $554 for the Hottap Go portable shower doesn’t make much sense, especially when tankless portable showers like BougeRV’s cost half that. I much prefer the Hottap Go’s recirculating water tank, performance, and overall convenience, though I do wish the optional $165 magnetic power bank was included in that price. Still, for vanlifers like me or anyone who regularly spends days away from plumbing, $719 can be easily justified for what could be the best portable hot water shower available.

  • Tank: 12L (3.2 gal), ~2 showers
  • Water flow rate: 1.5 – 3.5 L/min (0.4 – 0.9 gal/min)
  • Shower hose: 3m (9.8 ft)
  • Showerhead has an integrated magnetic mount and controls to turn off the water and adjust its flow
  • Two-stage filter lets you use creek water
  • Cigarette socket power cable: 5m (16.4 ft), 12V DC
  • Power draw: 45W
  • Max temp: 60°C (140°F), pre-heats in ~5 min
  • Gas: 0.45 kg (1 lb) canister, ~15 showers
  • Gas flow rate: 20MJ/hr (18,956 BTU/hr)
  • Weight: 9.5 kg (20.9 lb) without water
  • Size: 495 x 359 x 180 mm (19.5 x 14.1 x 7.1 in), designed to fit most jerry can holders

Photos by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
#filthy #portable #showerAccessory Reviews,Reviews,Tech,Work anywhere
U.S. federal cybersecurity agency CISA said it did not have a prepared response plan for how it should handle a cybersecurity incident in May, after an investigative reporter notified the agency that a contractor had publicly exposed sensitive keys and credentials for accessing U.S. government systems.

CISA, the Homeland Security unit tasked with defending federal networks and helping to safeguard critical infrastructure, revealed Friday in a postmortem report that its staff “had to spend time building [a playbook] during the early stages of the incident.” The agency said it is important to prepare playbooks for “all anticipated needs” to ensure that organizations are ready to respond in the event of a security incident rather than scrambling to improvise one in real time.

The agency did not say how long the missing playbook delayed CISA’s response, and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment. 

Independent cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs reported in May that a security researcher with cyber firm GitGuardian alerted him to reams of exposed passwords stored in a publicly accessible GitHub repository, which an employee of a CISA contractor had uploaded.

According to Krebs, the researcher tried to alert the contractor but didn’t hear back. Only after Krebs contacted CISA did the agency take the repository offline and revoke and replace all of the exposed credentials to prevent any potential future abuse.

CISA said that no customer or mission data was exposed in the incident and thanked the researcher and reporter for their help. The agency said that its channels for allowing security researchers to notify CISA of potential incidents “were not well defined,” and that it has made changes to make it easier and faster for researchers to contact the agency.

CISA has been without a permanent director since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in January 2025. The agency has also been affected by cuts, furloughs, and layoffs affecting about a third of its workforce since Trump took office. 

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#cybersecurity #agency #CISA #build #incident #playbook #incident #agency #reveals #TechCrunchCISA,cybersecurity,us government">US cybersecurity agency CISA had to build its incident playbook during the incident, agency reveals | TechCrunch
U.S. federal cybersecurity agency CISA said it did not have a prepared response plan for how it should handle a cybersecurity incident in May, after an investigative reporter notified the agency that a contractor had publicly exposed sensitive keys and credentials for accessing U.S. government systems.

CISA, the Homeland Security unit tasked with defending federal networks and helping to safeguard critical infrastructure, revealed Friday in a postmortem report that its staff “had to spend time building [a playbook] during the early stages of the incident.” The agency said it is important to prepare playbooks for “all anticipated needs” to ensure that organizations are ready to respond in the event of a security incident rather than scrambling to improvise one in real time.







The agency did not say how long the missing playbook delayed CISA’s response, and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment. 

Independent cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs reported in May that a security researcher with cyber firm GitGuardian alerted him to reams of exposed passwords stored in a publicly accessible GitHub repository, which an employee of a CISA contractor had uploaded.

According to Krebs, the researcher tried to alert the contractor but didn’t hear back. Only after Krebs contacted CISA did the agency take the repository offline and revoke and replace all of the exposed credentials to prevent any potential future abuse.

CISA said that no customer or mission data was exposed in the incident and thanked the researcher and reporter for their help. The agency said that its channels for allowing security researchers to notify CISA of potential incidents “were not well defined,” and that it has made changes to make it easier and faster for researchers to contact the agency.

CISA has been without a permanent director since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in January 2025. The agency has also been affected by cuts, furloughs, and layoffs affecting about a third of its workforce since Trump took office. 
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#cybersecurity #agency #CISA #build #incident #playbook #incident #agency #reveals #TechCrunchCISA,cybersecurity,us government

in a postmortem report that its staff “had to spend time building [a playbook] during the early stages of the incident.” The agency said it is important to prepare playbooks for “all anticipated needs” to ensure that organizations are ready to respond in the event of a security incident rather than scrambling to improvise one in real time.

The agency did not say how long the missing playbook delayed CISA’s response, and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment. 

Independent cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs reported in May that a security researcher with cyber firm GitGuardian alerted him to reams of exposed passwords stored in a publicly accessible GitHub repository, which an employee of a CISA contractor had uploaded.

According to Krebs, the researcher tried to alert the contractor but didn’t hear back. Only after Krebs contacted CISA did the agency take the repository offline and revoke and replace all of the exposed credentials to prevent any potential future abuse.

CISA said that no customer or mission data was exposed in the incident and thanked the researcher and reporter for their help. The agency said that its channels for allowing security researchers to notify CISA of potential incidents “were not well defined,” and that it has made changes to make it easier and faster for researchers to contact the agency.

CISA has been without a permanent director since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in January 2025. The agency has also been affected by cuts, furloughs, and layoffs affecting about a third of its workforce since Trump took office. 

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#cybersecurity #agency #CISA #build #incident #playbook #incident #agency #reveals #TechCrunchCISA,cybersecurity,us government">US cybersecurity agency CISA had to build its incident playbook during the incident, agency reveals | TechCrunch

U.S. federal cybersecurity agency CISA said it did not have a prepared response plan for how it should handle a cybersecurity incident in May, after an investigative reporter notified the agency that a contractor had publicly exposed sensitive keys and credentials for accessing U.S. government systems.

CISA, the Homeland Security unit tasked with defending federal networks and helping to safeguard critical infrastructure, revealed Friday in a postmortem report that its staff “had to spend time building [a playbook] during the early stages of the incident.” The agency said it is important to prepare playbooks for “all anticipated needs” to ensure that organizations are ready to respond in the event of a security incident rather than scrambling to improvise one in real time.

The agency did not say how long the missing playbook delayed CISA’s response, and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment. 

Independent cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs reported in May that a security researcher with cyber firm GitGuardian alerted him to reams of exposed passwords stored in a publicly accessible GitHub repository, which an employee of a CISA contractor had uploaded.

According to Krebs, the researcher tried to alert the contractor but didn’t hear back. Only after Krebs contacted CISA did the agency take the repository offline and revoke and replace all of the exposed credentials to prevent any potential future abuse.

CISA said that no customer or mission data was exposed in the incident and thanked the researcher and reporter for their help. The agency said that its channels for allowing security researchers to notify CISA of potential incidents “were not well defined,” and that it has made changes to make it easier and faster for researchers to contact the agency.

CISA has been without a permanent director since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in January 2025. The agency has also been affected by cuts, furloughs, and layoffs affecting about a third of its workforce since Trump took office. 

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