Debate over both the reality and morality of the alleged airliner hack the US FBI's investigating continues. The emerging consensus seems to hold that white-hat proof-of-concept hacking of flight control systems, however well-intentioned, is too risky. (What other consensus could reasonably be reached?) Observers note that United's bug bounty program, for example, explicitly excludes such probing. Coincidentally Aviation Week publishes a sad, sobering story: the magazine's sources tell them that buggy fuel-transfer and trim-control software may have contributed to the engine failure seen in the recent, lethal loss of an Airbus A400M military transport being tested prior to delivery to Turkey.

Islamist messages continue to appear on small, poorly defended networks in the New World. The Cyb3r CommandOS deface sites in Minnesota; they seem at least as animated by a (somewhat gloomy) form of the lulz as they do zeal for jihad. The Bahamas' government — sites in the country were recently vandalized — is urged by citizens to take the threat as seriously as possible.

Ransomware continues to take its toll. Costs are in the tens of thousands (but victims' begging with the criminals is poignant).

In industry news, CSC's board indicates it will split the company in two. Analysts look at Symantec's prospects once it completes its own planned split.

Cyber legislation advances in the US Congress. There appears considerable support for aspects of the measures that will foster increased information sharing. Quartz publishes a long analysis from TruSTAR on why such sharing is as welcome as it is "overdue."