Fallout From New U.S. Cybersecurity Agency Includes Multiple Hacks, Profits For 'Cyber Bulls'

On Tuesday, the United States government announced that it will create a new agency to monitor cybersecurity threats.

The Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center (CTIIC) will serve as an intelligence center that "connects the dots" between various cyber threats, according to an un-named senior Obama administration official.

The news announcement comes at an awkward time, as various companies on Tuesday were victims of hacks.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL) said that its Facebook page was compromised with an obscene link that directed towards adult material. A second obscene link was posted an hour after the initial, prompting the company to issue an apology on Twitter.

Twitter Inc (NYSE: TWTR)'s Chief Financial Officer, Anthony Noto, appears to also be a victim of a hack. Noto's Twitter feed was showing replies to various users with posts containing spam links before they were deleted.

A Twitter spokesperson told Bloomberg there is no indication any account information was stolen and it is not yet clear how the tweets were sent.

Finally, Newsweek's Twitter feed was also hacked on Tuesday by a group claiming to affiliate with ISIS. The hacking group had previously hacked the Twitter account of the United States Central Command, as well as pop-star Taylor Swift's Twitter account.

What's Moving?

Shares of FireEye Inc (NASDAQ: FEYE) were trading higher by 2.3 percent Tuesday afternoon, while Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ: SYMC) is up by a similar amount.

Cyberark Software Ltd (NASDAQ: CYBR) has experienced an even better day, though much of that gain is attributed to a positive report from William Blair.

"Cyber bulls" will continue to watch this space for any further developments.

Image credit: Colin, Wikimedia