News Roundup: The Cybersecurity Edition
One The Thing The House Of Reps Can Agree On
The House of Representatives recently passed a Cybersecurity bill 422-6 that is intendet to increase cybersecurity R&D. Via computerworld
The bill is the first major cybersecurity legislation to make it through the House this year. It now has to pass muster in Senate before it can become law, and no Senate version of the bill that has even been drafted yet.
If the bill passes the Senate and becomes law, the National Science Foundation (NSF) would get $396 million to use for research-and-development programs focused on cybersecurity. An additional $210 million or so would become available over the next four years for use by the NSF for cybersecurity scholarships and for constructing cybersecurity research facilities and offering training programs in colleges and universities.
The bill would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to work with other standards bodies to develop internationally accepted cybersecurity standards and for leading cybersecurity public awareness campaigns. In addition, federal agencies that participate in the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development program will have to do a detailed assessments of their cybersecurity risks and develop plans for addressing those risks.
At least they are working on one thing that they are supposed to.
The United States Navy Is Joining The Cyber Protection Mission
Via Strategy Page:
Following the example of the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy has set up a major Cyber War command. In this case the navy has assigned the 10th Fleet the task of running operations for the new Fleet Cyber Command. The new organization will be responsible to directing the defense of computer and communications (especially space based) networks. The navy, more than the other services, is dependent on wireless communications, and complex networks.
Last year, the U.S. Air Force created its own Cyber Command, as the 24th Air Force. This operation recently officially opened for business. Over the past five years, the air force has been trying to establish a new Cyber War operation and use it to gain overall control for all Department of Defense Cyber War activities.
Cybersecurity Needs It’s Own Duck And Cover Public Awareness Campaign
OK…. Via Network World:
Shoring up U.S. cyberdefense should include educational programs that motivate private citizens to fight cyber threats through safer Web practices, much as school children were taught in the 1950s to hide under their desks and cover their heads in case of nuclear attacks, researchers say.
While the goals of a cyber program are much different, the public education requirements are the same, according to political science professors at the University of Cincinnati writing in the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
I wonder if their proposals will be as helpful as the ones made in the 50’s?
You mean licensing us, spying on us, and stealing our Internet freedom?
@theCL: I was thinking more along the lines of stopping Cyber attacks from outside the country and developing offensive capabilities rather than declaring CO2 a dangerous pollutant, devaluing the dollar and nationalizing large segments of our economy.