Howard Schmidt wants U.S. cybersecurity efforts to refocus on education, information sharing, and better defense systems
Posted 03.05.2010 at 3:58 pm
11 Comments
Tic-Tac-Toe's Not On The List!
via PC Museum
Obama's new cybersecurity czar doesn't much like the term "cyberwar," calling it a "terrible metaphor" and a "terrible concept." But just in case his dislike of the term didn't get through, Howard Schmidt flat-out stated that "there is no cyberwar" during a Wired interview at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco.
Schmidt noted that the real cybersecurity threats are online crime and espionage. His words seem to stand in contradiction to a statement last week by Michael McConnell, former director of national intelligence, who told Congress that the U.S. was already in the midst of losing a cyberwar. Schmidt seemed more than willing to downplay McConnell's Cold War mentality.
The notion of a cyberwar has proved a hot topic because of prior instances where supposedly state-sanctioned hackers have launched cyberattacks on official government websites. But recent events have pointed to a less black-and-white threat under the broader umbrella of cybersecurity issues, such as the murky cyberattacks on Google and other U.S. companies which originated somewhere in China.
The Chinese government said it had responded in part by taking down a hacker training camp accused of training thousands of Chinese Internet users. And as the U.S. intelligence community has realized, the real threat may come from those thousands of shadowy individuals or organizations unaffiliated with any national government. Google has teamed up with the National Security Agency (NSA) in an effort to pinpoint the source of its attackers.
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Technology, Jeremy HsuA think tank also conducted a worst-case cyberattack simulation in February, where a number of war-game factors unrelated to cyberattacks helped contribute to the collapse of the U.S. power grid. But Schmidt suggested in the Wired interview that hacking the power grid is not a realistic threat. He named education, information sharing and better defense systems as his own top priorities.
The cybersecurity czar acts as a coordinator among federal agencies, but lacks control over budgets or policy. Still, Schmidt could do a great deal alone by simply bringing together quarreling agencies such as the military's NSA and the civilian Department of Homeland Security.
In any case, DARPA's new Cyber Genome Project that would give a boost to digital forensics seems more timely than ever.
[via Wired]
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Its about time someone in the us gov leadership position set reality ahead of virtualality.
Speaking as a network security engineer working the front lines everyday. Anyone who says "There is no Cyberwar" is a complete and utter fool. Attacks continue to get more aggressive and complex as time goes on. Major attacks on banking systems, and large corporate networks continue.
Simple fact, Crippling multiple communication systems, industrial infrastructure or supply lines has been and always will be successful wartime strategies. It does not matter whether it is accomplished with bombs or data packets the end result is the same.
Just like 'There is no economic recession'.
"He named education, information sharing and better defense systems as his own top priorities. "
The real realistic threat?
Norton has Muslims working for them. Are they militants?
Who knows? Norton is now based in Canada. Will Canada really monitor Norton? Probably not. Norton controls too many of the computers in the United States. I think this is cause for concern.
When a group of people attack a nation and then that attack causes a nation to counter attack then it is called a war.
It doesnt matter if it is virtual or physical. And virtual assaults can turn into physical ones. The US could have not belived China and attacked it beliving it to actually be the attacker instead of some grop within China. (That is to say IF China want the actual attacker, but we will never really know)
There are no Goons...
@Harry_Manback
You are correct. There is a Cyber War going on, the fact that this guy does not see it is more than just a little frighting. I hope he knows it and is just keeping things quiet.
@cricket52
What the hell is that rambling BS and why are you posting it here? If you have nothing remotely intelligent to post please do not. All Major multinational corporations have Muslims working for them, ALL Of Them. While I am not a fan of Norton's products myself there is no sign of them showing any malice.
If you wish to be Paranoid please go to another forum.
War is a conflict between states or nations not groups of individuals so this is more like a criminal activitity such as vandalism, trespas or black mail.
sorry boys & girls...
98% victum of hackers didn't know they were hacked...
Schmidt's problem is that he could not recognize a threat even after it had hired him and employed him for five years:
www.PrintcafeSecuritiesFraud.com/#HowardSchmidt