Pentagon needs data security, strong encryption: U.S. defense chief

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Technology | Tue Mar 1, 2016 9:34pm EST

Pentagon needs data security, strong encryption: U.S. defense chief

SAN FRANCISCO | BY ANDREA SHALAL

Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Tuesday underscored the U.S. military's support for data security and strong encryption as he asked top U.S. technology sector entrepreneurs and innovators to play a larger role in national security.

Carter, on his third trip to Silicon Valley since taking office a year ago, urged greater cooperation between private industry and the public sector on data security and warned that failing to do would allow China, Russia and others who do not favor a free Internet to set new global standards.

The defense chief also waded into a controversy between the U.S. government and Apple Inc over the FBI's request to circumvent security features on an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino, California, shooters.

Carter did not address the case directly since it is under litigation, but he said the Pentagon as the largest user of encryption in the world viewed strong encryption as critical, and no one case should drive future policy considerations.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-technology-idUSKCN0W406R

[bemildred]

1. The Pentagon doesn't have the foggiest idea what to do about computer security.

Back in the day they ignored it and relied on security through obscurity (a better method than you might think) and now they think they can retrofit it in or use external enforcement methods, which puts you in a Red Queen arms race situation with the hackers, which is great for the Pentagon budget, but does not ever lead to what the Pentagon would call security.

But then the Pentagon does not really want security, except for itself of course.