Pentagon: Let Us Secure Your Network or Face the ‘Wild Wild West’ Internet Alone

[n2doc]

By Kim Zetter May 27, 2010 | 1:50 pm | Categories: Cybersecurity, privacy


Companies that operate critical infrastructures and do not voluntarily allow the federal government to install monitoring software on their networks to detect possible cyberattacks would face the “wild” internet on their own and place us all at risk, a top Pentagon official seemed to say Wednesday.

Defense Deputy Secretary William Lynn III, speaking at the Strategic Command Cyber Symposium in Nebraska, said we need to think imaginatively about how to use the National Security Agency’s Einstein monitoring systems on critical private-sector networks — such as those in the financial, utility and communication industries — in order to protect us.

“Operators of critical infrastructure could opt in to a government-sponsored security regime,” Lynn said. Otherwise, “individual users who do not want to enroll could stay in the wild wild west of the unprotected internet.”

Failure to protect the power grids, transportation system, or financial sector, he said, “could lead to physical damage and economic disruption on a massive scale.”



Read More http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/05/einstein-on-private-networks


Somehow I think Albert would have been appalled to see his name on this....

[Scuba]

1. Good to see people are thinking about a very real threat....

...I've no idea if having the Pentagon in charge is the way to go - OK, it's probably not, but....


A massive coordinated cyber-attack could put us out of business for days or weeks and cause a major disruption to America's economy. OK, maybe that's not a bad thing either. But if the heat goes off in winter, people could die. Not good.


I'd really like to hear from any IT Security types in DU.

[hobbit709]

2. Trust the Pentagon?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[msongs]

3. G W BUSH is still in charge at the pentagon nt