Bush Urged By Alliance Group to Increase Cyber Security

WASHINGTON – Cyber Security Industry Alliance has called upon President Bush to ramp-up cyber security efforts over the next four years, after exhibiting what administration critics call a "poor record" of protecting the nation's Internet infrastructure from viruses, hackers and terrorist threats.

The CSIA consists of technology industry heavyweights Symantec, Juniper Networks, Computer Associates, Entrust and McAfee.

"What happens if the Internet drops out below us?" said Paul Kurtz, executive director of the CSIA. "We haven't really thought those issues through as a country."

Kurtz stressed that the U.S. government does not currently have protocols and procedures in place if such a large-scale attack were to occur.

The call to action follows the issuance of a report from the Department of Homeland Security detailing recommendations to Congress for increasing the government's strategy to cyber attacks, including developing budgets, outreach, performance improvement and research and development.

"Many of the threats faced by this country are ones we cannot see, but that are devastating to our society," said Sen. Jim Turner (D-Texas). "We must be vigilant in our efforts to ensure the safety of information by promoting cooperation between the private sector and government. Security gaps exist that can be exploited by our terrorist enemies, but closing these gaps provide an opportunity for a safer country."

Claiming that lax cyber security is costing consumers and corporations billions of dollars and "stifling Internet innovation," the CSIA presented Bush with a 12-point program, encouraging the president to make bigger investments in Internet technology and to make security a greater concern during his second term.

Among CSIA's recommendations is a request to increase the cyber security research budget, to appoint a federal agency to track the cost of cyber crime, and to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on Cybercrime, which the United States signed in 2001 and didn't present to the Senate until two years later.

The CSIA also asked for a task force to secure utility company systems in the event of a terrorist attack and to develop a protective network that would protect the nation's critical infrastructure of financial networks, travel and security systems from being disabled by outside forces.

"It's time that cyber security gets a bigger play," Kurtz said. "I'm not trying to paint the White House into a corner. I'm trying to be constructive and point it down the road."

In a likeminded move, members of the House Select Homeland Security Committee have recommended establishing a new assistant secretary position within the Homeland Security Department to better integrate and coordinate cyber security issues.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Nebraska Legislature Passes Republican's Age Verification Bill With No Votes Against It

Nebraska’s unicameral legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still have antitrust claims that they may pursue in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have filed a petition before the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit asking to stay its recent upholding the law because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

SK Intertainment Launches 'Skinfluential Management' Agency, FansFuel Joint Venture

Mr. Skin/Mr. Man parent company SK Intertainment has launched new creator agency Skinfluential Management, as well as a new joint venture with Showbizz Media's creator stats and affiliate marketing platform, FansFuel.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

APClips Names Avery Jane 'Creator of the Month'

APClips has named Avery Jane its Creator of the Month for March.

JustFor.fans Offers Gumroad Users Platform to Sell NSFW Artwork

JustFor.fans (JFF) is offering Gumroad users a platform to sell NSFW artwork after the latter banned adult content.

Live Cam Academy Offers Free Access to Educational Resources

Live Cam Academy is offering its educational resources for free to content creators and cam models.

Show More