Lawmakers propose volunteer corps to guard nation's technology

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/473380p-3783273c.html

By CHARLES HOSKINSON, Agence France-Presse 
 
WASHINGTON (July 21, 2002 2:49 p.m. EDT) - U.S. lawmakers want to
enlist scientists and technology experts into a volunteer defense
corps similar to the military's National Guard to protect the nation's
communications systems from terrorists.

The U.S. Senate on Friday approved legislation to create the National
Emergency Technology Guard, teams of experts available to prevent and
respond to terror attacks on the nation's communications
infrastructure.

The bill, known as the Science and Technology Emergency Mobilization
Act, also establishes a government agency to coordinate the sharing of
security technology and authorizes 35 million dollars in grants to
create emergency communications programs.

The bill also provides for the creation of a "virtual technology
reserve" of privately-owned equipment that can be loaned to
authorities in an emergency.

"This legislation takes us another step closer to the vital
technological improvements that are necessary to upgrade the security
in our state, local and federal services, and it taps the reservoir of
goodwill among the American people to provide solutions," said
Republican Senator George Allen of Virginia, who co-sponsored the bill
with Democrat Ron Wyden of Oregon.

The House of Representatives has approved a similar plan as part of a
homeland security package, and now the two legislative bodies must
agree on a common approach before sending the bill to President George
W. Bush for final approval.

U.S. officials have expressed concern about possible terror attacks
against the nation's information infrastructure by militants linked to
those responsible for September 11 suicide attacks that killed some
3,000 people.

Federal Bureau of Investigation agents have reportedly found evidence
that the al-Qaida militant group - blamed for the September 11 attacks
- has searched the Internet for ways to control digital switches for
power, water, transport and communications systems.

Earlier this month, the security firm Riptech reported that the number
of Internet attacks so far this year was up 64 percent from a year
ago, with some of the incidents showing "very advanced hackers."

The study detected potential cyberterrorism activity from countries
where conventional terrorists are known to be harbored or recruited,
including Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, Kuwait, and Indonesia, the study
found.

But it noted that 80 percent of all attacks originated from only 10
countries: the United States, Germany, South Korea, China, France,
Canada, Italy, Taiwan, Britain and Japan.

In a November report, the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection
Center said cyber protests from friendly nations and misdirected
attacks from pro-U.S. hackers also threatened communications systems.

During hearings on the Senate bill in April, one information security
expert warned lawmakers of the risk of troublemakers infiltrating the
volunteer "technology guard."

"If we don't verify both the technical credibility and the personal
background of individuals, we risk doing more harm than good," said
Lance Hoffman, a computer science professor at George Washington
University.



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