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IP: Cyber Attack Within the Next 2 Months?
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 08:42:20 -0400
While I think the risks are high in many places in the USG, I doubt the reality of this. How about The U.S. government is at risk for a major earthquake in DC in the next Year and ... ------ Forwarded Message From: Ballman <Ballman () usna edu> Organization: EE Dept Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 08:37:57 -0400 To: dave () farber net Subject: Cyber Attack Within the Next 2 Months? ==================================================== GOVERNMENT AT RISK FOR MAJOR CYBER ATTACK IN NEXT 12 MONTHS Pros Say More Resources, Secure Information Sharing Needed ==================================================== The U.S. government is at risk for a major cyber attack in the next year and agencies are not adequately prepared to defend themselves, according to a survey of information technology professionals released today by the Business Software Alliance. Forty-nine percent of IT professionals think it is likely the government will be hit by a major cyber attack in the next 12 months, with a third of those saying it is extremely likely, according to the study by Ipsos Public Affairs. Of those IT professionals most expert on security issues -- those responsible for their company's computer and Internet security -- 59 percent think a major attack against the government is likely in the next year, the survey said. "It's sobering that IT professionals predict a major cyber attack against the United States in the next 12 months," said Robert Holleyman, president and CEO of the BSA. "Even more alarming, nine out of 10 IT professionals believe that the threat of a major cyber attack is the same or worse since September 11." Holleyman said the survey "underscores the need for accelerated cooperation between the public and private sector to ensure that sound cyber security technologies are deployed for homeland security." One of the key findings of the survey was the belief of IT professionals that the government needs to devote more time and resources to cyber security -- even more than it did for Y2K. This is a theme the BSA has been pushing for months in meetings with senior White House officials. BSA member company CEOs -- during the group's Global Technology Summit in December and again a few weeks ago at a White House meeting -- have reiterated their commitment to help the administration establish a more concerted cyber security initiative. Highlights of the BSA Cyber Security Survey include: * 72 percent of IT professionals say there is a gap between the threat of a major cyber attack against the government and the government's preparedness. * IT professionals, by a margin of 10-to-1, are more likely to say the U.S. government security measures are not at all adequate than extremely adequate. * Only one in four IT professionals say the government has built adequate security measures into its e-government initiatives, while one in three say the security measures are inadequate. * 96 percent of IT professionals say the government needs to employ technologies like encryption to secure its sensitive data so hackers will not be able to access it even if they break into the government's computer systems. The survey of 395 information technology professionals was conducted by Ispos Public Affairs between June 5 and June 7 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent. The poll was conducted online and surveyed IT professionals from companies of all sizes in a variety of business sectors. For a full copy of the study results, visit www.bsa.org. ------ End of Forwarded Message For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- IP: Cyber Attack Within the Next 2 Months? Dave Farber (Jun 26)