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CNet: Report: NSA initiating program to detect cyberattacks


From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 01:40:02 -0400





Begin forwarded message:

From: Bob Rosenberg <bob.redmountain () gmail com>
Date: July 9, 2010 12:55:25 AM EDT
To: "Farber, Dave" <dave () farber net>, "Weinstein, Lauren" <lauren () vortex com>
Subject: CNet: Report: NSA initiating program to detect cyberattacks


Dave & Lauren

Have you seen this?  

Bob


July 8, 2010 7:06 AM PDT
Report: NSA initiating program to detect cyberattacks

by Lance Whitney

  
The National Security Agency is reportedly launching a program to monitor for cyberattacks against government 
agencies and private companies responsible for key services such as electricity, nuclear power, and transportation, 
according to a story in Thursday's Wall Street Journal.

The program, known as "Perfect Citizen," is already triggering mixed reactions, says the Journal. Some in industry 
and government see it as an attempt by the NSA to intrude into domestic matters, while others believe it's a 
much-needed step in fighting the threat of cyberattacks.

Perfect Citizen would establish a series of sensors across various computer networks that would sound an alarm in the 
event of a possible cyberattack. The sensors would be deployed at agencies and private companies that handle the 
nation's most critical infrastructure, including the electrical grid, nuclear power plants, subway systems, and 
air-traffic control networks.

The program would reportedly focus on older computer systems and networks that were initially designed without 
Internet access or any real security in place but have since been linked to the Internet, leaving them open and 
vulnerable. Since it can't force private companies to accept Perfect Citizen, the government would dangle various 
incentives to get them to tie into the new system, according to the Journal.

In spite of privacy concerns, many businesses might find the extra protection valuable, as in the case of Google, 
which enlisted the aid of the NSA last year to help investigate the cyberattacks launched from China. Reportedly, 
Google and the NSA chatted earlier this year about a more formal partnership to thwart future cyberattacks.

Officials in Washington and executives in the private sector have increasingly expressed fears that major 
cyberattacks launched against the country's critical infrastructure could seriously harm the government and economy. 
U.S. intelligence experts have already been monitoring attempts to hack into the electric grid and other key 
services, which they believe stem from China and Russia, the Journal reported.

The new program is getting funding from the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative. This multibillion 
initiative hinted at the Perfect Citizen project with plans by the NSA to expand its surveillance into the private 
sector through a network monitoring system named Einstein. Defense company Raytheon has already scored a contract 
worth up to $100 million for the initial stage of the project, the Journal said, citing a person familiar with the 
project.

Since Perfect Citizen is still in its infancy, key questions will need to be addressed, including which network 
systems will be monitored and how information will be gathered. The NSA would probably kick off the project with the 
most critical services, such as electricity, nuclear power, and air traffic control systems, said the Journal.

 Lance Whitney wears a few different technology hats--journalist, Web developer, and software trainer. He's a 
contributing editor for Microsoft TechNet Magazine and writes for other computer publications and Web sites. You can 
follow Lance on Twitter at @lancewhit. Lance is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and he is not an employee of CNET.




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