NSA to help protect communications networks from cyberattacks and infiltration by terrorists and hackers
(25/09/2007)

The NSA (National Security Agency) is drawing up plans to encourage the various public and private communications and utilities companies across the US to increase their levels of Internet protection.

The NSA's game plan is for it to co-ordinate with the Department for Homeland Security, the FBI and numerous other agencies in developing a monitoring system for major public, as well as private, communications and control networks across the US, and so help prevent any form of attack.

This "Cyber Initiative" will be run by the Department of Homeland Security and is coordinated by Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, a former NSA chief. It is understood that up to 2,000 people could be assigned to this project.

Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said that "as the lead agency responsible for assuring the security, resiliency and reliability of the nation's information technology and communications infrastructure, our department is working to unify further and integrate the security framework for cyber operations throughout the federal government."

"The move is not before time, as there can be no doubt that much of North America's communications, transport and utility infrastructure is now controlled across the Internet," said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, Finjan's CTO. "As a result, these systems could come under attack from terrorists, as well as criminals seeking to blackmail one or more companies – or even the US government," he added.