Fergie's Tech Blog

Bush's Double-Edged Cyber-Security Plan

Andy Greenberg writes on Forbes.com:

Since January, the Bush administration has committed to spending billions to keep the government's computer networks safe from cyber-spies and other malicious hackers. But to keep digital intruders away from sensitive government information, some worry the government will have to do some spying of its own--on the U.S. private sector.

The House Committee on Homeland Security plans to hold the first public hearing Thursday on Presidential Directive 54, a project that could cost as much as $30 billion over seven years as it expands cyber-monitoring of all federal agencies' networks. Many former officials believe that the plan will go further, extending government surveillance to private companies, such as military contractors, that possess sensitive government information.

Some contractors' information technology officers are concerned that the new program will give the government access to data in their private networks. "Private contractors are not happy about this," says a source familiar with information security executives at contractors Northrup Grumman and Boeing. "The thought of the government watching the data flow through these corporations causes a lot of concern."

posted by Fergie @ 2/27/2008 05:49:00 PM