U.S. Not Ready For Cyber Attack, War Game Shows

[ChromeFoundry]

Source: Reuters

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff predicted cyberattacks will become a routine warfare tactic in advance of traditional attacks.

December 19, 2008 09:00 AM

WASHINGTON - The United States is unprepared for a major hostile attack against vital computer networks, government and industry officials said Thursday after participating in a two-day "cyberwar" simulation.

The game involved 230 representatives of government defense and security agencies, private companies and civil groups. It revealed flaws in leadership, planning, communications and other issues, participants said.

The exercise comes almost a year after President George W. Bush launched a cybersecurity initiative which officials said has helped shore up U.S. computer defenses but still falls short.

"There isn't a response or a game plan," said senior vice president Mark Gerencser of the Booz Allen Hamilton consulting service, which ran the simulation. "There isn't really anybody in charge," he told reporters afterward.

Democratic U.S. Rep. James Langevin of Rhode Island, who chairs the homeland security subcommittee on cybersecurity, said: "We're way behind where we need to be now."

Dire consequences of a successful attack could include failure of banking or national electrical systems, he said.

"This is equivalent in my mind to before Sept. 11 ... we were awakened to the threat on the morning after Sept. 11."

Officials cited attacks by Russia sympathizers on Estonia and Georgia as examples of modern cyberwarfare, and said U.S. businesses and government offices have faced intrusions and attacks.




Read more: http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/cybercrime/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212501367&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All

[Grey]

1. Add national electrical systems failure to

The weather we are having, can you say 'Nightmare'?

[pattmarty]

2. Boy, that's a surprise ain't it??? I thought we were the best...................

............in the whole fucking world at EVERYTHING.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

3. Way to let the world know how best to attack us!

In other words, "Terra terra terra!"

Don't these people stop and think for a moment before releasing info like this to the press?????

:mad:

[Azlady]

4. Geez My thoughts exactly! Idiots! n/t

[Hydra]

5. I don't buy this for a minute

I see the reaching hand of Bush again- "We need more access, more money, restrictions removed to protect you from the cyber-terrorists!"

[OhioChick]

6. So, we're not prepared for a

"major hostile attack against vital computer networks?"

Why does that not surprise me?