Experts say U.S. needs a cybersecurity agency

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | December 9, 2008 | Deborah Gage

[SQUID]

The Department of Homeland Security has failed to secure the Internet and should no longer take the lead role in trying, say government and security experts who on Monday urged President-elect Barack Obama to create a new national office to police cyberspace.

Their report also calls for new laws to protect privacy and speed investigations of cybercrimes; strong identification of all people and devices connecting to networks belonging to power plants and other organizations critical to U.S. security; and secure software for everybody who connects to the Internet - not just the military and national security agencies.

The recommendations are included in a 96-page document, "Securing Cyberspace for the 44th Presidency," released Monday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The center, a nonprofit think tank in Washington, began working on this report last year after cyberattacks were launched against the country of Estonia and several U.S. federal agencies, including the Pentagon and the departments of commerce and state.

[Drango]

yeah that’s what we need ....a new agency.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

But we've already got one...

[ClearCase_guy]

Please note: Everything President Bush did on topics like the Patriot Act, wiretapping, and national security was wrong. It was evidence of an Imperial Presidency, of homegrown fascism. Our loss of fundamental rights under President Bush really meant that the terrorists had already won.

On the other hand, Total control of the internet under Lord Obama is evidence that we now live in a benevolent land, where the rulers look out for our best interests, and we can toil in the fields, knowing that we are safe from anything our leaders determine to be ungood.

[Clock King]

The center, a nonprofit think tank in Washington,

"Experts" trolling for profitable gubmint jobs.

[neb52]

How would a different agency be any different then if the job stayed under DHS? You would still have the same director (whoever was over that department within DHS) and same employees. The only difference is the director would report to the President instead of the DHS Secretary.

[steve-b]

The Department of Homeland Security has failed to secure the Internet

Why should the Internet be any different in that regard?