Department of State: Cybersecurity Update By Richard Weitz The Department leads U.S. international efforts to strengthen global cybersecurity. It does so by building capacity in developing countries, promoting interoperable standards and enhancing international cooperation to respond to cyberthreats. The State Department is involved with almost every element of international cybersecurity…
by Richard Weitz Cybersecurity is an inherently interagency process requiring a “whole-of-government” approach. The head of the National Security Agency (NSA), Gen. Keith Alexander, has called cybersecurity “a team sport” requiring effective partnerships among Government agencies, the private sector, foreign allies and others. Loss of U.S. critical information networks could…
By Richard Weitz Despite the popularity of terrorist cyber attacks in the movies, nation states rather than non-state actors such as terrorist or criminal groups currently pose the greatest cyberthreat. For example, the Crisis and Risk Network provides the following threat ranking, from most serious to least serious (1) State-sponsored…
By Richard Weitz In its review of the "World Wide Threats Facing the United States" earlier this year, the Intelligence Community described attacks on the United States through the Internet as potentially the most serious threat facing Americans. Many members of Congress receiving the three sets of hearings in these…
By Dr. Richard Weitz 07/18/2011 - In rolling out its new cyber defense strategy, Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn revealed that a foreign intelligence agency stole 24,000 files from a major U.S. defense contractor this March. Lynn added that this incident was just the latest example of how, during the…
By Dr. Richard Weitz (Credit: Bigstock) 05/18/2011 - In his May 29, 2009 remarks announcing the results of his cybersecurity policy review, President Barack Obama said that he had turned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as the CIA and the Secret Service, when hackers managed to…
By Dr. Richard Weitz 05/05/2011 - Under Hillary Clinton, the U.S. State Department has made a major effort to promote international Internet liberties, including the freedoms of expression, association, and assembly online. Taken together, these rights comprise what Secretary Clinton has called the “freedom to connect.” The Department faces both…
By Dr. Richard Weitz 04/27/2011 - When the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established in March 2003, enhancing U.S. cyber security was designated as one of its primary goals. In signing the legislation creating DHS in November 2002, President George W. Bush said “the department will gather and focus…
