Writing for Wired News , Declan McCullagh and Ben Polen recently noted that legislators in the United States are now looking at ways to improve computer security, in light of increasing concerns about security nationwide following last month’s terrorist attacks. The coverage comes in a new article entitled Fighting Evil Hackers With Bucks.
Even though it doesn’t appear that those responsible for last month’s hijackings used the Internet for anything much more nefarious than simply booking their airline tickets, there’s a heightened sense in Washington that lawmakers should do whatever they can to improve security on computers and computer networks, despite the fact that there’s very little they can do directly.
Still, the technical issues haven’t stopped some experts from making suggestions, such as coordinating a program through the newly created Office of Homeland Security to rotate in “the best and the brightest” in systems and network security. And this week an advisor to President Bush announced plans to create GOVNET — a secure government network not connected to the Internet.
Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Michigan) offered a more pragmatic approach — use Macs. Noting that he never even thought about Y2K issues, Ehlers also told his colleagues he’s never had a problem with computer viruses, either. “Maybe there’s a lesson to be learned,” Ehlers is quoted as saying.
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