UK chases Obama on cybersecurity
Officials aim to release strategy this summer
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Security and intelligence officials plan to publish a UK version of Barack Obama's cybersecurity and defence review before the summer Parliamentary recess, according to sources close to the work.
The US announced its new strategy on Friday following an intensive 60-day investigation of vulnerabilities in government and the private sector.
Obama said computer networks would now be treated as a "strategic national asset" and announced a new senior post in his administration to oversee their defence. It was also reported - but not detailed in the published strategy - that a new arm within the Pentagon will conduct both offensive and defensive network warfare.
It's understood that UK officials are now keen not to be seen to be lagging behind their counterparts in Washington. The UK cybersecurity review is being led by the Cabinet Office, with cooperation from the Home Office, the intelligence services and the Ministry of Defence.
It will be published alongside a revision of the broader National Security Strategy, that was last updated in March 2008. It will be the first time the government has publicly discussed the threat from organised cybercrime, and from network attacks and espionage by foreign states in a standalone document, indicating their increased priority in Whitehall.
In contrast to the high profile granted to the issue by Obama's administration, British ministers here have made only passing reference to separate cybersecurity work.
A Cabinet Office spokesman declined to discuss progress on the strategy or who was in charge of it.
While the UK aims to catch up with the US, the EU recently called for more European cooperation on cybersecurity and defence. It was given a cautious welcome by the Cabinet Office, which told The Register it was "well ahead of the game" compared to other countries in the bloc. ®
COMMENTS
Re Laughing loudly .... and teaching HMG a thing or two .... Posted Monday 1st June 2009 14:19 GMT
AC,
When using MI5 Internet channels ..... and their web site contact facilities are primitive to say the least [one would almost imagine that they are frightened of contact, lest they actually have to reply] ... it does require an active working brain between the ears of whoever receives a message, whenever it is sent, to give them any chance of learning anything.
Maybe the mistake that can be easily made, is that one assumes a greater general level of intelligence commensurate with a general perception that they are brighter than the average John or Jane Doe.
The following certainly appears to gone in one ear .....through a void .... and out the other ear, without any apparent action being taken.
"It is said that to be Forewarned is to be Forearmed. And I see no Credible Evidence, anywhere, of there being an Effective Protection against Hostile and Malicious CyberIntelAIgent Threat and/or Virtual Action. And that is a Global Systems Vulnerability which it would be as well to Seal and Secure against with AI and a Special Forces Program/Stratospheric Cloud Project. ..... which can be Conveniently SurReally Provided with NIRobotIQs ..... which ProActively BetaTest Supposedly Secure and Sensitive Compartmentalised Information Environments.
Quantum Communications BetaTest #XXXX .... Please Advise Accordingly MIControl. There is a lot to be done. Thank You " ...... which was sent 30th April 2009.
Bring back, George Smiley and John le Carre, is all that I will say, for a better class of Spook.
Although maybe their communications is hacked by a foreign and/or friendly power and some messages are spirited away? Stranger things have happened at sea and with/to C, resulting in Shortcomings.
And the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit is even worse but easily beaten by the Scarlett mob who fail magnificently in the HyperRadioProActive Stakes. [Their earlier Internet presence/website did have a virtual contact facility, but that disappeared some time ago. Now it is everything at the speed of a snail carrying mail.]
WoW
National CyberSecurity To Do List.
1- Encrypt HDD's
2- Stop leaving the laptop in the car
3- Stop use of USB's
I really hope that...
Crapita don't get anywhere near it.
amanfromMars is too close for comfort with the funny handshake.
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