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Homeland Security Mismanaging U.S. Cybersecurity Risks: Report

By John C.K. Daly
Washington (UPI) Oct 17, 2005
The Department of Homeland Security is badly mismanaging U.S. cybersecurity risks, according to a former presidential adviser.

The British-based Register Web site reported that Peter Tippett, who recently served two years on the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee, said a shortage of leadership has left the United States at greater risk of computer attack.

Tippett drew parallels between the Department of Homeland Security's efforts in guarding against electronic attacks and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's ineptness in managing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

In 2002 the government's cyber-security responsibilities, along with FEMA's, were transferred from the executive branch to the Department of Homeland Security.

Tippett said, "Something similar happened when Homeland Security got responsibility for both FEMA and computer security. When responsibility was transferred from the White House to Homeland Security good people left the top. There's confusion over reporting lines and no leadership."

Tippett is now the chief technology officer with the computer security firm CyberTrust.

Not everyone agrees with his assessment. The chief executive of R&H Security and former senior White House cybersecurity adviser Howard Schmidt defended the department, saying, "There's been a lot of criticisms but they don't take into account the good work that the ... agency is doing. It is doing all it can to improve government systems within the priorities it has. We are getting incrementally better systems. Improvements will take time."

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Wireless World: Industry Mum On Attacks
Chicago (UPI) Oct 14, 2005
Who do most IT professionals call when there has been a breach of security - an attack by hackers seeking to steal information from mobile phones and personal digital assistants? Is it the FBI or the CIA or the NSA or the Department of Homeland Security?