Cybersecurity News

With a recent series of cyber attacks on U.S. banks, and the sophisticated Shamoon attack targeting the largest oil company in the world, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta advised that the Defense Department is stepping up to better prepare for cyberwar.

At a Business Executives for National Security (BENS) awards dinner held in New York, Sec. Panetta warned that new, sophisticated and destructive cyber attacks could cripple U.S. businesses and critical infrastructure, including the nation’s power grids, water supplies and banking systems.

Calling it a “pre-9/11 moment,” Panetta said the Internet has created “a new terrain for warfare,” and acknowledged that the DOD is developing new policies, procedures and standards to proactively plan for cyber threats and emerging attacks.

“We are acting aggressively to get ahead of this problem, putting in place measures to stop cyber attacks dead in their tracks,” said the Defense secretary. “The Department of Homeland Security has the lead for domestic cybersecurity, the FBI also has a key part to play and investigating and preventing cyber attacks.  And our intelligence agencies, of course, are focused on this potential threat as well.”

“The State Department is trying to forge international consensus on the roles and responsibilities of nations to help secure cyberspace,” added Panetta. “The Department of Defense also has a role.  It is a supporting role but it is an essential role.”

Pointing out that Russia, China and Iran are already working to strengthen their own capabilities in cyberspace, Sec. Panetta said DOD is investing more than $3 billion annually to bolster U.S. cybersecurity.

“Our most important investment is in skilled cyber warriors needed to conduct operations in cyberspace,” advised Panetta. “We’re recruiting, we’re training, we’re retaining the best and the brightest in order to stay ahead of other nations.”

“As part of that effort, the department is now finalizing the most comprehensive change to our rules of engagement in cyberspace in seven years,” the secretary went on. “The new rules will make clear that the department has a responsibility, not only to defend DOD’s networks, but also to be prepared to defend the nation and our national interests against an attack in or through cyberspace.”

Panetta additionally called on the private sector and the business executives in the room to work with DOD to develop new cybersecurity technologies and share “timely and comprehensive” information that could help in countering attacks.

“Help us innovate.  Help us increase the nation’s cybersecurity by securing your own networks.  Help us remain ahead of the threats that we confront,” urged Panetta. “This is not just a responsibility, it is a duty that we owe to our children and their children in the in the future.”

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Following are some additional cyber headlines you may have missed:

FEDERAL NEWS:

US should lead cybersecurity efforts, NSA director says (Defense.gov)

House panel: Chinese telecom firms pose cyber threat (National Journal)

White House to meet with House staffers over cybersecurity order (The Hill)

Video: Lieberman hopeful on White House cyber executive order (Platts TV)

Reid vows fresh effort to pass stalled cybersecurity bill in November (The Hill)

DHS cybersecurity month sparks renewed calls for collaboration (Defense Systems)

Sec. Napolitano: Together, we can enhance cybersecurity in the US (Arizona Republic)

INTERNATIONAL  OUTLOOK:

Philippine gov sites hit by hackers again (ZDNet)

Japan to push cyber defense network (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Israel’s cyber attack against Iran repelled (Fars News Agency)

UK and US businesses fear future of cybersecurity (Computer Business Review)

Saudi Aramco’s cyber attacker from Eastern Europe, Al-Hayat says (Bloomberg)

HACKING HIGHLIGHTS:

Hacker group says attacks Greek official websites (Reuters)

Cyber attackers target Iranian oil platforms: official (Reuters)

Capital One hit as cyber attacks resume on US banks (Bloomberg)

Turkish hacker group faces up to 24 years in prison for ‘terrorist crimes’ (Hurriyet Daily News)

Hacker scores $60K from Google for discovering Chrome security flaw (TechCrunch)

Hacker apocalypse strikes World of Warcraft (PC Magazine)

CYBER INSIGHTS:

Coviello: Security inertia, skills shortage holding enterprises back (Computing UK)

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