...................
Q: Different subject.
The Center for Strategic International Studies put out a report today warning about the threat of cyber-terrorism, and it's something new. The Defense Science Board put out one in '96. There have been other [words] in this building. The Center study, they said the main reason was to try to get the nation to pay attention to this thing -- a serious threat that nobody's concentrating enough on.
What's the feeling here? Is the nation doing what it needs to to counter the possibility of an electronic Pearl Harbor?
A: I haven't read the report so I can't comment specifically on that report.
The threat of an electronic Pearl Harbor or the threat of cyber-terrorism -- which could be much less hyperbolic than an electronic Pearl Harbor -- is clearly one that's getting increasing attention in this building and throughout the government.
There was, as you know, a critical infrastructure task force and report last year or early this year, that has led to some reorganization within the government, and a new focus on ways to protect our critical infrastructure -- whether it's the power system or whether it's the water systems or whether it's our computer systems. So increasing attention is being paid to that.
I think it's an area in which it's very difficult to say that enough attention is being paid, in part because the question always arises, how much is enough? But clearly, it's one that's of growing concern to the military and growing concern to this Administration as well.
So it's getting more attention in the building, and more attention outside the building. And I might add, I believe it's getting more attention from private industry as well.
...............http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec1998/t12151998_t1215asd.html