By Sally Watson, 11 January 2000 14:36
NEWS President Clinton has fleshed-out the details of the US government's $2bn plan for a national cyber-security scheme. The scheme includes $90m in funding for the development of security technologies to prevent virus and hacker attacks, and plans for a new academic institute dedicated to e-security. "A concerted attack on the computers of any one of our key economic sectors or governmental agencies could have catastrophic affects," Clinton said. "We know the threat is real. Where once our opponents relied exclusively on bombs and bullets, hostile powers and terrorists can now turn a laptop computer into a potent weapon capable of doing enormous damage." The government report also calls on industry and business representatives to take their security role seriously. "I have asked members of my Cabinet to work closely with representatives of the private sector industries and public services that operate our critical infrastructures," Clinton said. "We cannot mandate our goals through government regulation. Each sector must decide for itself what practices, procedures and standards are necessary for it to protect its key systems."
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