Classified Cyber-Security Directive Puts NSA In Charge 109
dpreformer sends word that President Bush signed a classified directive Jan. 8 (it only came to light this week) putting all cyber-defense and counter-offensive activity for government networks under the aegis of the National Security Agency. Previously, federal agencies had disparate intrusion and attack monitoring programs. The directive does not address private-sector networks and systems. While some lawmakers and civil-rights advocates are unhappy with expanding the NSA's role domestically, one alternative that was considered and rejected — putting Homeland Security in charge — might have been worse. "A proposal last year by the White House Homeland Security Council to put the Department of Homeland Security in charge of the initiative was resisted by national security agencies on the grounds that the department, established in 2003, lacked the necessary expertise and authority. The tug-of-war lasted weeks and was resolved only recently, several sources said."
As eerie as it is... (Score:5, Interesting)
That said, I'm still pretty unhappy with them over the domestic spying. They really should have known better --- the damage to the democracy far outweighs the security loss involved. Thankfully my friends stopped working there before all this started... well AFAIK, clearances & all.
This is essentially an official statement, as I'm sure they're reading it right now.
Re:That stooge Paller is quoted in the article, ag (Score:3, Interesting)
You don't see Bruce quoted by the WaPo or WSJ.
Re:That stooge Paller is quoted in the article, ag (Score:3, Interesting)
It's definitely a strange argument to attempt when really what you need when searching for a needle in a haystack, is a method of needle location that IGNORES THE HAY, not cataloging each and every instance of !needle.
If one is searching for needles amongst haystacks, trying to control the size of the haystack or the number of haystacks seems rather....absurd.... Then the needles that don't want to be found now know exactly which pile to stay out of, even more so than now.
K, i think i've anthropomorphized at random enough for one post. I entirely agree with you except for that last bit, as needle finding tactics should require direct interaction with the hay itself as infrequently as possible.
FBI-CIA-NSA = Subcontractors (Score:3, Interesting)
It's like a shell game, Area 51 is now too well known, but they keep up appearances - wave your hand over here - palm the coin in another.
What we keep doing is concentrating on what we think is possible (tech-wise) while you have absofuckinglutly amazing things happening right under our noses. (i.e. what ARE those networking protocol hardlinks DOING in your bootblock under "bad boot sectors".
Chip crowding/code obfuscation is another.
Get the picture?
The real power doesn't want the exposure.