US needs cyber security chief
2008-12-09 10:00
San Francisco - A report released on Monday said that cyber security would pose a major threat to the United States during the next administration and urged president-elect Barack Obama to appoint a cyber security czar.
The report, Securing Cyberspace for the 44th Presidency, was issued by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
"Cyber security is now a major security problem for the United States," said the report. "Only a comprehensive national security strategy that embraces both the domestic and international aspects of cyber security will make us more secure."
The report said that the Department of Homeland Security was unable to protect the government from cyber attacks and blasted President George W Bush for relying on the free market to secure the nation's networks.
"In no other area of national security do we depend on private, voluntary efforts," the report said. "We believe that cyberspace cannot be secured without regulation."
The report recommended the creation of a White House office - Assistant to the President for Cyberspace - to co-ordinate responses to cyber threats across domestic, intelligence, military and economic elements of the government. It called for increased funding for research into cyber security.