America must look to technology to protect its citizens and infrastructure from 21st century threats.
Dennis Blair, director of national intelligence, said that the United States is at risk of a cyberattack that could “wreak havoc,” FOX News reported Wednesday. It is substantially easier to launch a digital attack than defend against one, the intelligence czar reportedly told the House Intelligence Committee.
“What we don’t quite understand as seriously as we should is the extent of malicious cyberactivity that grows, that is growing now at unprecedented rates, extraordinary sophistication,” Blair said. “And the dynamic of cyberspace, when you look at the technological balance, right now it favors those who want to use the Internet for malicious purposes over those who want to use it for legal and lawful purposes.”
Al Qaeda could attempt to carry out an attack in America within the next six month, FOX News quoted senior intelligence officials as telling Congress on Tuesday.
Despite President Obama’s promises to make cybersecurity a priority, FOX News reports that his budget actually requests a decrease in funds for America’s cybersecurity division of Homeland Security.
Our government has for too long been reactive, rather than proactive. Just consider how the TSA operates. New policies and protocols are routinely instituted AFTER threats are made known, rather than before. The alleged Christmas Day bomber is the perfect example.
Tech Talk has reported extensively on potential cyber threats facing this country. You can sample our cyberwarfare archives here.
As America becomes increasingly dependent on technology — to do everything from manage finances, sewage treatment plans, sustain missions in space and operate military operations, it is increasingly important to take the mounting cyberthreat seriously. Or else, it will be too late.
