Himes hails bill to help thwart cyberattacks

Rep. Jim Himes is praising a bipartisan measure that would lower barriers on information sharing between companies hit by cyberattacks such as Sony, Target, Home Depot and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

 

Rep. Jim Himes praises cybersecurity bill approved by the House intelligence committee.

Rep. Jim Himes praises cybersecurity bill approved by the House intelligence committee.

“One of the key next steps for Congress to pass legislation that allows the private sector to share information with each other and with the federal government,’’ Himes said. “Today, that doesn’t happen.’’

 

On Thursday, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence _ of which Himes is a member _ unanimously approved the Protecting Cyber Networks Act. Next stop: The House floor. The bill would permit information sharing when a company’s networks are hacked. In Connecticut, 1.7 million had their private information compromised when cyber-criminals invaded Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

 

Providing information would be voluntary. The measure contains provisions to eliminate private information in records that companies share with the government. Shared information “helps improve the government’s ability to protect America against foreign cyber threats,’’ a summary of the bill stated. “It also gives our intelligence agencies tips and leads to help them find advanced foreign cyber hackers overseas. That intelligence allows the government to provide, in turn, even better cyber threat indicators back to the private sector to help companies protect themselves.’’

 

“This balanced, bipartisan legislation is an important next step in securing our networks while protecting the privacy and civil liberties of our citizens,’’ said Himes, who is the senior Democrat on the committee’s Subcommittee on the National Security Agency and Cybersecurity. “I am hopeful that this legislation will move Congress closer to passing a comprehensive cybersecurity bill this year.’’

 

 

Daniel Freedman