Cybersecurity Act of 2009 2nd Version Still Controversial

The new draft of the Cybersecurity Act of 2009 appears to be causing as much controversy as the original proposal, which may give the President power to shut down the Internet in the case of an emergency.

The bill seeks to determine when and how the President could intervene in public and private information systems by limiting internet traffic to critical networks for national security reasons or in the case of an emergency.

It has come under scrutiny from a range of first amendment advocacy groups which have raised alarm about government interference.

More information on the Cybersecurity Act of 2009 can be located here:

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/09/cybersecurity-act-returns-with-a-fresh-coat-of-paint

http://www.huliq.com/7504/85556/senate-cybersecurity-act-2009-could-shut-down-internet

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/28/senate-president-emergency-control-internet/

Rod Beckstrom resigns after 12 months as U.S. National Cyber Security Chief

Beckstrom stated in his resignation letter that the National Security Agency unfairly dominates cyber-policy and that the Bush administration failed to adequately fund the NCSC. Other recent Cyber Security Chiefs who has left this post are Greg Garcia, Howard Schmidt, Richard Clarke and Amit Yoran.

President Obama is conducting a review of our national security policy.

Sources:

• http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/09/rod-beckstrom-security-technology-security-beckstrom.html

• http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/03/10/2009-03-10_obamas_cybersecurity_chief_rod_beckstrom.html

• http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE5260I620090307

• http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/After-Only-12-Months-Another-US-Cyber-Chief-Resigns/

President Barack Obama has ordered a 60-day review of the nation’s cybersecurity

President Barack Obama has ordered a 60-day review of the nation’s cybersecurity to examine how well the U.S. federal agencies use technology to protect data, thwarting spies and malicious hackers.

In President Obama’s effort to scrutinize all U.S. government plans, program and activities relating to the management of massive amounts of data, he will call upon Melissa Hathaway, a former Bush administration aide to head the program as Acting Senior Director for Cyberspace in both the National Security and Homeland Security Councils – a sort of “cyber czar”. Hathaway, an expert on cybersecurity, led former President Bush’s $6 billion-a-year Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative. Her cybersecurity review will include an inventory of what was already being done and recommendations on how processes, policies and procedures can be improved.

No one knows if this Hathaway’s cyber czar position will become permanent after the 60-day review is completed.

President Obama Gets to Keep BlackBerry…

It looks like President Obama has outlasted the Secret Service and will be allowed to keep his beloved BlackBerry 8830 for "personal use" with the use of Sectera Edge for official business.