The CSIS Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency has been Released

The CSIS Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency has released its final report, "Securing Cyberspace for the 44th Presidency." The Commission’s three major findings are:

1. Cybersecurity is now one of the major national security problems facing the United States;
2. Decisions and actions must respect American values related to privacy and civil liberties; and
3. Only a comprehensive national security strategy that embraces both the domestic and international aspects of cybersecurity will improve the situation.

You can get a PDF copy of the report here or you can visit the CSIS website.

Myspace and Facebook Privacy

Online social network sites such as MySpace, Facebook and even personal blogs have became part of the interviewing process when companies are making a decision on bring someone on board.

It seems like President–elect Obama’s administration is following suit.

President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team wants to know all about job candidates' lives before giving them a post in his administration by asking information about spouses' jobs and children’s lives. Applicants must include any e-mails that may embarrass the president-elect, any blog posts and even links to Facebook and MySpace pages.

Obama BlackBerry Email Security Issue

President elect Obama may have to give up his Blackberry when he starts his new job at the White House. The concern comes in the form of e-mail security. In addition to concerns about e-mail security, he faces the Presidential Records Act, which puts his correspondence in the official record and ultimately up for public review, and the threat of subpoenas.

A decision has not officially been made on whether he could become the first e-mailing president, but aides said that seemed doubtful.

President-elect Barack Obama's Pledged to Appoint a National Cyber Security Adviser

President-elect Barack Obama's pledged to appoint a national cyber security adviser who will report to him directly. In a speech made during his run to office at Purdue University, President-elect Obama stated, "As president, I'll make cyber security the top priority that it should be in the 21st century." He also stated, "I'll declare our cyber-infrastructure a strategic asset, and appoint a national cyber adviser, who will report directly to me. We'll coordinate efforts across the federal government, implement a truly national cyber security policy and tighten standards to secure information -- from the networks that power the federal government to the networks that you use in your personal lives."

This would be a monumental improvement to the Bush’s administration since the cyber security chief is under many layers of the organizational chart within the Homeland Security Department.

Among those advising President-elect Obama on cyber security matters is Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism czar in the Clinton administration.