Registered: Aug 2000
Location: In a Blue, Blue State
Posts: 12546

Tenet calls for Internet security
By Shaun Waterman
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Published December 2, 2004

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Former CIA Director George J. Tenet yesterday called for new security measures to guard against attacks on the United States that use the Internet, which he called "a potential Achilles' heel."

"I know that these actions will be controversial in this age when we still think the Internet is a free and open society with no control or accountability," he told an information-technology security conference in Washington, "but ultimately the Wild West must give way to governance and control."

The former CIA director said telecommunications -- and specifically the Internet -- are a back door through which terrorists and other enemies of the United States could attack the country, even though great strides have been made in securing the physical infrastructure.

The Internet "represents a potential Achilles' heel for our financial stability and physical security if the networks we are creating are not protected," Mr. Tenet said.

He said known adversaries, including "intelligence services, military organizations and non-state actors," are researching information attacks against the United States.

Within the federal government, the Department of Homeland Security has the lead role in protecting the Internet from terrorism. But the department's head of cyber-security recently quit amid reports that he had clashed with his superiors.

Mr. Tenet, who retired in July as director of the CIA after seven years, warned that al Qaeda remains a sophisticated group, even though its first-tier leadership largely has been destroyed.

It is "undoubtedly mapping vulnerabilities and weaknesses in our telecommunications networks," he said.

Mr. Tenet pointed out that the modernization of key industries in the United States is making them more vulnerable by connecting them with an Internet that is open to attack.

The way the Internet was built might be part of the problem, he said. Its open architecture allows Web surfing, but that openness makes the system vulnerable, Mr. Tenet said.

Access to networks like the World Wide Web might need to be limited to those who can show they take security seriously, he said.

Mr. Tenet called for industry to lead the way by "establishing and enforcing" security standards. Products need to be delivered to government and private-sector customers "with a new level of security and risk management already built in."

The national press, including United Press International (UPI), were excluded from yesterday's event, at Mr. Tenet's request, organizers said.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/func...01-114750-6381r

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Access to networks like the World Wide Web might need to be limited to those who can show they take security seriously, he said.

Hmmmm.......so what exact criteria does he use to take away web access? Those that read government/policy-contrary websites? Those that read information and histories of dams, power stations and tall buildings for legitimate reasons such as school reports or book writings, just in case they might have a "hidden" agenda? Anyone who they deem to be a possible threat without revealing their reasonings? Someone who web donates to a charity that the government suspects is linked vaugely to terrorists?

As the Daily Jive Weblog observes:

"So lets recap:

1) Crush free speech.
2) Make ill informed decisions.
3) Vague, unsubstantiated threats get lots of press.
4) Use the word "terrorism" whenever possible to reinforce your weak-ass arguments.
5) Enemy of freedom = bad, unless it's a member of our own administration and they're selling #1.
6) Large Government enforces ultra-right neocon agenda with draconian measures."

And this is Tenet saying this. Imagine what Goss would say about this? Probably if you don't support the President then you are a security risk.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: library
Posts: 19562

Bye bill, it was nice having you around while it lasted.

-m

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Sedona, Arizona
Posts: 18823

*Shows Tenet his Republican Party Membership card*

I'm in!

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: south afrika
Posts: 16486

yeah...guys that still use fertilizer bombs as a means to advertise their political campaign are going to be hacking the gibson

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Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Oceanside, CA
Posts: 5073

If we're limiting the web to those who "take security seriously", does that mean banning Internet Explorer?

__________________

[Ignore Sig]

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35561

If this is a fair transcript of what he said, it is rather bizarre. If it is something that has support within the National Security types, that really sucks.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: library
Posts: 19562

If it is seriously something that has support, I'm joining the rats and fleeing.

-m

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Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Insatiation
Posts: 8980

Doh, back to furtive back room plotting and networking.

Last edited by Rokkr on 12-04-2004 at 02:27 AM

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 10178

where when and how did the US decide they own the internerd anyway? They can't police the internet, the most they could do is restrict and censor data coming and going to and fro the US, ala Korea. The reaction to such measures would be something to see, but hey, GW doesn't have to worry about re-election anymore, so anything's possible...

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Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Insatiation
Posts: 8980

Yep, the gloves are off now. Scary, ain't it?

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