Homeland Security Bill and Cyber Security Research and Development Act Provide Relief to Weakening Internet Security

By Ketaki Sood, Larta Research Economist

December 02, 2002

The recent attacks in September on the core systems of the Internet, which targeted the 13 "root" servers that form the heart of the Domain Name System (DNS), proved just how vulnerable the Internet is to hackers. Such cyber attacks are expected to grow, with the number of high-speed Internet connections also rising. Internet users know little about computer security, which further exacerbates the situation. The federal government has struggled to protect computer systems from fraud, misuse, and cyber-terrorism, with 14 of the 24 largest federal departments and agencies earning a failing grade in their efforts towards cybersecurity. The government has earned a failing grade in cyber security for two years in a row now, raising questions of its ability to counter future threats to computer systems and the Internet.

Last week's signing of the homeland security bill, and the approval of the Cyber Security Research and Development Act (CSRDA), is expected to alleviate the worsening state of Internet security. While the homeland security bill contains provisions to fight cybercrime, the CSRDA dedicates over $900 million towards research and education to protect the nation's technology infrastructure against security threats. The CSRDA will also institute research centers and fellowship programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to further education in computer and network security.

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