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U.S. Government To Get Cybersecurity Chief

Posted by timothy on from the save-us-uncle-cyber dept.

cmason32 writes "The Bush administration is going to create a new Cybersecurity Chief position in the Homeland Security Department. The move is supposed to demonstrate the government's dedication to cracking down on hackers and 'cyberterror.' One of the responsibities of the position is to 'secure cyberspace.' However, critics are already noting the position is not likely to be effective."

4 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. ineffective... by Metaldsa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wouldn't just call this position ineffective. I would also call it a waste of taxpayer dollars, a way to abuse power, and a waste of time.

  2. I probably shouldn't say this, but... by tuba_dude · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you get to Guantanamo Bay before me, save me a cell, would you please?

    --
    "The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."
  3. Wonder how this will work. by 2sleep2type · · Score: 5, Funny
    I can see it now a big box with lots of flashing lights. A big lever. The operator ( in a white coat of course). Walks up to box pulls lever.

    A display lights up 'Secure cyberspace ON'.

    Reminds me of one of my all time user requirement highlights. This was on a multi platform, multi system deployment which I was working on several interfaces for.

    21.0 Error Recovery Process

    When any error has occurred in across the system the user will select a fix error button. This will resolve all problems.

    When I suggested that the button could call a routine to print a P45 for anyone selecting it I was accused of been unresponsive to user needs.

  4. An excuse for a thought police? by s4m7 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Terrorism" in its many forms (I believe in the 50's they were referred to commies instead of terrorists) have been used as an excuse to pass Orwellian-style legislation here in the U.S. I think most of us would agree to as much. I see this whole homeland security program to have been little more than the legislated and executed implementation of more or less random spying on american citizens and it sickens me that this is being done in the name of patriotism. That is not what my father, nor his father fought for.

    Chillingly, this mentality is now being brought to be applied to a vague concept... a buzzword. How will this be interpreted by our inadequate, bloated and outdated legal machinery of U.S. Government? Essentially, "securing cyberspace" is conceptually equivalent to "restricting information" or, for the non-slashdot crowd, the monitoring and policing of any and all communications services. Calls to your spouses and parents, its all fair game. When will it be enough? why do you, a good and honest person who has no intention of breaking the law or committing acts of terrorism, become the subject of inquiry? How far will we let this go?

    --
    This comment is fully compliant with RFC 527.