U.S. Cybersecurity Not So Secure?

freaktheclown writes "According to CNet, 'government auditors have been saying that Homeland Security has failed to live up to its cybersecurity responsibilities and may be 'unprepared' for emergencies.'" The article discusses FEMA's handling of relief efforts for hurricane Katrina and how a very similar situation exists with electronic security measures in the U.S. In addition to a conjecture the department of cybersecurity has been "plagued by a series of damning reports, accusations of bureaucratic bungling, and a rapid exodus of senior staff that's worrying experts and industry groups."

Comments

First post?

[Anonymous Coward]

Cybersecurity not so secure?

That's like jumbo shrimp!

Security Through Obscurity is my motto

[Average_Joe_Sixpack]

I keep all my usernames/passwords on a Geocities hosted site.

Re:Security Through Obscurity is my motto

[heavy snowfall]

I keep all my backups as encrypted files named hot_nude.avi on kazaa.

--
Use your bluetooth phone as a modem for Linux

The root cause?

[clevershark]

Well duh, it's hardly surprising, when everything's considered.

Re:That's what happens when unqualified people..

[clambake]

Yes, unqualified people performing serious jobs leads to nothing but problems.

Careful now, that sounds a bit like TERRORIST talk to me...

Re:Who qualifies

[Linker3000]

Yep, shoot all computer users and make sure the damn things are never turned on agai35[cf(*^NO CARRIER

Re:That's what happens when unqualified people..

[Tackhead]

> ... are given jobs because of their political affiliations.
>
> Yes, unqualified people performing serious jobs leads to nothing but problems.

You miss the point. The purpose of cycling senior people through the bureaucracy isn't because the bureaucracy's ineffective, it's because it's the gateway to a consluting career with the bureaucracy. That's how the Aristocracy of Pull works, and it works the same way whether the Jackasses or the Elephants are in charge. (The only catch is that you can only pull fellow Jackasses (or Elephants) through the door -- and because your tribal totem isn't going to be in charge forever, whenever your gang's in charge, you're obliged to bring the maximum number of fellow gang members through the door as possible during your time in charge.)

To recap:

1) Cultivate enough pull to get a cushy appointment.
2) As a courtesy to the last guy to hold your post, hire him as a conslutant at double his previous pay.
3) Continue to ineffective -- preferably so ineffective that you have a good excuse to resign in "disgrace" within a year or so. This frees up the slot so your boss can reward another guy with pull.
4) Get hired by the new guy at half the political liability to your friends, and at double the pay.
5) PROFIT!

The less effective the bureaucracy, the more people can be run through the revolving door during the course of a given administration, and the more taxpayer dollars can be looted in the process. And because pull is proportional to dollars looted, the system creates its own incentive. Launder, rinse, repeat.

Re:That's what happens when unqualified people..

[bakes]

the gateway to a consluting career

This is one of the most insightful typos I've seen on slashdot.

Re:That's what happens when unqualified people..

[Pig Hogger]

the gateway to a consluting career

This is one of the most insightful typos I've seen on slashdot.

It's even funnier when you know that in french, "con" means "cunt" (both as in "vagina" and "stupid")

Re:That's what happens when unqualified people..

[whyne]

... are given jobs because of their political ... Hmm. "Outside observers are holding out hope for Chertoff's departmental reorganization announced in July. As part of the reshuffling, he hired Stewart Baker, former general counsel to the National Security Agency and a well-respected technology lawyer." I know that I feel safer with attorneys in charge of my countrys network security.