An Interview With Cybersecurity Czar Howard Schmidt

Trailrunner7 writes to tell us that US cybersecurity czar Howard Schmidt recently gave an interview where he discusses his career and what he sees as the priorities of the positions. "Howard Schmidt has been involved in just about every aspect of the security industry during his career. After stints in the Air Force and at Microsoft, he served as a cybersecurity advisor to George W. Bush. Now, after heading back to the private sector for several years, he's been appointed to serve as President Obama's security advisor."

Comments

Brilliant and Frightening

[mpapet]

Now some of the universities that I teach at, such as Georgia Tech and Idaho State University, our Scholarship for Service programs, as soon as they get done, they’re going in government, fairly high-level positions as security experts.

The wisdom of this is simultaneously frightening and brilliant.

“Hey, I’m seeing this really anonymous activity on this particular port. Are you guys seeing that?” “Yeah, we are.” Well, that solves problems and that’s what this is all about.

Mission accomplished! (In a GWB ironical reference kind of way)

and many people don’t realize that there is not the one power company that looks after the entire country.

This guy can sell ice to eskimos!

No wonder I have grave concerns regarding the future of my country.

Re:Bush Admin fails IT!

[aztracker1]

They could politely *ask* the cellular companies to temporarily disable the data services at the towers, leaving voice enabled. That would probably be more effective in the end... simply text all the phones a notification that data services would be down for between X and Y hours.