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Malware Is a Disease; Let's Treat It Like One

jfruhlinger writes "The most common metaphor we have for computer malware — 'virus' — emphasizes that in many ways malicious computer code mimics biological pathogens. And yet, while the U.S. government has rapid response plans in place for an outbreak of a new disease, we're content to let the private sector react to hugely damaging computer infections. Tom Henderson thinks we need the cybersecurity equivalent of the CDC."

4 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Woohoo, more government!!! Yeah. by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Agencies are directed by political appointees,...

    Who are motivated by political power. Why is an organization that is motivated by political power less suspect than an organization that is motivated by profit?
    At least with a private company, if I don't like how they treat me, I can do business with someone else (or no one).

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    The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
  2. Humans are more valuable than Computers by Shatrat · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If a disease outbreak ravages the country and kills the young, the old, the weak, that would be a huge tragedy.
    If a virus ravages the country and kills off Windows XP, Adobe Flash, and IIS, then the strong will have survived and the software world will be a better place.

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  3. This already exists: US-CERT by infernalC · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.us-cert.gov/

    From the US-CERT "About Us" page:

    US-CERT's mission is to improve the nation's cybersecurity posture, coordinate cyber information sharing and proactively manage cyber risks to the nation while protecting the constitutional rights of Americans. US-CERT vision is to be a trusted global leader in cybersecurity - collaborative, agile, and responsive in a complex environment.

    Information is available from the US-CERT web site, mailing lists, and RSS channels.

    US-CERT also provides a way for citizens, businesses, and other institutions to communicate and coordinate directly with the United States government about cyber security.

    Who runs US-CERT?
    US-CERT is the operational arm of the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

    Where is US-CERT located?
    US-CERT is located in the Washington DC Metropolitan area.

    What is US-CERT's relationship to NCSD and DHS?
    US-CERT is the operational arm of the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The NCSD was established by DHS to serve as the federal government's cornerstone for cyber security coordination and preparedness, including implementation of the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace .

  4. Re:Brilliant! by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    All right, all right ... Apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what has the government ever done for us?

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    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/