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Trump Signs Executive Order On Cybersecurity (techcrunch.com)

President Trump on Thursday signed a long-delayed executive order on cybersecurity that "makes clear that agency heads will be held accountable for protecting their networks, and calls on government and industry to reduce the threat from automated attacks on the internet," reports The Washington Post. From the report: Picking up on themes advanced by the Obama administration, Trump's order also requires agency heads to use Commerce Department guidelines to manage risk to their systems. It commissions reports to assess the country's ability to withstand an attack on the electric grid and to spell out the strategic options for deterring adversaries in cyberspace. [Thomas Bossert, Trump's homeland security adviser] said the order was not, however, prompted by Russia's targeting of electoral systems last year. In fact, the order is silent on addressing the security of electoral systems or cyber-enabled operations to influence elections, which became a significant area of concern during last year's presidential campaign. The Department of Homeland Security in January declared election systems "critical infrastructure." The executive order also does not address offensive cyber operations, which are generally classified. This is an area in which the Trump administration is expected to be more forward-leaning than its predecessor. Nor does it spell out what type of cyberattack would constitute an "act of war" or what response the attack would invite. "We're not going to draw a red line," Bossert said, adding that the White House does not "want to telegraph our punches." The order places the defense secretary and the head of the intelligence community in charge of protecting "national security" systems that operate classified and military networks. But the secretary of homeland security will continue to be at the center of the national plan for protecting critical infrastructure, such as the electric grid and financial sector.

6 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Cyber by DonaId+Trump · · Score: 5, Funny

    We're going to have tremendous cyber, folks. You and me, we'll have the best cyber. We're going to have so much cyber, you're going to say "Please, Mr. President, I'm so tired of cybering!" It's going to be some very great cyber, believe me.

    1. Re:Cyber by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Didn't you invent "Cybering" just this past week? I'm sure you did, you said it, so it must be that Cybering was invented by you. No wonder it will be best.

      So best, people will ask for more and more of the Cybering. Through the series of Tubes in a Wide Stance, because it is morning in America in this decade.

  2. Much security. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I feel safer already!

  3. Re:Oblig. Godwin's Law by Opportunist · · Score: 1, Funny

    Jawoll mein hairpiece!

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  4. Re:What do you mean? by DickBreath · · Score: 4, Funny

    Trump would never rig the elections. He will modernize elections for the 21st century. A contractor will be selected based on the highest price, lowest quality work, to set up an HTTP only website that looks like it was designed in the 90's. Citizens will vote using this web site. In order for your vote to be accepted, you will have to check several boxes.

    [x] I am a Citizen of the United States
    [x] I have not previously submitted a vote in this election
    [x] I am a white, rich, christian, heterosexual male
    [x] I promise I am telling the truth and that the previous statements are equally truthful to this statement

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  5. Re:What do you mean? by SmokeyRobot · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since so many news sources have reported that it happened, all thinking people know it did despite the lack of evidence.

    That word, thinking. To quote Inigo Montoya, I do not think it means what you think it means.
    Thinking people do not just regurgitate things reported in the news.