Security experts and public officials testified at a congressional subcommittee hearing about the role the federal government should play in defending cyberspace and protecting critical infrastructure from attackers.
There are more kinds of malware and online threats, and cyber-criminals are becoming more sophisticated, industry experts told congressional lawmakers at the May 25 hearing by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations Subcommittee. While cyber-security should be a high priority for the government, the industry should be responsible for securing itself.
“Cyber-crime is an ever-evolving threat, and there is no single solution to prevent attacks,” Dean Turner, director of Symantec’s Global Intelligence Network, testified at the hearing. “Bad actors are getting smarter and more resourceful every day, and we must continue to be vigilant to protect our economy, our national security and our way of life.”The individuals and organizations have a “wide variety of motivations and intended consequences,” and can include hackers, cyber-criminals, cyber-spies and hacktivists, according to Turner.
There was no need for government-imposed regulation on cyber-security, according to Phillip Bond, CEO and president of industry organization TechAmerica. The first rule is that “Congress should do no harm,” Bond said at the hearing. Instead of coming out with a list of rules, Congress should focus on a system of incentives and liability protections for companies.
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