Information Warfare: October 31, 2002

Archives

Computer security experts are becoming more vocal in their criticism of how U.S. government agencies (particularly the FBI) are updating their computer systems and implementing better network security. The FBI, for example, feels that they are not at risk for being hacked because most network intrusions are the result of insiders providing passwords or information and the FBI sees themselves as incorruptible (despite recent arrests of FBI spies or lower lever personnel who were bribed to obtain information.) The worst aspect of all this is that there are few senior people in the FBI, or most government organizations, that really understand computer security. As a result, they rely on consultants who quickly realize they can get away with shoddy work. This situation has been going on for years, and government managers feel, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."