Homeland Security Secretary Proposes “Manhattan Project”
The risk of cyberattack is increasing to the point where the country needs a “Manhattan Project” for cybersecurity, says Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Is the government about to get tough on cybercrime?

In an article on the CNET.com website, Elinor Mills says Chertoff made the remarks last week at RSA 2008 in his keynote address. He warned that cyberthreats have allowed terrorists and criminals to do the kind of damage they couldn’t even contemplate doing in the real world.

“We need a game-changer with how we deal with attacks,” Chertoff told attendees. “In January, the president signed a homeland security directive, for a national cybersecurity initiative...almost like a Manhattan Project.”

Chertoff cited last year’s botnet denial-of-service attack that shut down the Estonian government as an example of what can happen during a cyberattack. “It went beyond simple mischief, and represented an actual threat to government to govern its country,” he said. “A single individual, a small group of people, or a nation-state can exact the kind of damage or disruption that in years past only came when you dropped bombs or set off explosives.”

Chertoff says government needs to work with the private sector to create an advanced warning system to prevent these types of cyberattacks.

“We face a very serious challenge and it's only likely to grow more serious as time passes,” Chertoff said. “We’re operating in a domain in which traditional military power or the power of the government is insufficient to address the full nature of the threat. A command and control response will simply not be adequate. We need a network response to deal with a network attack.”