Daily News Big Increase in Net Warfare Predicted By Robert MacMillan, Newsbytes March 24, 2000

The already legendary distributed denial of service attacks that brought down popular corporate Web sites earlier this year is only a minor variation on the shape of things to come, and the US must act accordingly to protect itself while not violating privacy rights, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., said today.

He said that National Security Data shows that "more than a dozen nations are working on developing sophisticated information warfare tactics," and that China is "reportedly considering the creation of a fourth branch of the military for information warriors."

Speaking at the US Chamber of Commerce, Kyl said that "the recent... attacks were minor compared with what could happen... Imagine the consequences of a full-scale attack against many industries at once. And what if we were trying to respond to a natural disaster, or a terrorist attack or an international crisis at the same time?"

Kyl said that Internet and high-tech security is gaining in importance as an issue to the US population, mainly because "consumers are beginning to understand the vulnerabilities of the Internet, and are looking for companies that can ensure protection of their privacy and financial interests."

Kyl added, however, that although terrorist groups have not yet made a big move toward using "cyber tools" as a weapon, "their reliance on information technology and acquisition of computer expertise are clear warning signs."

He also said that articles in the state-sponsored Chinese publication Liberation Army Daily showed that the Chinese army has created scholarships in two universities to "lure information technology talent in the military," and that two Chinese colonels have published a book detailing ways that developing nations can "confront US military superiority in a future war."

Kyl said that Congress and the executive branch are combating the threat. His amendment in the 1996 Defense Authorization Act asks the president to report to Congress on a review of the national policy on protecting the nation's infrastructure against "strategic attacks," which he said resulted in President Clinton's National Plan.

The National Plan is only a first step, Kyl added, saying that the Clinton administration should revise the plan with "new technological advances and discovered vulnerabilities."

He also praised the FY 2001 budget request of a $250 million increase in cyber-security initiatives to a total $2.04 billion, but he said that the administration must do "more," though he did not offer specifics.

Kyl also said that all security initiatives must not compromise personal privacy, however, though he noted that the Federal Intrusion Detection Network (FIDNET) in fact worried civil liberties advocates groundlessly - because it would serve as a clearinghouse point for responding to a computer attack - nothing more.

"It is not a plan for government surveillance of private citizens, as suggested by some," he said.

Kyl also said he will fight in the Senate for adequate funding to support cyber-security efforts, and that he has introduced legislation with Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., to modify existing "trap and trace" authority so that law enforcement officials do not need to obtain a warrant in every jurisdiction through which a cyber-hack has traveled.

He also supports legislation to increase penalties for cyber-attacks, including lowering the age limit for adult prosecution to 15 years.

Kyl furthermore plans to hold a hearing in his Technology and Terrorism subcommittee in the Senate Judiciary Committee next week, at which he will hear from FBI Director Louis Freeh and Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) President Harris Miller on the need to update cyber-security laws and to discuss other legal impediments to company information-sharing.

http://currents.net/newstoday/00/03/24/news2.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 24, 2000