Bill gives "White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from Net."

[kavika411]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10320096-38.html

CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.

The new version would allow the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for "cybersecurity professionals," and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.

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Translation: If your company is deemed "critical," a new set of regulations kick in involving who you can hire, what information you must disclose, and when the government would exercise control over your computers or network.

Cue "didn't Bush already do this with..." in t-minus 5, 4, 3, 2...

[nbs2]

Just saw the same article, just came here to post it.

Without reading the bill, I can't tell if this is hot air or not. But, if the article is accurate, it is disturbing. I suppose the government may need the authority to comandeer bandwidth and processing power to handle emergencies, but the prospect of taking control of private networks is overly burdensome and under the last 9 years we have seen a steady increase in intrusion by the government under the flag of "it's necessary to protect the country."

Honestly, this sounds like the kind of bill Cheney would have pushed for.

[leekohler]

Just saw the same article, just came here to post it.

Without reading the bill, I can't tell if this is hot air or not. But, if the article is accurate, it is disturbing. I suppose the government may need the authority to comandeer bandwidth and processing power to handle emergencies, but the prospect of taking control of private networks is overly burdensome and under the last 9 years we have seen a steady increase in intrusion by the government under the flag of "it's necessary to protect the country."

Honestly, this sounds like the kind of bill Cheney would have pushed for.

Yeah, this isn't good. I doubt they will be able to pass this.

[Rodimus Prime]

I think from what I read just a little bit this bill is crap. The government should not have the right to take over others network. What is to stop the government from stopping to bother to expand their own network and just start taking over private networks to do minor things like its own payroll. Or deal with tax filling. Sorry but no.

Also the new certification is crap and worthless. It is just another way for them to tax us. No company is going to higher a security expert that would not be able to do that stuff any how.

I already feel the government is taking to much control over our lives they do not need any more

[MacHipster]

Basically, during a cyber-attack, the Feds temporarily shut down or take over private networks? I don't see a problem with this if that's the case.

[hulugu]

Basically, during a cyber-attack, the Feds temporarily shut down or take over private networks? I don't see a problem with this if that's the case.

While I'm not sure about either the legality or practicality of this bill, it seems like an attempt to codify the government's reaction to a "cyber-attack" by a large number of computers in a bot-net. Shutting down a few of the larger infrastructure nodes would, in effect, mitigate such an attack.

I'm not sure what they mean by "private networks" (I haven't read the bill, so I'm shooting from the hip here), but that would seem rather impossible without serious interference from the government.

As for the "licensing" of critical companies, I'd have to see what companies they mean. Is Google one? Akamai? Are we talking about networks that connect Police Departments? Or Amazon?

[KingYaba]

No. ****ing. Way.

[stevegmu]

If they are worried about security, just ban computers running Windows.