 | President of Suriname Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan enters during the opening session of the 5th Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton) |
WASHINGTON—The White House says a 60-day review of the nation's cyber security is finished and a report has been submitted to the president. The report comes amid dire warnings that the U.S. is ill-prepared for a cyber attack. The study looked at how the government can better manage and use technology to protect everything from the nation's electrical grid and stock markets to tax data, airline flight systems and nuclear launch codes.
Officials have acknowledged that government computer networks are constantly assailed by attacks and scans, ranging from nuisance hacking to more nefarious assaults, possibly from other nations, such as China. President Barack Obama last month ordered the review and put former Bush administration aide Melissa Hathaway in charge of the effort. Hathaway met with industry leaders, Capitol Hill staff and other experts, seeking guidance on what the federal government's role should be in protecting information networks against an attack.
Her report is expected to recommend how the government should be organized and who should control cyber issues. Members of Congress have said they believe it will say cyber matters should be coordinated through the White House. Officials have acknowledged that government computer networks are constantly assailed by attacks and scans, ranging from nuisance hacking to more nefarious assaults, possibly from other nations, such as China.
