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Security of Census data 'guaranteed'

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The public and private agencies involved in the UK Census claim to have taken all precautions to guarantee that the data will be secure. Information held at the main purpose-built processing centre is stored on a closed network of servers with . . .

Security initiatives net funding

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President Bush?s first budget sets aside funds for two Clinton administration information security projects and provides modest gains for governmentwide security initiatives. The Scholarship for Service program, designed to increase the number of information security professionals, netted $11.2 million for 2002. . . .

NIST tunes up crypto devices standard

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The government?s chief cryptographic devices standard, Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2, is getting a face-lift. It?s the first major update to the standard since 1994. "We're waiting for some political appointments to get the standard signed, because it is ready," said . . .

Threats of Mass Disruption

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After three years of studying the United States' security needs in the coming quarter century, the Commission on National Security/21st Century reached some alarming conclusions--particularly in regard to the Internet-borne weapons and attacks of mass disruption. The 14-member bipartisan commission, chartered . . .

Congress should focus on government and consumer privacy

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Although Congress should do everything in its power to prevent federal agencies from abusing citizens' privacy rights, lawmakers must also take steps to protect citizens from private-sector abuses, a top privacy advocate contends. In a letter to House Majority Leader Dick . . .

EU approves digital copyright directive

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The European Union's Council of Ministers on Monday approved a pan-European directive on Internet copyright rules that sets out to protect copyright holders while allowing private copying of some audio and video material. The directive seeks to stem the tide of . . .

DOE budget energizes security

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Security issues are the main focus in the Energy Department's fiscal 2002 budget requests, with $7.2 billion of DOE's overall $19.2 billion proposal related to the issue. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham outlined the department's proposed budget Monday in Washington, D.C. . . .

Congress Addresses Cyber Security Once Again

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The security of the U.S. government's information technology (IT) systems is receiving renewed focus in the U.S. Congress. The House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee April 5 heard testimony on efforts that various government agencies are taking to protect these systems. Subcommittee . . .

FBI struggles to retain cybercrime experts

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The FBI suffers from a high turnover of experts in cybercrime but continues to get quality people, FBI Director Louis Freeh said Wednesday. "There's a bull market" for skilled FBI cyber-crime workers, Freeh told a World Economic Forum event held at . . .

Lawmakers scrutinize corporate data security measures

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Corporate America's reluctance to be more forthcoming about internal data security measures has come under scrutiny on Capitol Hill. "I'm not sure the general population realizes just how interconnected all of the ordering processing systems are. My concerns are right in . . .

ESign provisions draw business ire

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Some businesses are expressing concern that the ESign Act, the new law that gives electronic signatures the same legal weight as written ones, is creating obstacles to e-business as well as affecting Web site design. And they're asking federal officials to . . .

Is the NSA Falling Behind the Times?

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The US National Security Agency, which uses satellites and electronic listening posts to gather intelligence globally, is falling behind in technology, causing deep concern in the spy community, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said on Thursday. Rep. Porter . . .

National security advisor seeks cyber-security push

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President George W. Bush?s top national security aide called on Thursday for an 'unprecedented' partnership with the private sector to curb the any threat of computer-generated attacks on vital U.S. infrastructure. Heave reliance ON computers has become the "soft underbelly" of . . .

NSA's Rice Calls For Joint Web Security Effort

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The protection of the American infrastructure is an important part of the agenda of the National Security Council, according to President Bush's National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice. Speaking to industry and government leaders at the Partnership for Critical Infrastructure of . . .

Government sites hacked with Hate mail

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Less than a day after the British government was left red-faced after hackers defaced websites including that of the e-envoy Andrew Pinder, two more government servers were hacked, but this time by different intruders.

FBI Warns Infrastructure Vulnerable to Cyber-Attacks

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Federal facilities, electric power plants and other portions of the nation's critical infrastructure are highly vulnerable to potential cyber-attacks from terrorist groups, rogue nations, disgruntled employees and hackers, the new head of the FBI's cyber-crime fighting unit said today.. . .

FBI names new chief for computer security division

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The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the appointment of a new chief for the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC), the office responsible for protecting the nation's computer networks against hackers and cyber-terrorists. Ronald Dick , the new deputy . . .

Pentagon lab may give biometrics needed boost

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In this rural outpost about a four-hour drive from the nation's capital, the Defense Department has set up its first biometrics testing laboratory to scientifically scrutinize hundreds of commercial products that scan unique physical traits -- such as eye, finger or . . .