Close this Advertisement

US allies' lax computer security puts cyber info sharing at risk

  • By Defense Systems Staff
  • Apr 13, 2012

International initiatives aimed at developing better tools and methods to prevent cyberattacks is being undermined by poor computer security among U.S. allies, a senior Pentagon official said April 10, reports The Washington Post.

Rear Adm. Samuel Cox, director of intelligence at the U.S. Cyber Command, said sharing cybersecurity information with a friendly country that operates computer systems susceptible to penetration creates opportunities for adversaries to steal the data.

“[You] don’t go against the hard target," Cox said at a conference on cybersecurity held at Georgetown University, referring to how intelligence gathering works. "You go against the weak one and work your way in there.”

Reader Comments

Tue, Apr 17, 2012 Bruno Roma

Does this mean that US allies should also not trust US systems - as they appear to be regularly breached by teenagers and Anonymous?

Please post your comments here. Comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately after submitting. We will not post comments that we consider abusive or off-topic.

Your Name:(optional)
Your Email:(optional)
Your Location:(optional)
Comment:
Please type the letters/numbers you see above

Webcast

  • Improving Performance Management and Project Control to Meet Cost/Schedule Milestones in DoD Procurement

    It can be nearly impossible to build annual budgets that consider forecasted project and program work plans along with detailed cost data, particularly when attempting to reconcile actual and projected program costs with actual schedule performance. In this webcast, a defense IT program manager will share best practices and hard-won lessons aligning critical data on project performance, cost systems and schedules for truly big picture program management insight. Read more