Cyberdefense Lacking?

The Christian Science Monitor looks at U.S. efforts to defend against cyberattacks today, and finds them lacking. "Repelling major attacks on critical national networks requires enormous coordination inside and outside government, as well as expensive research and preparation," the paper reports. "However, primary responsibility for this falls on a small group within the Department of Homeland Security that experts say operates on a tiny budget and with little clout."

That group would be the United States Computer Emergency Response Team. Jerry Dixon, the acting director of the organization, which is funded at $46 million a year, refuses to paint a "total rosy picture," but adds, "I think we're in a pretty good position to deal with the issue."