Does 'Cyber-Security' Mean More NSA Dragnet Surveillance?

from the fox-guarding-the-henhouse dept

Tue, Mar 17th 2009 7:59pm — Timothy Lee

As network infrastructure has become an increasingly important part of our economy, there's been growing concern about the problems of cybersecurity. So far, the key debate is over whether the government should be involved in helping the private sector secure its networks or should focus on government networks. But another important question is which part of the government should be in charge of cyber-security. We're in the midst of a bureaucratic turf war between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency over who will be in charge of government cybersecurity policy. The NSA's head, Keith Alexander, is pushing the theory that cyber-security is a "national security issue," and that therefore an intelligence agency like the NSA ought to be in charge of it.

The problem with this is that the NSA has a peculiar definition of cyber-security. When most of us talk about cyber-security, we mean securing our communications against intrusion by third parties, including the government. Yet the NSA has made no secret of its belief that "cyber security" means being able to spy on people more easily. Moreover, as Amit Yoran, former head of the Department of Homeland Security's National Cyber Security Division, points out, the NSA's penchant for secrecy, and concomitant lack of transparency, will be counterproductive in the effort to secure ordinary commercial networks. Therefore, the fight between DHS and the NSA is more than just a bureaucratic squabble. There's plenty to criticize about the Department of Homeland Security, and reasons to doubt whether they should be helping to secure private sector networks at all. But at least DHS is relatively transparent, and (as far as we know) doesn't engage in the kind of indiscriminate, warrantless wiretapping for which the NSA has become notorious.

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Filed Under: cyber security, dhs, nsa, surveillance
Companies: dhs, nsa

10 Comments

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ken, 17 Mar 2009 @ 9:18pm

Cyber Security
The government doesn't give a damn about American security, else it would have secured our borders years ago. This is just another part of the scheme, which includes turning airports into Little North Korea's, constant physical and electronic surveillance with CCTVs, data mining, air port no-fly lists, ect. This isn't Republican, or Democrat. Even the most rabid O-bot can tell by now that Obama's policies are basically the same as George Bush's, if only a bit further to the left. Both parties serve the U.S. Government, and the U.S. Government is the enemy of America. That is why it treats the American people as the enemy. Ken www.kenstech.com
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 2009 @ 9:33pm

Re: Cyber Security
Rant much ?
Feel Better now ?
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 2009 @ 9:38pm

Re: Re: Cyber Security
Whether you like it or not, he's right though.
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Dan, 18 Mar 2009 @ 12:31am

This is exactly why cyber security should be a civilian agency. We have already seen how the NSA handled surveillance of so called terrorists. How many have they caught and prosecuted? I know, its secret, it is none.
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:Lobo Santo, 18 Mar 2009 @ 7:25am

"Security"
Wouldn't it be nice if "Security" meant "secure in your right to privacy"?
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justme, 18 Mar 2009 @ 7:52am

I want whatever you're smkoing
"But at least DHS is relatively transparent, and (as far as we know) doesn't engage in the kind of indiscriminate, warrantless wiretapping for which the NSA has become notorious."

No, but they can confiscate your computer at the border FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. Is that really much better?
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Jim Gaudet (profile), 18 Mar 2009 @ 8:50am

NSA Does this already
Honestly, I am sure that the NSA is doing all this now, they would just be legal now..
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Dean, 18 Mar 2009 @ 5:11pm

This is an old fight
It's the 'domestic telephone protection' fight all over again. In the late 1970's NSA tried to do this with the telephone industry. Now they're after the Internet. The 'protection' they offered then was so weak it was a joke. NSA is not really competent to do this. They just want to get their hands further into our pants.
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Mike Sherrif, 18 Nov 2009 @ 10:32pm

Security
This is simply the internet version of the telephone protection act.. I don't really expect much from The NSA this time either. I agree with the comment made earlier that cyber security should be a civilian agency.
Mike Sherrif, Colorado private investigator
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Mile High Investigations, 20 Feb 2010 @ 11:55am

Re: Security
I completely agree! Private Investigator Denver
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