Meet the US’s new Cyber Czar: Howard Schmidt
To start out the new year, one that will hopefully see many parents waking up to the reality of internet safety for their kids (read: using PC Pandora monitoring software), I’d like to introduce you to the new chief of cybersecurity for the USA…
December 23, 2009
Chief of Cybersecurity Appointed by President Obama
By MaddieAfter a seven month search with several candidates turning down the position, former Microsoft and eBay executive Howard Schmidt has been appointed as chief of cybersecurity. Previously advising President Bush, Mr. Schmidt will now act as the White House’s cyber tsar to build up the country’s defense against possible cyber attacks.
Speaking of his new position, Mr. Schmidt explained “I bring to this challenge lessons learned during 40 years of experience in government, business and law enforcement. In our digital world the information technologies we depend on every day present us with great opportunity and great danger.” Revealing that several area’s had already been discussed, he added that beginning an educational campaign for cybersecurity and awareness, drawing up responses to future cyber attacks and developing safeguards for secure US networks were top of the list of priorities.
Chief security officer at Cisco, John N Stewart, responded to the news by exclaiming that Mr. Schmidt would find it hard to draw together the large range of government agencies and their appropriate issues regarding cybersecurity. “Today more than ever, we need greater collaboration between government and business leaders to help enable national security and public safety,” Mr. Stewart explained.
Meanwhile, an official statement from the White House posted to their website by the president for homeland security and counterterrorism’s assistant John Brennan said internet safety was “critical to our national security, public safety and our personal privacy and civil liberties”.