Our security's weak link

San Jose Mercury News: Protecting airports, bridges, power plants and other parts of the nation's physical infrastructure has been a top priority of the Bush administration.
But despite its rhetoric to the contrary, the White House has not paid nearly enough attention to a related issue: securing cyberspace. As a result, the Internet is quickly becoming an overlooked link in the administration's strategy to secure the homeland.
In fact, the nation's cyber-security czars have turned over more quickly than steps on an escalator and the Department of Homeland Security's entire cyber-fighting efforts resemble a yet-to-be-funded start-up. "Basically it's not a functioning department, and that's really not acceptable," says Rep. Zoe Lofgren, and she's right.
As events of recent days have shown, a cyber attack can send nasty ripples far beyond the Internet.
Worm attacks
The real-world damage from Blaster, Sobig and Nachi, the latest worm and virus attacks, was relatively contained. The attacks forced the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles to shut down, caused delays in Air Canada's flights and knocked signals offline for the train network operated by CSX in 23 states, causings disruptions in service. Nothing too devastating.
Yet the damage was sufficient to demonstrate that an attack on cyberspace can have serious real-world consequences. A more sophisticated cyber attack might, for instance, succeed in bringing down sections of an aging and vulnerable power grid -- or worse.
And experts say terrorists could launch a cyber attack to disable vital resources, say a 911 system, or a local water supply.
The White House has done little to show it takes the problem seriously. Its proudest accomplishment to date is the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, a document many critics said didn't go far enough, and which is gathering dust.
Richard Clarke, a terrorism expert and the administration's first cyber-security czar, stepped down in February, many believe out of disappointment over the timid document, which recommends education and voluntary measures. His successor, Howard Schmidt, resigned two months later, and has yet to be replaced.