, Newsbytes 2002-01-29
Legislation is aimed at defending U.S. against a 'cyber-jihad.'
Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., on Monday introduced a pair of bills that would increase funding and training to help fight computer crime and cyberterrorism."When it comes to the threat of a sophisticated, coordinated cyberterrorist attack, the question most likely is not whether such an attack will come. The question is when," Edwards said Monday in support of his bills. "So we must be prepared to fight against a 'cyber-jihad,' and we must be prepared to win."
The first measure, S. 1900, the "Cyberterrorism Preparedness Act of 2002," allows the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to award $400 million in grants over the next five years to establish a nonprofit - and non-governmental - consortium of academic and private sector experts to lay out a set of "best practices" for fighting computer crime.
"In the industry, these proven measures are known as 'best practices,' steps like using customized passwords, not the ones that come with software, or promptly installing known 'patches' to keep intruders out," Edwards said.
The second bill, S. 1901, the "Cybersecurity Research and Education Act," would authorize the National Science Foundation and the National Security Agency to establish programs to increase the number of qualified faculty teaching advanced courses and conducting research in the field of computer security.
S. 1901 would establish a "Cybersecurity Graduate Fellowship Program" at the NSF, wherein participants would receive a loan that covers the full tuition and fees - including a living stipend - for four years of doctoral study. After graduation, the loans would be forgiven at 20 percent per year for each year the individual teaches at a college or university.
"That way, we can ensure that the money we invest in these promising young scientists will be used to train others interested in cybersecurity," Edwards said.
The legislation also establishes a "competitive sabbatical for distinguished faculty in cybersecurity," whereby qualified faculty would receive a stipend to spend a year working and researching at the Department of Defense or a university specializing in cybersecurity.
In addition, the measure would create an education program at the NSA charged with making grants to universities specializing in cybersecurity. Edwards said the grants could be used for projects such as teaching basic computer security to K-12 teachers, or for the development of a "virtual university" where students who don't have access to have access to nearby course offerings could take cybersecurity classes online.
S. 1900 has been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. S. 1901 is being sent to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Reported by Newsbytes, http://www.newsbytes.com