Crossroads Blog | CYBER SECURITY LAW AND POLICY

cyber attack, Cyber Exploitation

Cybersecurity should be more active, official says: WashPo

On 9/16, Ellen Nakashima reported for The Washington Post on recent comments by Steven Chabinsky,  the FBI Cyber Division’s former deputy assistant director and its former “top cyber lawyer.”  According to the article, Mr. Chabinsky believes that the federal government’s cybersecurity approach is ineffective, focusing on “reducing vulnerabilities rather than actively deterring attackers.”  The better idea, according to Chabinsky, is to give companies the ability to defend themselves when their systems are penetrated by foreign intel services and criminals.

Mr. Chabinsky went on to clarify that he is not advocating “striking back at an attacker for retaliation’s sake.”  Rather, he believes that there needs to be more debate on if, when, and how a company can defend itself in cyberspace.

Stewart A. Baker, former DHS official:

“We all know from watching Westerns the difference between a lynch mob and a posse that’s been deputized . . . Finding ways to provide appropriate oversight and yet use the substantial resources that the private sector can bring to bear is something we need to do.”

You can find the WashPo article here.

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