This comes at a time when awareness of security threats and sales of security measures are at an all-time high. Talk about security issues for very long and fear sets in. There is a rush to purchase everything from burglar bars to corporate firewalls. Computer viruses and denial of service attacks this year have shown just how vulnerable information systems are to relatively unsophisticated methods of attack. Common security gaps, including a lack of training, have existed for years and continue to be exploited.
Government has a significant role to play in protecting cyberspace.
Cyberspace is, after all, the common thread that runs through the nation's critical infrastructure, from the electric power grid to commercial air traffic control to our military and waterways and railroads. Moreover without a consumer base that believes the Internet is a secure place to shop, e-commerce won't continue to flourish. In the seamless, global network, generally accepted views of protection, ownership and secure or private information are in a continuous state of flux. In many instances, traditional mechanisms of protection just simply don't work. The flows of data are too great and the resources needed for effective monitoring are not available.