Cyber defense hits technical snag

The latest version of nation's premier computer system designed to protect all nonmilitary government's digital networks from foreign
spies and attacks is not working as planned.

Technical limitations for the system known as Einstein mean it will not be fully operational across the government for 18 months, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The $2 billion system was first unveiled seven years ago, but has had a steady stream of problems.

The latest version effectively sounds alarms after digital networks have been attacked, but it still can't detect or block sophisticated
attacks that weren't previously known.

A more sophisticated version is in the works, but its use could be delayed because of privacy concerns. Attacks on government computers have been escalating, raising serious national security.

For more on Einstein's problems:
- see this Wall Street Journal article