DoD cybercommand stalled

Plans for a Department of Defense cybercommand appear to be on hold, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates hasn't decided whether to move forward with any plans, according to Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn. Federal Times reports that Lynn said Monday the new command would not have jurisdiction outside the Defense Department, dashing hopes that it would be a major initiative in cyberwarfare.

But his statement eases the fears of critics on Capitol Hill, federal agencies and the private sector that the cybercommand could trample civil liberties.

"It would not be the militarization of cyberspace....It would in no way be the Defense Department trying to take over the government's cybersecurity," Lynn said in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "The responsibility for protecting federal civilian networks would remain with [the Homeland Security Department]."

Having said that, the federal government still has a big problem with its cybersecurity defenses, and no easy way to deal with the huge increase of cyberattacks on government computer networks.

Lynn said the DoD has plenty of plans to ratchet up its cyber defenses. One of them includes scenarios with teams of experts who pose as hackers and attack government systems to find the weaknesses.

For more on cyberwarfare:
- check out this Federal Times article