[ISN] More security for Government PCs

[InfoSec News]

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11507214%255E1702,00.html

November 26, 2004

THE Federal Government will pay experts to upgrade its computer
security in a bid to ward off any future attempts of hacking or cyber
terrorism.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the Government would protect its
critical networks through the Computer Network Vulnerability
Assessment program.

Specialist computer experts would be employed to identify
vulnerabilities in the systems that support the provision of essential
services to Australians, Mr Ruddock said.

"The growth in the use of the internet and the development of
high-speed connections between computer systems has transformed the
way that organisations, companies and governments share information
and do business," he said.

"While the benefits have been enormous, this reliance on high-speed
connections between computer systems and the internet is not without
its risks."

Computer systems could be attacked and disabled in many ways by
deliberate criminal acts such as hacking and cyber terrorism or by the
accidental or deliberate distribution of a computer virus, he said.

Mr Ruddock said the CNVA program would identify weaknesses in existing
computer networks and test systems to see how they can be compromised.

"This will provide the government and the owners and operators of
computer systems with valuable information on how to better protect
their networks," he said.