[ISN] Hackers to test U.K. lawmakers' systems

[InfoSec News]

http://news.com.com/Hackers+to+test+U.K.+lawmakers+systems/2110-7355_3-5690318.html

By Andy McCue 
Special to CNET News.com
April 29, 2005

Hackers are to be employed to test the effectiveness of the IT
security defences for the computer systems in the House of Commons,
home of the British parliament. A three-year IT security contract is
up for grabs to conduct internal and external penetration testing on
routers, firewalls and critical servers using a range of independent
vulnerability assessment techniques.

The winning contractor will be required to carry out the tests at
least twice a year. The House of Commons is also looking to buy an
intrusion prevention system -- a combination of intrusion detection
software and a firewall -- to reduce the risk of denial-of-service
attacks, virus outbreaks and Trojan horses.

Andy McCue of Silicon.com reported from London.