Unintended Consequences

House Hearing on Security Vulnerabilities

The House Commitee on Government Reform examined security vulnerabilities in Internet email infrastructure. Their report is online in text or PDF (96 pages).

Chair Tom Davis of Virginia opened with the statement:

"My primary goal today is one of public education. Computer
security can no longer be relegated to the back benches of
public discourse, or remain the concern solely of governments
or corporate technology experts. Think of electronic tax filing
or online license renewals. The fact that we are all ever-more
``interconnected'' means we are all in this battle together.
What affects one system could very well affect all of us, and
the unfortunate reality is that the Internet is inherently a
breeding ground for malevolent actors."

Henry Waxman of California added more context:

"Earlier this year we held a series of hearings on the risks
of peer-to-peer file sharing programs, including how they could
be used to find all kinds of personal data about computer
users. This then led to the introduction and passage in the
House of the Government Network Security Act of 2003, which
requires Federal agencies to assess the risk posed by peer-to-
peer file sharing programs."

"Today we are exploring another aspect of computer security:
how worms and viruses spread rapidly across the Internet,
finding unprotected computers. We also will learn how millions
of people are using wireless networks, many unaware that their
computers are vulnerable to attack. Business, governments, and
individual home users are at risk for computer invasion.
Efforts must be taken by all users to make the Internet more
secure."

Panelists included: