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OPENING
STATEMENT
Congressman
Stephen Horn, R-CA
Chairman,
Subcommittee on Government Management,
Information, and Technology
at a hearing on
Computer
Security:
A War without Borders
July 26, 2000
A quorum being present, the hearing
of the House Subcommittee on Government Management, Information, and Technology
will come to order.
From the "ILOVEYOU" virus
to attempts to enter the space shuttle's communications system, cyber
attacks are on the rise. Every day, new viruses and attempted intrusions
bombard vital computer systems and networks within U.S. Government agencies
and private industries.
Sometimes the attackers are simply
seeking the thrill of breaking into a supposedly secure system. Other
times, however, the motive is far more sinister -- vandalism, industrial
espionage, intelligence collection, or creating a doorway for a future
attack. As the "ILOVEYOU" virus clearly demonstrated, these
attacks can originate from nearly anywhere in the world.
Many experts say this is only the
tip of the iceberg in terms of the number of attacks, their sophistication,
and their destructiveness. In the United States, and in many other countries,
law enforcement agencies and private organizations collect and share information
on these worldwide computer attacks. However, not all countries have the
capability to detect them, warn others, or even prosecute the hackers
once they have been identified.
In the United States, the FBI and
the Departments of Commerce and Defense all have a role in tracking and
investigating cyber attacks. Many other agencies and private organizations
also track and share this critical information. Other countries also have
law enforcement agencies and organizations set up to investigate and share
cyber-attack information. But among the variety of players, who is coordinating
an efficient, effective response to this international problem?
Today, we will examine the challenges
of coordinating these cyber-attack investigations. Our witnesses represent
cyber-crime investigation units in several countries, including the United
States. They will discuss their experiences. There is a great need for
a sharing of these experiences daily, weekly, and monthly. Alliances such
as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should work together if we will
be able to win these cyber wars.
We welcome each of our witnesses
today, and look forward to their testimony.
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