US set to detect infrastructure cyber attacks

The US government will set into motion a comprehensive program termed “Perfect Citizen” to detect cyber attacks on private and government agencies running critical infrastructures, reported The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

The surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA), the governments cryptologic agency specializing in protecting US information, will consist of sensors being installed in computer networks running critical infrastructure, such as the electricity grid and nuclear-power plants. Any unusual activity would be detected by the sensors, indicating a possible cyber attack. In The Wall Street Journal’s report:

“Because the program is still in the early stages, much remains to be worked out, such as which computer control systems will be monitored and how the data will be collected. NSA would likely start with the systems that have the most important security implications if attacked, such as electric, nuclear, and air-traffic control systems, they said.”

Defense contractor Raytheon Corp. was awarded the $100 million classified contract for the initial phase of the surveillance effort, said an unnamed source familiar with the project. The possibility of Chinese and Russian surveillance of computer systems controlling the electric grid and other critical infrastructure has increasingly alarmed US intelligence officials. Subway systems and air-traffic control networks originally designed without internet connectivity have since been linked to the internet, and although more efficient, have become more vulnerable to cyber assaults. Proponents of “Perfect Citizen” feel the program will help tackle impending security threats. However, some industry and government officials familiar with the program see it as an infringement by the NSA into domestic affairs. A meeting between Intelligence official’s and utilities’ CEOs, to discuss the danger of cyber assaults on the US infrastructure, ended with CEOs requesting better threat information and guidance on what needs to take place in the event of a major attack. According to officials, although the government is unable to force companies into cooperating, it plans to provide incentives to encourage participation in the program, especially if the government buys services from that company. Perfect Citizen, funded by the multibillion dollar Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, started at the end of the Bush administration and has continued with the Obama administration.